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Original poster

Why are fish and chip portions so big?

158 replies

OutingHobby · 05/04/2022 18:09

If the price of fish and chips is going up couldn't they just start to make the portions smaller? One large cod and chips is enough to feed 3 of us for dinner round here!

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 05/04/2022 19:22

You also need thick-sliced buttered bread and a glass bottle/can of Irn Bru to go with your fish supper.

Mrsjayy · 05/04/2022 19:23

"special fish supper???*

It's fish with breadcrumbs not batter might just be a Scottish chippy thing.

marjayy · 05/04/2022 19:23

@ParkheadParadise

You also need thick-sliced buttered bread and a glass bottle/can of Irn Bru to go with your fish supper.
YES.
middlingnot · 05/04/2022 19:24

I used to think you couldn't reheat chippy chips but then discovered otherwise. Spread them out on a baking tray, scatter grated cheese generously on top and put in a very hot oven until chips are crisped up and cheese melted to a golden brown. Seriously delicious!

MyCatStealsSponges · 05/04/2022 19:26

I am a greedy person who can usually eat vast quantities of food. But there is something about fish & chips that I just can't pig out the same way. I get full really quickly. I don't get that with takeaway pizza which is probably equally as fatty. I've always kind of wondered why that is.

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 05/04/2022 19:27

I would actually try freezing a few next time as I can’t usually finish all the chips.

Proper ones round here in beef dripping and everything.

chesirecat99 · 05/04/2022 19:27

@Mamamia7962

GottaLoveTheCold - I don't think fish and chips is cheap, a large cod where I live is £7 plus small chips £2.50, large chips £3.50.
Shock A large cod and chips is £17.95 here!

A regular cod and chips is £14/15. Although there is a greasy spoon, old skool fish and chips shop in one of the back streets near the station that does a "special deal" of a small cod and chips for £8.95. It is very small though.

I have noticed that everywhere has started including chips and you can't buy just fish on its own. I suppose because chips have a higher profit margin than fish and people would buy a large chips to share instead of one each otherwise.

MummyInTheNecropolis · 05/04/2022 19:27

I was just eating pie and chips from the chippy and contemplating the huge portion size when I saw this thread. My chippy does small, regular and large chips. I got regular and honestly couldn’t fit them all on one dinner plate, even piled up high. I should’ve got a small portion but it’s only 10p less so didn’t seem worth it.

It annoyed me because my pie was a standard size so the proportions of my dinner were all wrong, way too many chips for too little pie. Still ate about 90% of them though Blush

Rosenborg · 05/04/2022 19:28

The portions near us are massive. A haddock feeds me, mother in law (who eats like a bird) and 7 year old DS. Large chips js a portion that's as big as a carrier bag! We share that between 3 or 4 of us.

Tombero · 05/04/2022 19:28

My theory is they make them big / small so we can have regular mumsnet threads with some arguing that they need a fish and chips each and others that they can feed the 5,000 from one Wink

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 05/04/2022 19:29

And damnit now I want fish and chips.

Vanderpump · 05/04/2022 19:29

@Mrsjayy

"special fish supper???*

It's fish with breadcrumbs not batter might just be a Scottish chippy thing.

Yes, I think it's just us that know what a special fish is Grin
Bluesheep8 · 05/04/2022 19:30

I have noticed that everywhere has started including chips and you can't buy just fish on its own.

Really? I've never known chips automatically included. Often buy a fish on its own.

Vanderpump · 05/04/2022 19:30

I'm hungry now

Original poster
OutingHobby · 05/04/2022 19:32

@MummyInTheNecropolis

I was just eating pie and chips from the chippy and contemplating the huge portion size when I saw this thread. My chippy does small, regular and large chips. I got regular and honestly couldn’t fit them all on one dinner plate, even piled up high. I should’ve got a small portion but it’s only 10p less so didn’t seem worth it.

It annoyed me because my pie was a standard size so the proportions of my dinner were all wrong, way too many chips for too little pie. Still ate about 90% of them though Blush

Chips and Pie sounds nice though. Bet it was amazing. The pies are always good.
OP posts:
Original poster
OutingHobby · 05/04/2022 19:33

I have noticed that everywhere has started including chips and you can't buy just fish on its own. this trend hasn't reached us yet, its all seperate mix and match here.

OP posts:
Omega33 · 05/04/2022 19:34

It really depends on the shop.

Where I used to live, a large chips gave 4 generous portions - at least equivalent to 4 large McDonald's fries (but vastly superior).

When we moved, we got a large chips at our new local chippy, and it was only enough for 1 person. And that was in Yorkshire, so I'm not sure I agree with the PP who praised Yorkshire portions!

GrandRapids · 05/04/2022 19:34

We always share. The portion sizes are massive and then you feel less guilty!

Maskless · 05/04/2022 19:40

I agree. Huge!

My local's cod portion literally hangs over the sides of my dinner plates at both ends! And the amount of chips is obscene. So we order 2 cod and 1 chips and split them, and there's still too many.

A chippy in town offers "mini fish n chips" for £2.50 which my friend often has for her Saturday lunch.

ifyouturnonthelight · 05/04/2022 19:41

Left over chippy chips heated up in the air fryer the next day are amazing

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/04/2022 19:44

The chip portion at our local is mad! DS is so a small isnt enough for him and DD to share (I dont like chippy chips) but a medium was enough for him, DD and the other two DD's before they flew the nest! As it is now, there are always loads left over. I have started saying I will pay for a medium but just give me less as I hate throwing food away, but there is still too many.

Also at our chippy the small fish is only a tiny bit smaller than a large and is usually nicer so I dont know why anyone buys a large! I can eat a fish to myself but then, as I dont like chips, I only eat that.

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/04/2022 19:44

DS is 16

ToothGrinder · 05/04/2022 19:48

Agree there are loads of chips. Fortunately I have a couple of wee ukraineies living with me now so on Monday we all shared a small portion between us. We were still full!

I get a bit emotional thinking about it really.

Savingpeoplehuntingthings · 05/04/2022 19:53

@cheshirecat99 those prices are ridiculous!😂

£13.95 buys all this in my local chippy, and it's lovely too.

Why are fish and chip portions so big?
Threeboysandadog · 05/04/2022 19:55

When we were students we lived across the road from a chippy. They did a 99p special which was usually battered sausage, white or black pudding, pizza or a sort of spam fritter thing with chips. We regularly had that for our dinner. The last chippy I got was almost £50 for the five of us and nothing to write home about. I now buy oven fish and chips.

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