# A poll for people who like canned fish **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505 "2014-04-19T20:41:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/21 "2014-04-20T03:38:47Z")
No big whoop. The bones are healthful. ETA: Crunchy frog anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/22 "2014-04-20T16:11:14Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I eat canned mackerel a lot, and the bones are almost undetectable, you have to look for them. I don’t mind the bones in canned mackerel, but since I buy it to make mackerel mousse, I dislike that the filets still have the skins on. Those, I will remove before I start mashing the fish up. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/23 "2014-04-20T20:56:09Z")
Eat the whole damn thing. Nitpick: You used “ambivalent” when I think you meant “indifferent.” The former means you have two strong and opposing feelings towards something; the latter means you just don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/24 "2014-04-20T23:03:48Z")
The only bone-in canned fish I eat is salmon. I eat the bones, but only after I’ve separated the contents a bit in a bowl and simply smash the bones up with a fork. Mix it together and they “disappear.” Much easier than trying to pick them out. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/25 "2014-04-20T23:37:46Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Eat the whole damn thing. > > Nitpick: You used “ambivalent” when I think you meant “indifferent.” The former means you have two strong and opposing feelings towards something; the latter means you just don’t care. The middle option is meant to be a catch-all neutral position - so I meant being on the fence, which could be indifference, or could be mixed feelings that net out to zero,- which is my understanding of the term ‘ambivalent’. I don’t think the word necessarily implies strongly opposing mixtures. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/26 "2014-04-20T23:53:10Z")
I’ll eat the larger bones if they’re in there but most of the canned fish I eat are sardines, herring or anchovies so the bones are teensy-tiny and not noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/27 "2014-04-21T15:04:37Z")
Salmon patties from canned pink salmon is one of my favoities. I lied to my girlfiend about it not having bones and she loves it also. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/28 "2014-04-21T15:12:08Z")
The canned fish I eat most often are Aldi European sardines in chili oil. I have no idea if they have any bones. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/29 "2014-04-21T15:47:06Z")
Carp all you want, but I’m moving this to Cafe Society. From IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/30 "2014-04-21T16:39:11Z")
Mmmmmm. Herring, mackerel, anchovies, etc. Love 'em bones and all. But what’s the story with Blind Robins (the name)? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/31 "2014-04-21T17:37:41Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Carp all you want, but I’m moving this to Cafe Society. From IMHO. Thanks. I didn’t realise we could have polls there (here). ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/32 "2014-04-21T19:27:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > We’re talking about the small, crumbly bones such as are found in sardines and pilchards. Salmon vertebrae are a different kettle of fish. If we’re specifically talking about these bones: I pull the sardine in half, remove the spine and whatever bones come out with it (which is usually most of them). Then I eat whatever is still there. I’ve never had canned salmon that had bones. (But I’ve only had canned salmon once or twice in my life. ) I don’t bother removing bones from fish as small as anchovies. I didn’t think it was even possible, but I know someone who tries. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/33 "2014-04-21T20:15:20Z")
Once I was visiting a friend of mine at her college dorm and we decided we’d be all grown up and cook our own dinner. We both liked salmon cakes, the way our moms made them, so we thought we give them a try. When we opened up the can of salmon and saw the skin and bones, we assumed there had been a terrible mistake and that we’d gotten a bad can. Neither of us had ever hung around the kitchen enough when our moms were cooking to know that’s just how it’s packed. These days I discard most of the skin and bones, but if a few sneak into the mix, it’s no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/34 "2014-04-21T20:45:30Z")
I chose the third option but I probably should have chosen the fourth. I pick out the bones but mostly the spines, I am not overly fastidious about the pin bones. I also dislike the skin, the texture is a bit too weird for me in canned fish. But I bought some boneless, skinless sardines once and they were way too dry, so I guess I will stick with picking out the bones and skin on my own. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/35 "2014-04-22T01:32:21Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I’ve never had canned salmon that had bones. (But I’ve only had canned salmon once or twice in my life.) I kinda thought they were there by definition. The recipes I follow say: open can, pick through and remove bones, etc. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/36 "2014-04-22T01:36:43Z")
I love sardines and herring. I’m surprised though to read some actually eat the bones. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/37 "2014-04-22T01:41:30Z")
I love canned seafood and don’t mind bones in sardines, kippers, and the like. The only ones that annoy me are anchovies: I find their bones to be like little hypodermic needles that are always getting stuck in my tongue or gums. To avoid this I simply chop them up super fine before putting them on a salad or using them in dressing. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/38 "2014-04-22T03:30:34Z")
Tuna, no bones. And the Tuna must be packed in organic, free range, water. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/39 "2014-04-22T03:48:00Z")
Ick. Bones are a big no-no. I only buy canned fish without bones. ---
**Author:** ![JEngelman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@JEngelman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JEngelman)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505/40 "2014-04-26T15:03:42Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > This thread will be a poll for people who like canned fish. People who don’t like fish, or don’t like canned fish are out of scope of the continuum of opinion I wish to observe - and so if you hate or strongly dislike canned fish, you need not respond. > > The question relates to canned whole fish such as sardines, pilchards, mackerel, eels - any kind of fish that usually (or sometimes) contains the cooked (and edible) bones of the fish - what is your reaction and treatment of the fish bones? > > Poll to follow… The bones have calcium in them. They are soft, so they are easy to chew and easy to digest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-for-people-who-like-canned-fish/686505.md?page=3)