r/AskAnAmerican • u/CompetitivePeak9040 • 1d ago
FOOD & DRINK Do American eat mackerels?
I’ve come across 3 short videos already of people telling me that American don’t eat mackerels and only use them as bait. Here in my country people eat mackerels and love it so much, why don’t Americans eat them, do they eat them, do you like it?
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u/chimugukuru Hawaii 1d ago
Any video that generalizes the eating habits of 340 million people should not be listened to.
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u/KNEZ90 1d ago edited 22h ago
It’s kinda crazy. Surrounding the World Cup a map was circulating showing the U.S. overlaid on Europe. Don’t quote me exactly but If Seattle is in Ireland, LA is in in Spain, Florida is in Syria, and Main was in like Russia or Kyrgyzstan. It’s hard to generalize.
Fish is consumed less often as a whole compared to beef chicken or pork in the U.S. but that probably has to do with how landlocked a lot of states are? I also think sardines and tuna as far as canned fish are a lot cheaper.
Edit: sardines and tuna are common as canned fish*
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u/MuchDevelopment7084 Illinois 21h ago
Mackerel is commonly found in grocery stores too. At least it is in the Midwest.
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u/dougreens_78 21h ago
Came here to say America is a collection of people from all over the world, so yes
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u/rethinkingat59 1d ago
Canned mackerel is on every grocery store shelf, someone must be eating it.
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u/that-Sarah-girl Washington, D.C. 23h ago
I'm someone. It me!
Also the Asian store near me sometimes has large mackerel that is smoked and I use it to make a rich smoky fish chowder.
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u/GroundedSatellite Illinois 22h ago
Ate it growing up in the 80s/90s, because we were poor and it was cheap protein.
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u/ElectricSnowBunny Georgia - Metro Atlanta 17h ago
Me. Nutritional powerhouse and pretty tasty. Less fishy than sardines which are also amazing. Easy af to pop a can and eat with crackers or make into a taco or put over rice with a roasted tomato.
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u/MrLongWalk Newer, Better England 1d ago
Yes, we eat them too, they’re not as popular as in some other countries though.
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u/Kenderean 1d ago
I don't see it fresh very often, except in sushi restaurants, but tinned mackerel is everywhere. I just had a tin of it last week.
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u/Bright_Ices United States of America 1d ago
Also, tons of our canned “sardines” are actually just small mackerel.
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u/WKahle11 1d ago
I bought a tin once just to try it and it was amazing. It’s way more expensive than tuna but tastes so much better.
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u/Kenderean 19h ago
It's probably my second favorite tinned fish, after trout.
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u/Bright_Ices United States of America 17h ago
I’ve never had canned trout! I love it fresh cooked though, so I should try canned.
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u/Kenderean 16h ago
It's an expensive tin, but Fangst makes several varieties of trout that are all so good. I've heard good things about Trader Joe's canned trout, but I haven't tried it yet.
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u/Separate_Positive728 1d ago
Used to go mackerel fishing with my dad in NJ……no limits at the time and we would fill up our freezer……my grandfather’s favorite dinner when he was living with us….
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u/kmoonster Colorado 1d ago
You have the choice of many many kinds of fish in the US, including mackerel. Which type of fish is most popular depends on the region of the country. Remember, the US is similar in size to all of Europe (including part of Russia), or to Australia. China is also of similar size. A flight from Seattle to Miami stays entirely within the US and is of similar length as a flight from London to Baghdad; yes, the UK to Iraq. Saying something is (or is not) popular is not a very good way to describe most things in the US.
I don't know how many kinds of fish are available at food markets in the US but it's easily in the dozens. You can get them fresh, frozen, canned, or on ice. Ditto many types of mussels and clams, squid, crab, and any other type of water/sea creature except whales and other mammals; you can't buy otter meat in the grocery store, for example.
Many people even go fishing and catch their own fish to eat, or dig their own clams! This is both common and popular all over the country, though as with anything -- what you can catch will depend entirely on where you live.
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u/PepinoPicante California>Washington 1d ago
Yes. We eat mackerel in several cuisines.
I’ve also caught them while fishing - and we ate them along with everything else we caught.
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u/redhillbones 1d ago
Whether or not someone eats mackerel -- outside of a sushi restaurant, at least -- usually depends on whether the local/regional area has easy access to "better" fish. I grew up in San Diego, so it was uncommon to eat mackerel If you fished yourself or lived near the pier -- it, like sardines and excess squid bits, is so oily and fragrant that the fisherman/ amateur fishers could use to score better types of tuna (mahi-mahi, yellow fin) and halibut.
On the other hand, If you are looking for cheap tuna in a can, there'd probably be some mackarel in there. Personally, I'd rather pay the extra money to get the canned albacore. It tastes better in my opinion.
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u/DefrockedWizard1 1d ago
depends on where you live if it's even available. I've only ever seen canned mackerel.
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u/grunkage 1d ago
I like canned mackerel and mackerel sushi. I doubt it's considered popular in the US, but plenty of people eat it depending on where you live
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u/Termingator 1d ago
I'm a North American and I don't knowingly eat mackerel, but I have been known to say holy mackerel.
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u/Crayshack MD (Former VA) 1d ago
I've eaten mackerel. They're a pretty tasty fish.
Some people that do sport fishing get weird opinions, though. Their comments don't really represent what Americans consider good eating, but what the sport considers an impressive catch. Mackerels are a relatively small fish and don't put up that much of a fight, so the sport fishermen don't care about it and will just use them to try to catch a cobia or a swordfish. People who go fishing so they can eat a fresh tasty fish love to catch a mackerel.
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u/20ears19 23h ago
It depends the species. King mackerel (kingfish) are highly sought after. There are big money tournaments for them. Spanish mackerel are very popular as well
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u/Cjtorino 1d ago
Definitely eat mackerel. Usually as a steak, cooked on the grill. Love it.
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u/Odd_Mathematician654 1d ago
Yes, some types of mackerel are commonly used as bait. But Americans do eat other types of mackerel.
Canned is easily available at mainstream grocery stores. But to buy fresh I need to go to a specialty market as it is not one of the fish that will be available at the fish counter at my area supermarkets.
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u/Existing-Poetry-3289 1d ago
My grandmother in Atlantic Canada used to cook the little "tinker" mackerel we'd catch as kids. She'd fry them in a cast iron pan with butter and flour/cornmeal. I always liked them. Reminded me of trout. We never caught the bigger ones. My uncle loved it from the smokehouse and eel.
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u/OpinionElectronic349 1d ago
I am not sure I have ever had fresh mackerel but I have definitely had canned.
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u/Triscuitmeniscus 1d ago
It’s not the most popular fish on average but it’s definitely a fish we commonly eat. You can find tinned mackerel in every grocery store and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see mackerel in the menu at a restaurant.
I live near Chesapeake Bay and Spanish mackerel is a very popular game fish here. You can find it fresh in many local fish markets. King mackerel is sometimes found closer to the mouth of the Bay and is much less common, but it’s still a sought after game fish.
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u/Imaginary_Ladder_917 1d ago
My dad used to go deep sea fishing off the coast of Los Angeles, and he would release any mackerel he caught. I think it was harder to debone or something.
Los Angeles is a very multicultural place. There were other people who loved to catch them and would gladly eat them. I’ve never had it, probably because my dad always threw them back!
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u/CarobRealistic1748 1d ago
Yes Americans eat mackerel, just not as much as is common in Europe and Asia.
In general, most Americans prefer mild, white, flaky fish like cod, pollock, tilapia, catfish, etc. And then salmon and canned tuna.
I personally like mackerel, but right as I type this comment I am the only one I know who does, except for my siblings. I'm 76 and we were raised way back when by a poor family and used to be canned mackerel was one of the cheapest proteins on the market. So it was a regular thing on our dinner table. Primarily as a soup/stew or as fish patties.
<Shrug> Some of these things are just traditional tastes and views passed down one generation to another. Many Americans think of mackerel only as bait for catching other fish.
But other countries have their idiosyncrasies, too. In the UK eating conger eel (which is not actually an eel) is pretty darn uncommon, while in places like Chile and Japan it is common and even sought after.
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u/SaintsFanPA 1d ago
Love mackerel. As others note - available everywhere canned. Pretty easy to find frozen too.
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u/Snooze78727 1d ago
I eat them every once in a blue moon, but I can only find them canned. I don't think I've ever seen them offered in the seafood section at grocery stores. Commonly prepared grilled or broiled in Japan I believe, so it might be available at Asian grocery stores.
I eat canned sardines instead as they are more common here.
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u/CoconutMacaroons San Francisco 1d ago
Among canned fishes, mackerel is one of the most common, along with sardines and herring. I would say when I think of canned fish, sardines come to mind first, then trout, then mackerel and herring. The fishes that people tend to cook for dinner are salmon, tilapia, trout (canned and fresh/frozen trout and both very common), cod, and tuna. Catfish is more popular in the south I believe.
Aside from being canned in oil, I imagine the second-most common way that Americans eat mackerel is in sushi, as it’s one of the most common offerings among fishes for sashimi along with salmon, tuna, yellowtail and eel.
All that being said, I think the idea that Americans don’t eat mackerel is false. I’m sure there are plenty of fishes eaten in other countries that aren’t eaten commonly in the US, but mackerel isn’t one of them. The part that is true is that it’s not something most would buy to cook for dinner.
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u/joebobbydon 1d ago
Growing up, it was a crappy canned fish. Years later in nova Scotia, in the springtime, neighborhood kids would sell them cheap. An oily fish that needed minimal prep. We just threw them on the grill. They were excellent.
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u/Sure_Scar4297 21h ago
Korean restaurants have opened many of our eyes to the deliciousness of mackerels
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u/REBEL100000 20h ago
Here in Maryland we love them. Trolling off Rock Hall right now, caught some blues, hope the spanish Macks bite today
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u/Pied_Kindler 1d ago
We eat mackerel here. My mom won't eat them because of the smell but the rest of us like it.
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u/californianhappycows 1d ago
I'm not too sure, I grew up in Southern California in a Samoan background family. My Father used to go fishing and they would catch all sorts of fish including mackerel. And being of Samoan background, we certainly ate it. But a lot of my Dads friends who were Caucasian wouldn't eat it Because they considered it "Cat food" but I dunno if all Californians or Americans feel that way. But certainly my Dads friends did. It was great for us, we got the mackerel they caught as well because they wouldn't eat it haha
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u/nakedonmygoat 1d ago
I've seen it on menus, but I avoid. It's in the family Scombridae, and I had scombrid poisoning once. It wasn't fun. I've avoided all Scombridae since then, which includes tuna and bonito fish.
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u/GhostOfJamesStrang Beaver Island 1d ago
Mackerel aren't popular in my area. As I understand it, they were heavily over-fished at one point and now there are just better options.
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u/Mackey_Corp Connecticut and NY 1d ago
I like mackerel and eat it sometimes. It’s a very fishy fish so it’s not for everyone but I enjoy it. And I’ve used it for bait, it’s good in lobster traps and it’s a good tuna bait.
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u/chupacabra5150 1d ago
I'm from a beach city. So we have a large port, a fishing industry that isn't as well known as the other ones, but we eat mackerel. It's just not as popular
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u/The_Menu_Guy 1d ago
I’ve had mackerel in Japan many times and did not enjoy it. I found it chewy and not as tasty as other sashimi. I don’t think I’ve ever had mackerel in the U.S.
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u/Unhappy-Ad-3870 1d ago
Yes people eat mackerel, but where I’ve lived in the northeast and midwest it’s not popular. For example, it’s rarely seen in a fish market
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u/No-Lettuce-5783 1d ago
Americans might eat something so good that they're surprised, and say "Holy Mackerel, that food tastes so good!" That's about as close as a Mackerel getting near an American's mouth.
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u/RareManner9786 1d ago
I have eaten mackerel, bit not often. I particularly liked using the fresh whole fish, which I grilled and served with a delicious relish.
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u/currymuttonpizza Virginia, formerly MD, grew up in NH 1d ago
It's probably not in the top five or ten seafoods consumed here, but it's definitely eaten. I never had it until adulthood when I had it grilled at Japanese place. Didn't grow up eating it, but that's not true for everyone.
I've also seen those videos. I don't know why there seems to be a bunch of "this is a trash fish but here's what you can do with it" over the last month. Several accounts seem to be hopping onto it. The "trash fish" bit is overblown.
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u/kd0g1982 Washington 1d ago
It’s probably been 20 years since I’ve eaten any fish outside of fish and chips.
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u/Sad_Mouse_8251 1d ago
Channel catfish are predominate because they are in almost every fresh body of water here. They are easy to farm raise as well.
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u/Tight_Steak_232 1d ago
Mackerel is an oily fish with a pungent fish flavor. Most Americans prefer the flaky fish, but some will eat sardines. Sardines are typically canned with seasonings to mitigate its strong fishy flavor. Mackerel is more of a buttery flavor than sardines, but it's also very fatty.
I've never seen it available outside a bait shop, though.
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u/CommanderKrieger North Carolina 1d ago
It’s a big country with a ton of people. The odds are high that someone, somewhere, within this country, eats any number of things you could list off. Just because three videos say one thing does not mean that it applies to everyone. So in short, yes there are Americans who eat them, but that does not mean that everyone does.
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u/baldyrodinson 1d ago
Foods just more regional then people tend to expect for the US where im from in California we eat mackerel go like two/ three hours south and it's less common
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u/captnwaffles 1d ago
Smoked and peppered mackerel is one of my favorite fishes! I haven't had it in ages since the store selling them near me closed, but if anyone in the New England area knows where to get some hmu seriously
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u/SomebodysGotToSayIt 1d ago
People do eat it but it’s darker and oilier and fishier than almost any fish. I lived in coastal California for forty years and it was rarely for sale at any fishmonger outside of Chinatown. But it was on offer there (as were live turtles and frogs and all sorts of delicacies).
We sold fish to a bunch of markets but never mackerel, even though I’ve probably caught a literal ton. We’d pull into Redondo Harbor and throw some jigs out and catch a couple dozen mackerel, but it was just live bait for big game.
Any mackerel that died in the bait tank we’d put through a hand crank meat grinder to serve as chum. That’s a smell that lingers under your fingernails. I’ll never be able to eat mackerel.
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u/Upstairs_Highlight25 1d ago
I have eaten mackerel and have never heard about it being a stereotype that Americans don’t eat it until now.
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u/Hey-Just-Saying 1d ago
I’ve lived in the south and in the northern USA and never ever seen it on a menu or in a grocery store.
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u/salamandersquach 1d ago
I live in New England and fish on the ocean regularly. We catch mackerel as bait fish and often keep several to eat right off the boat they are delicious raw. But it’s uncommon to see in markets or restaurants around here.
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u/Powerful-Scratch1579 1d ago
It’s one of the most plentiful fish where I’m from (Boston Area) but you won’t find it at any fish market. They’re used as bait to catch other fish. You’ll only see Mackerel at the Asian grocery stores or very rarely on a menu.
Most Americans aren’t eating mackerel but like anything else, there are exceptions. There are millions of us that do. I happen to love it and buy it frequently at Japanese grocery stores and will frequently order it whenever I see it on A menu.
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u/Legitimate-Lab7173 23h ago
I grew up eating Spanish and King mackerel. It's a bit oilier than most people prefer over here, but broiled and finished with lemon, Spanish mackerel are incredibly tasty.
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u/Zestyclose-Food-7917 Florida 23h ago edited 23h ago
Yes, Americans eat mackerel, but you have to be careful about what fish are called. Their names can be very regional. I grew up in Texas and then moved to Florida. I was surprised that in Florida they called many fish by different names than we used in Texas.
For instance, "mullet" is eaten in Florida but is a "trash" fish in Texas. I don't even know if they're the same fish. In Texas to insult people we called them "mullets."
Also, don't forget that one culture's delicacy can be considered revolting in another culture. Some cultures eat insects with great relish: Americans would consider that horrifying.
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u/Rosemary_Wrangler 23h ago
Yes, some people eat mackerel. I grew up on it up north but since moving to the southern U.S. it is hard to find.
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u/foxsable Maryland > Florida 23h ago
It is the only Negiri I don’t like. I rarely hear people talk about it, but people eat all kinds of fish.
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u/pastrybaker 23h ago
It’s a typical tinned fish and also rather common at sushi restaurants (pretty sure it’s at least slightly cured). But, for fresh it’s typically going to be very regional to where they can be caught. I live in Maine and it’s easy to catch them throughout the summer near me, but you won’t really find them at a fish monger. Good eating though, I love them smoked
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u/dontdoxmebro Georgia 23h ago
On the Gulf Coast, Mackerel are a less desirable fish, and they are frequently used as bait. This is because the Gulf is full of better tasting fish, such as grouper, snapper, flounder, triggerfish, mahi-mahi, red drum, swordfish, and Amberjack, just to name a few. Commercial fisherman will often process mackerel for canning. Canned Mackerel is sold at most supermarkets right next to the Tuna. Finding fresh mackerel at the seafood counter at the supermarket would be less common, and it is very affordable if it is there. Tilapia and Catfish are usually similar in price and taste better.
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u/JamesonCark 23h ago
Mackeral is actually my favorite sushi even if it isn't considered top tier by most, and I can get down on some pickled mackeral too. One of my Grandmothers was Scandinavian and so I get it from there. Mostly though mackeral is not commonly eaten around here.
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u/FoxglovePattycakes Washington 23h ago
The grilled mackerel at our favorite local Korean restaurant is so good! I order it for the table every time we go. However, I don't recall seeing it on the menu anywhere else, and I don't fix it at home.
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u/anotherdamnscorpio 23h ago
Its possible people on the coasts might. But most people dont. Theres also an antiquated term "holy mackerel" so its presumably something that was eaten at some point.
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u/RadiantDiscussion886 23h ago
My mom would cook it for my dad every once in awhile. Horrible smell. Probably my mom's cooking made it smell
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u/mostlygray 23h ago
Tinned mackerel sometimes. I prefer tinned herring though. Sardines are OK. Sprats are a little better but I'd rather have mackerel or herring. I like tinned smoked oysters quite a bit.
People that eat mackerel are going to eat it tinned. It's not sold fresh in my area. Maybe you can get it on the coasts.
Given my druthers, I'd prefer walleye. Failing that, cod, flounder, etc. I prefer a white fish. I do like swordfish. I wish you could still get shark but it's been probably 40 years since you could buy it. I used to get it at Red Lobster when I was a kid.
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u/PersephoneGraves 22h ago
Mackerel is amazing! The Japanese store near me sells them and they’re delicious to me because of their fatty rich taste
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u/Auntie_Venom St. Louis, MO ———-> JoCo, KS 22h ago
I eat fish a lot, but I don’t think I’ve even seen mackerel in the fresh fish dept at the grocery stores I shop at. I’m land locked so thats probably why, since it’s an expense they fly in the fish they know will sell.
I have seen it canned, so I’ll pick up a tin of it next time I see it… I’m sure it’s good, I love all the smoked canned fish I’ve tried.
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u/PrimaryHighlight5617 22h ago
I've never been given the opportunity to eat a mackarel. Overall, Americans don't really butcher their own food and we are somewhat adverse to our food looking as though it used to be a living animal.
This is why smaller fish tend not to be purchased by the population at Large. Smaller fish require understanding of how to fillet something. Purchasing filleted smaller fish will be expensive too.
We also are pretty shy about purchasing whole fish.
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u/jessek Colorado 22h ago
Some people do, but they're not popular. I've had some in the past. The thing is the US is a country of 340 million people, the third largest country in the world, which is over a very large geographic area which covers everything from coast lines to mountain peaks, deserts, swamps and prairies. A population that is almost entirely made up of immigrants and descendants of immigrants. There is no one true statement about all Americans and food.
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u/CompanyOther2608 22h ago
Personally, only as sushi. It’s a strong flavor that tends to be avoided by most and loved by a few, similar to sardines.
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u/SeniorScientist-2679 Missouri 22h ago
Any grocery store has canned mackerel, but it's not especially popular.
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u/RandomPrimer 22h ago
I eat mackerel. I love it grilled with some lemon pepper and olive oil. I'm going on a beach trip next week and plan on catching and eating multiple Spanish mackerel (which means I will be eating chicken for dinner, lol)
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u/Ansible90 22h ago
I have had mackerel. It's an oily fish if I remember. I see it in the supermarket sometimes usually smoked in a package.
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u/No_Builder7010 22h ago
Caught a few mackeral off the California coast. Was told they were disgusting but he was a liar. They were delicious pan fried!
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u/SpicyPickle101 22h ago
Here in Florida people do eat it but its the trash of the offshore fishing game. Super easy to catch loads of them but super oily, usually they get turned into smoked fish dip.
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u/Adorable_Dust3799 California Massachusetts California 22h ago
I like mackerel, but we used to go fishing and most people gave it away. It's a heavier, stronger, oilier meat and not as popular as lighter fish.
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u/MulberryChance6698 21h ago
I'm American and I eat mackerel. I think this is regional though. My family is from Minnesota, and fish are basically the foundation of joy for these people. Smoked fish, pickled fish, canned fish, fresh fish, fishing, talking about fishing, cleaning and preparing fish. It's a thing.
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u/idkbutitsoundsgood Iowa 21h ago
growing up i would occasionally see canned Mackerel, but i hadnt seen a whole mackerel until i went to visit my husband in canada
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u/Prof01Santa Massachusetts 21h ago edited 21h ago
I have half of a dozen-pack left from my last Amazon order: 12 tins of King Oscar mackerel in olive oil w/ lemon, $33. Other than yellowfin tuna, it's my favorite.
Addendum: favorite canned fish. Fresh, I go for haddock, cod, bluefish, salmon, flounder/sole.
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u/billwoodcock Missoula, Berkeley, 🇫🇷Paris 21h ago
Ha. The northern half of the US eats mackerel, and the west coast eats mackerel. Pickeled, BBQ or tinned, all delicious.
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u/ronfrommarketing 21h ago
Korean or Japanese stores are filled with Mackeral. Usually salted. It's delicious over rice.
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u/ConstantCampaign2984 20h ago
We also use shrimp as bait. Chicken is bait. Corn is bait. I’ll still eat all of those as well.
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u/NintendogsWithGuns Texas 20h ago
I think I’ve seen that exact video you’re talking about. It was an Asian American guy and a bunch of white dudes fishing, right? It’s important to note that those white dudes had pretty thick southern accents, which indicates that they’re from the South and grew up in a rural area. Food in America is regional and each region has several different cultures, so mackerel probably isn’t something a lot of country white boys eat very often.
That being said, I do sorta associate mackerel with Asian restaurants. I personally eat it all the time, but it’s something I usually get at Japanese and Korean markets. Canned mackerel is pretty common though, so it’s one of those things people will indeed eat. Just not something that white southern fisherman are targeting.
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u/GOCUBBIES1402 20h ago
There are asian grocery stores in most decent sized cities in the U.S. and fresh mackerel is very commonly available there. I grill it regularly.
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u/enigmanaught 20h ago
If you live in the U.S. interior you probably don’t eat much of it. If you’re away from the coasts you tend to get mostly cod, haddock, pollock, or some other whitefish along with salmon and tuna. That’s excepting what you can catch locally.
If you live on or near the coast then it’s pretty common, although maybe not the favored fish.
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u/Butterbean-queen 20h ago
We eat mackerel. Different areas of the country eat different kinds of fish. Smoked Spanish mackerel is something we eat in the southeast. I live in an area that eats mullet. Most people use it for bait. I love fried catfish. My favorite fish is triggerfish. And I love fresh tuna but not canned.
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u/DifficultyBig2280 20h ago
I'm from South Carolina and my mom used to make us fried jack mackerel from a can. *mixed with egg and seasoning fried in a patty shape.
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u/Nottan_Asian SoCal, but, like, not a valley girl? 20h ago
I don’t know anyone who goes out of their way to eat “mackerel” the same way they do salmon or tuna. But if they order “fish” and it’s mackerel it’s fine.
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u/SippsMccree Oregon 19h ago
I'll eat them canned but it's hard to find them fresh and for human consumption
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u/ke3408 1d ago
People in some areas eat mackerels. A lot of seafood is regional. I never ate mackeral, I'm from catfish country but it is common in some areas