These Are the Very Best Fish Sticks You Can Get at the Grocery Store
When I was growing up, we didn’t eat meat on Fridays. Instead, in our household, the sad alternative was usually fish sticks. I don’t have particularly fond memories of them from back then — the standard ones we often bought were usually pretty bland and soggy — but nevertheless, we ate them for dinner and got on with it.
I now can honestly say that frozen fish sticks don’t have to be sad. In fact, they have come a long way since the days of my youth. The game-changer? Realizing that the secret to a really great fish stick in the breading. And thanks to a fish-loving friend, I finally found fish sticks that I’m just as happy to eat myself as I am to serve to my kids on nights when we’re not in the mood for meat.
After trying almost every frozen fish stick on the market, my family decided on a winner: Natural Sea Wild Alaska Pollock Fish Nuggets. I know what you’re about to say … and yes, they are not technically stick-shaped. But the shape of light and crispy breaded nuggets might actually make me like them more.
The biggest reason why I love these fish nuggets is that the fish is sustainably sourced and caught in an MSC-certified fishery based in Alaska. Knowing that just makes you feel good right off the bat. I also love them because they taste premium as far as fish sticks go. After baking, the nuggets get golden-brown and crunchy on the outside, and flaky and soft on the inside (not to be mistaken for mushy, though).
Another reason to love them? These fish nuggets cross the generational divide. My kids love them as is, and when I serve them to grown-ups I use them as an easy protein add-on for tacos, salads, or a coastal-inspired sandwich. Of course, I’d also be lying if I said I never ate them right out of the oven. We’re positively hooked.
Do you have a certain kind of fish sticks that you like?