Why don’t we eat more fish and seafood?

[KhansMambo]

A friend and I were chatting about fish and seafood (it’s Easter, after all), and wondering why the U.K. doesn’t have more of a fish/seafood culture or seafood based cuisine. Apart from the occasional bit of battered and deep fried fish, it doesn’t feature largely in a lot of people’s usual diets. And we consume markedly less than other countries with similar access.

As we’ve had so much access to it, historically, it’s interesting that it’s not the core of our traditional diet. Why don’t we have hundreds of razor clam recipes? Why didn’t everyone grow up eating an array of fish stews? Or using different kinds of seafood and seaweed as seasoning? I’m sure there’s all sorts of interesting anthropological reasons. I was wondering what everyone thought they were.

A quick Google dig up these, which I thought were really interesting.

• www.spectator.co.uk/article/britains-strange-aversion-to-seafood/amp

• www.newstatesman.com/culture/food-drink/2021/09/britain-is-surrounded-by-fish-so-why-do-we-eat-so-little-of-it

It’s expensive, it’s not filling, and the DC won’t eat it if it’s not in batter.

It's very expensive so it was relegated to a treat then my youngest two arnt mad keen so it got relegated to me only its not worth buying proper fish and cooking it properly just for me so I get microwave fish steaks for me I love fish but not shellfish strangely

Because I hate fish.

For me its about price and convenience. I grew up in a fishing village and am used to lobster, crab and fish straight off the boat and usually free or exchanged for something else in kind, if not a small price.

If you buy fish in a supermarket, it's extortionate for the amount you get and often tastes crap. We have a fishmonger where I live now but I don't often think of going just because it's out of the way.

You are right though, seafood is lovely, it's silly that I don't make more of an effort given how much I enjoy it.

Demand is low because people have limited cooking skills where fish is concerned and aren't confident enough to know how to eat it as well as how to cook it.

As a child we had lots of fish and I was taught how to remove the bones when eating a cooked fish, and how to prepare and eat shell fish, including crab and mussels, etc. DH only had battered fish and chips and I had to teach him all those things too.

Almost every Christmas therebarebleftover whole salmon reduced to under a tenner. I always buy one. All you have to do is remove the gills and give it a wipe. Bung in a fish kettle with 6 peppercorns, a bunch of herbs, a bottle of cheap white wine and top up to cover. Bring to the lightest bubble and switch off the heat. Leave the fish until the water cools. Lift and drain (there's a handled rack in a fish kettle to do that). The skin comes off with complete ease. Add finely sliced cucumber in a row lengthways and surround with watercress. Should serve at least 10-12. Cut from the centre and lift away from the bone and do the same on the other side. Once down to the bone just slide a knife where necessary to loosen and remove the entire bone in one go and cut the rest from the bottom.

Nothing better than moules frites for lunch in the sunshine. So much better than fish and chips.

Grilled trout with caper butter
Fried skate with black butter
Plaice with white wine mushrooms and cream or Grilled fresh plaice on the bone with lemon.
Grilled Dover sole and Lemon sole
Pairs of kippers for breakfast
Fresh tuna
Halibut with wine, garlic and chopped tomatoes.
Fish pie
Scallops
Kedgeree
Crab salad
Lobster salad
Dinner for one being a bowl of shell on prawns and brown bread and butter.

As a child when we stayed at an hotel a favourite breakfast option was a piece of smoked haddock with a poached egg on top.

Cost. Seafood isn't cheap. I like salmon but 2 fillets are over £3, I can buy a pack of mince for less and get 4 portions out of it.

DS doesn't like fish.

Love fish and seafood but sadly it is very expensive

We’ve the skills of cooking it properly

A lot of people I know don't like fish. I love it and so so dc but it's expensive

We’ve Lost*
Don’t know what happened there

I can't speak for anybody else but we eat fish several times a week.

I love it but due to concern about overfishing just have it very occasionally as a treat

I shall be having bass tonight. My husband’s just sent me a photo of one he’s caught today. We eat loads of fish and seafood but my husband’s hobby is fishing and we live on the coast so plenty available.

I don't because I have no idea how to tell if I'm about to give people food poisoning or not!! Meat you can easily tell if something is wrong or if not cooked properly, but I'm at a loss with fish!!

I agree that it is frustrating because the lack of national demand (for anything more exotic than fish and chips) means less is available in the shops of good quality. Supermarket fish does not exactly showcase the best of what we catch. In fact, it is downright off-putting. It doesn't matter if it is Asda or M&S, the end product is generally substandard as both the fridge and freezer packs have been frozen once already to preserve shelf life. The best I have had is from online specialist suppliers but they definitely charge a premium. I am considering moving to the coast for exactly this reason.

I absolutely love fish and seafood of all kinds. I do not, however, like the price, and that is why we don't eat as much of it. If it was comparable to the price of meat then we would eat far more as it is much better for you than meat.

Because it's nasty

In London, many of our quality fishmongers have closed down. I still have vivid childhood memories of watching them wrap up the fish in layers of paper. The supermarket equivalent is utterly inferior in terms of taste and price. I am a highly competent cook and I duly serve up the three portions a week but you cannot make a silk purse and all that. It's just as well my DCs are unaware of the difference!

Just need to make other animal products as expensive and we’ll be a step closer to a vegan world. It’s a shame that price is what stops people buying it, not a desire to be kind to animals.

@YryBuyTry7295

There is an English tradition to eat fish on a Friday

The last place I worked, there was always fish in the canteen on a friday

That’s a Catholic thing. Traditionally Catholics ate fish on Fridays which is why it was always served on a Friday.

I love fish and seafood but finding decent quality is near impossible in supermarkets.

We have fish/seafood at least 3 times a week. I go to a fish monger to get it. We buy a load and freeze. We love fish means less red meat too.

I used to love it until I learnt here on Mumsnet that some types routinely contain worms. Just don't feel the same now!

Because it's hideously expensive!!!

Every time I cook fish I'm horrified by the price. The same stuff I buy in Spain or France costs at least 3 times as much! I'd love to cook seafood more often but I get annoyed by how its deliberately priced high for the british market (stuff caught in our waters is exported and sold for less elsewhere).