If you "don't like fish" what do you actually mean?

[SlightlySuperiorPeasant]

DH 'hates fish'. Except fish & chips, or tomato-baked pollack, or Thai steamed trout, or soy-glazed salmon, or sweet chilli cod, or smoked haddock, or French plaice, or stir-fried sea bass, or...

What he actually means is that he's not keen on fish with bones in, seafood (except little prawns) or smoked fish.

I really like fish but prefer fillets to having to deal with heads, tails, fins and zillions of bones.

Does anyone actually not like fish at all, no matter what kind, how it's presented or how it's cooked?

[tabulahrasa]

I don't like fishy tasting fish, white fish is fine, sometimes salmon's ok, I like Tuna and I can cope with prawns.

I don't like anything else really.

[TheDetective]

I hate fish. Hate to even think about fish or see fish shape stuff.

I have a phobia of fish. So I will never eat it, no!

I don't go in lakes, sea, rivers. Anywhere where there may be fish type creatures. Hell, I wont even go on a boat, in case it capsizes you see. The thought of drowning at sea is the stuff of my nightmares.

I have to go now... The talk of fish is making me feel ill!

[MamaGeekChic]

I don't like fish... except fish 'n' chips, meaty white non-fishy tasing fish, occassionally scallops, very occassionally mussels if in a good sauce, even more occasionally smoked mackrel/haddock. It's easier to just tell poeple I don't like fish that run through the list.

[SlightlySuperiorPeasant]

Wow Detective that is definitely not liking fish!

I find lots of people say that they "don't like fish" when they actually quite like white fish, salmon and tuna. I can understand people who don't want an entire fish plonked on their plate and wouldn't have the first clue what to do with it, but there are so many different types of fish and so many ways to serve them that there surely can't be many people who really hate fish.

[sahmbles]

I have yet to find any fish or seafood that I like to eat. I like the idea of fish, as a light healthy meal, but don't like the taste of it.

I am trying not to pass this dislike on to my toddler DD, so am making sure that we eat some fish. I choose the least fishy fish I can find and give myself the smallest portion I think I can get away with! I also feed DD tuna (which she loves), when I have a cold....

I have tried lots of fish (including some freshly caught by my dad) and lots of seafood, including lobster. None of it I'd have again through choice.

[LadySybildeChocolate]

All fishies taste different, and some are more 'fishy' than others. I hate prawns, not too keen on scallops (I think it's the texture), can eat cod though. I quite like smoked salmon, but will eat fresh salmon if I don't chew it. Ds will eat fresh tuna, not canned tuna, as they have different tastes.

[storminabuttercup]

My dad really doesn't like fish of any type, won't touch it at all.

I agree tho most people I know who don't like fish eat fish and chip, fishfingers etc

I like most fish but not keen on smoked stuff

[GOLDFaverolles]

I don't like the taste or the texture, or the smell when it's cooking.
I occasionally like fish and chip shop fish, but with loads of salt and vinegar and tomato sauce.
I don't like fish fingers.

[SlightlySuperiorPeasant]

I've never had carp, apparently it's quite 'muddy'?

Glad to see that most people like at least 1 kind of fish/sea food, even if it is deep-fried!

[ArbitraryUsername]

I don't like cooked fish. I'll eat fish and chips (cod or haddock), but I wouldn't look forward to it. I'll also eat some not-too-overtly-'fishy' fish disguised in fishcakes. I'm not keen on the texture of fish (particularly tinned tuna or salmon, which is just vile), and the smell is often disgusting. I cannot even choke down smoked fish. The smell makes me retch. I feel sick even thinking about one experience with smoked mackerel fishcakes. Eurgh.

I do like quite a lot of raw fish though. Its got a far nicer texture than when its cooked, and doesnt taste strong at all. And I like other types of seafood: squid, prawns, mussels, crab, lobster, etc.

But, if I were coming to dinner at yours and you asked if there was anything I didn't eat, I'd say 'fish' so as to avoid ending up with something I'd have to politely choke down.

[NellyBluth]

I'm the same - white fish I like, tuna is ok, salmon I can eat if I have to, but I'd be pretty unhappy with a whole fish with eyes, and I hate seafood with an absolute passion. If I'm going to eat somewhere I just say 'I don't like fish and seafood' because it is easier than listing which particular types of fish I do like!

[bureni]

I eat loads of fish mainly fresh caught mackerel, scallops and shellfish since living on a lough they are free and easy to catch, fillet, smoke or pot. The only fish I do not eat are eels.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

I cannot stand tinned salmon. What are those white round bits? I can eat fresh salmon but wouldnt choose to.

Love all other fish that I have tasted. Prawns are my fav. Smoked mackerel is yum.

But honestly, salmon = boak.

[MissKeithLemon]

I'm with TheDetective on this one I've only ever met a few people with Totalfishyphobia Detective - I think we are a very minority phobia!

Even prawn crackers are too fishy for me . I can taste the tiniest bit a mile off so can't even eat a spring roll with the small prawny bits taken out as the whole thing has already been tainted and don't get me started in on tuna disguised as meat paste in sandwiches which always seem to trick me

Tried all sorts over the years and its all yuk! Tis battered sausage n chips all the way for me!

[bureni]

Wannabe, the white round bits are the backbone of the fish. The tinned salmon are normally farmed triploid fish which are pellet fed so taste nothing like a line caught wild fish.

[SlightlySuperiorPeasant]

bureni

The freshest fish I've ever eaten was on honeymoon in Egypt. I have no idea what kind of fish it was but it was gorgeous. Sadly though DH and I and one other couple were the only people in the huge restaurant for the whole evening :( It was one of the all-inclusive restaurants on the resort, the only one that did actual Egyptian food. The Chinese one was fully-booked every evening while we we there!

[amillionyears]

I once heard a fishmonger say that there are more varieties of fish to eat than days in the year.
So we could eat a different variety of fish every day of the year.
By the way,I love fish,some more than others.All except lobster,dont ask.

[Baaartimaeus]

I say I don't like fish as the only fish I do like (fish fingers, fish pie made with cod) are never served say in restaurants or round at a friend's house, so it's easier to say no fish.

I have tried fish on many occasions to be polite (a memorable meal was at a wedding. Fish starter and fish main course. I tried them both but really couldn't stomach them. Ate lots of bread rolls!) but I really don't like it.

[Ephiny]

I don't like fish of any kind, the fishy taste/smell is just completely offputting to me. Also, knowing it had scales and those fishy eyes. Even before I was vegetarian I never touched it.

Actually I don't even like looking at the word 'fish'...

[Yorky]

I don't like fish.
I pick the prawns out of special fried rice.
I can eat tasteless, skinless, boneless, battered white fish.
About once a month I make tuna pasta for tea cos I feel guilty that the kids ought to eat more fish.
Our other once a month fish meal is tesco fishcakes - the smoked haddock one isn't bad
I have eaten a bit of smoked mackerel pate at a posh do cos I thought it would be rude to leave it untouched.
My gran was disgusted with me for not appreciating the salmon sandwiches she made as a treat! (years ago)
Working in a kitchen head chef made tuna things as canapes - inch square lengths of tuna steak, sealed on all sides but red in the middle, then sliced onto tiddly bits of toast. Surprisingly OK

[DameFanny]

I have to ask amillionyears why you don't do lobster? Please?

[FreddieMercuryforQueen]

I don't eat any seafood. Not fish from the chippy, or prawns in a curry. None at all. I just don't like the taste, the texture, the smell... Boak boak boak.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

DS is fish phobic apparently! it's mainly because he only eats shite, and fish is good for you!

[Ragwort]

I eat very little fish - I can eat fish & chips (but much prefer cod and I can really taste the difference between cod and haddock), I can eat smoked fish - but loathe salmon, tuna (tinned or fresh) seafood etc. I will make a fish pie or kedgeree sometimes as I know fish is good for you but I would also say 'I don't eat fish' if I am going out somewhere.

Shame as my DH's favourite food is fish & his hobby is fishing .........