CATEGORY

Breaded Fish Sticks

2008 CHEFSBEST® AWARD FOR BEST TASTE WINNER

Mrs. Paul's/Van de Kamp’s

What Makes Great Breaded Fish Sticks?

Enjoyed by children for generations, fish sticks are not only the ideal finger food for small hands, but they’re also a nostalgic treat for adults. With their crispy texture and delicious flavor, fish sticks are the ultimate way to get kids “hooked” on fish! Fish sticks naturally contain omega 3 oils which are good for you and your heart. Pair them with ketchup, tartar sauce, honey mustard or your favorite condiment and get ready to dip! Fish sticks are affordable, easy to prepare, fun to eat and a fantastic idea for any meal occasion.

Every bite of a great breaded fish stick should reveal white-colored fish cloaked in crunchy, golden brown breading. Each piece should consist of equal amounts of breading and fish.

The best breaded fish sticks will maintain a low overall aroma intensity. Individual pieces should offer fairly complex aroma character, accented by notes of seasoning (possibly including pepper and onion), oil, breading, and of course, fish.

Saltiness should be the most evident basic taste in top-quality breaded fish sticks, followed slightly by sweetness.

Look for the distinct flavors of breading and fish to complement one another, while mingling at similarly intense levels; neither element should overpower the other. The flavor of oil, while still discernible, should be quite lower than those of breading and fish. Within the fish's flavor, notes of clean and fresh sea water should also be discernible.

Naturally, the breading layer on great fish sticks should be crispy, with a delightfully tender interior of fresh-tasting fish that's easy to chew. Additionally, the fish itself should retain a fair amount of moisture. Although a bit of greasiness is expected, each fish stick should taste clean, with a striking textural contrast and a moderately long aftertaste.

We know what makes great breaded fish sticks, but what makes bad ones?

The worst fish sticks our chefs tasted were alarmingly pale and almost anemic-looking — a clear sign of having been underbaked. Other negative issues included aromas and flavors that were inappropriately one-dimensional, and off-putting sogginess that stemmed from too much oil.

Why is Mrs. Paul's the best breaded fish sticks?

Pound for pound, Mrs. Paul's breaded fish sticks delivered top-notch flavor amid inviting textures — flaky and crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. Subtle touches of seasoning also put Mrs. Paul's sticks in good stead with our chefs.

This judging was for breaded fish sticks, not including unbreaded fish sticks, or fresh fish.

Consumers, depending on what region of the country they are in, can find either Mrs. Paul’s or Van de Kamp’s entire line of seafood—including fish sticks made from 100% whole white fish fillets—in the freezer section of retailers nationwide.

Other Leading Brands:

Gorton’s