Side-by-Side: Appel Smoked Trout in Canola Oil & Trader Joe’s Smoked Trout in Canola Oil
Side-by-Side: Appel Smoked Trout in Canola Oil & Trader Joe’s Smoked Trout in Canola Oil
by Perky214
4 Comments
Perky214
(1-2) These are 2 widely available tins in my area, and I thought it would be interesting to try them head to head
(3) The set up: Wasa flatbreads, caper cream cheese, and the two tins of fish – TJ’s on L, Appel on the R in all pix
(4-7) Opened tins, and tins with the oil poured off. TJ’s has more fish than Appel, Appel had better tasting tin oil than TJ’s
(8-10) Accoutrements: Wasa Flatbread and caper cream cheese
(11) TJ’s on R, Appel on L
(12-13) TJ’s drier, Appel more moist
(14) TJ’s – firmer texture, does not flake easily
(15) Appel – softer texture, flakes easily
(16) TJ’s Ingredients and Nutrition
(17) Appel Ingredients and Nutrition
———————————————
I thought it would be fun and informative to do a side-by-side between two brands of readily-available canned smoked trout: Appel Smoked Trout from World Market and Trader Joe’s Smoked Trout from TJ’s (duh)
For similar preparations of the same fish, these two products had some significant similarities and differences, and were more differentiated than I expected, frankly.
SIMILARITIES:
Boneless and skinless fillets, very good for canned fish newbies.
Packed in canola oil.
Product of Germany.
Both tins weighed 77g (20g protein), and held 1 serving of fish at 140 calories and 490mg of sodium.
DIFFERENCES:
TIN OIL
Appel had 1 Tbsp more tin oil than TJ’s.
Appel tin oil was smokier and saltier, and tasted better by itself.
TJ’s oil was lighter, milder, and there was less of it.
* Advantage Appel.
FISH
TJ’s had thicker hardier fillets that were difficult to separate even with a sardine fork. The fillets had a very firm texture and did not flake easily. The fish was dry and chewy.
Appel fillets were thinner and more delicate, and separated easily with a sardine fork. The fillets had a softer, more tender texture and flaked easily. The fish was moist and unctuous, texturally more like fresh fish. It had a softer mouthfeel, and was not chewy.
* Advantage Appel.
PRICE
TJ’s: $4.49 at Trader Joe’s
Appel: $5.99 at World Market
* Advantage TJ’s.
Tasting these two together, I was very surprised at how different my experiences of each tin was, despite the similarities of fish, preparation, and ingredients.
Overall, I preferred the experience of the Appel tin over the TJ’s tin. The Appel was more delicate, flaking easily into smokier, saltier more moist fish flakes. It was easier to eat and seemed to work better with the bite of the capers and tanginess of the cream cheese on the Wasa flatbreads.
The TJ’s fish were drier, milder, less smoky, and not as flavorful. It was hard to man the fish into the cream cheese on the flatbread without breaking it. The mouthfeel of the fish was tougher and chewier.
Appel would be better on a cracker as part of a seacuterie or appetizer, where its delicate moist flesh could star, while TJ’s would be better in a dip or smoky chowder where the extra moisture could compensate for the dryness of the fish.
11/10 for Appel – will totally buy this tin again as a featured fish experience
8/10 for TJ’s – would buy this tin again too, but as an ingredient, not a stand-alone canned fish experience
Sam_the_beagle1
100% agree. I love them both, but I lean in the Appel direction. Too bad it isn’t olive oil.
SimplySardines
Appel cans Trader Joe’s.
dlm2137
Seems like these are the same tin — trader joes whitelabels products.
4 Comments
(1-2) These are 2 widely available tins in my area, and I thought it would be interesting to try them head to head
(3) The set up: Wasa flatbreads, caper cream cheese, and the two tins of fish – TJ’s on L, Appel on the R in all pix
(4-7) Opened tins, and tins with the oil poured off. TJ’s has more fish than Appel, Appel had better tasting tin oil than TJ’s
(8-10) Accoutrements: Wasa Flatbread and caper cream cheese
(11) TJ’s on R, Appel on L
(12-13) TJ’s drier, Appel more moist
(14) TJ’s – firmer texture, does not flake easily
(15) Appel – softer texture, flakes easily
(16) TJ’s Ingredients and Nutrition
(17) Appel Ingredients and Nutrition
———————————————
I thought it would be fun and informative to do a side-by-side between two brands of readily-available canned smoked trout: Appel Smoked Trout from World Market and Trader Joe’s Smoked Trout from TJ’s (duh)
For similar preparations of the same fish, these two products had some significant similarities and differences, and were more differentiated than I expected, frankly.
SIMILARITIES:
Boneless and skinless fillets, very good for canned fish newbies.
Packed in canola oil.
Product of Germany.
Both tins weighed 77g (20g protein), and held 1 serving of fish at 140 calories and 490mg of sodium.
DIFFERENCES:
TIN OIL
Appel had 1 Tbsp more tin oil than TJ’s.
Appel tin oil was smokier and saltier, and tasted better by itself.
TJ’s oil was lighter, milder, and there was less of it.
* Advantage Appel.
FISH
TJ’s had thicker hardier fillets that were difficult to separate even with a sardine fork. The fillets had a very firm texture and did not flake easily. The fish was dry and chewy.
Appel fillets were thinner and more delicate, and separated easily with a sardine fork. The fillets had a softer, more tender texture and flaked easily. The fish was moist and unctuous, texturally more like fresh fish. It had a softer mouthfeel, and was not chewy.
* Advantage Appel.
PRICE
TJ’s: $4.49 at Trader Joe’s
Appel: $5.99 at World Market
* Advantage TJ’s.
Tasting these two together, I was very surprised at how different my experiences of each tin was, despite the similarities of fish, preparation, and ingredients.
Overall, I preferred the experience of the Appel tin over the TJ’s tin. The Appel was more delicate, flaking easily into smokier, saltier more moist fish flakes. It was easier to eat and seemed to work better with the bite of the capers and tanginess of the cream cheese on the Wasa flatbreads.
The TJ’s fish were drier, milder, less smoky, and not as flavorful. It was hard to man the fish into the cream cheese on the flatbread without breaking it. The mouthfeel of the fish was tougher and chewier.
Appel would be better on a cracker as part of a seacuterie or appetizer, where its delicate moist flesh could star, while TJ’s would be better in a dip or smoky chowder where the extra moisture could compensate for the dryness of the fish.
11/10 for Appel – will totally buy this tin again as a featured fish experience
8/10 for TJ’s – would buy this tin again too, but as an ingredient, not a stand-alone canned fish experience
100% agree. I love them both, but I lean in the Appel direction. Too bad it isn’t olive oil.
Appel cans Trader Joe’s.
Seems like these are the same tin — trader joes whitelabels products.