# Uses for the liquid (broth?) that jarred gefilte fish comes in **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028 "2020-01-27T00:04:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/1 "2020-01-27T00:04:59Z")
Confession time/full disclosure: I like gefilte fish that comes in jars. There. I’ve said it. I like it room temp and I like it cold right out of the fridge. I like it with sinus-searing horseradish, the kind that brings tears to your eyes and breaks you out in a sweat. So sue me. I suppose I’ll be banned after this. After you fish (as it were) the oval patty-things out of the jar you have this gelatinous, broth-y substance left. Rather a lot of it. Seems a shame to throw it away. Gefilte fish really isn’t all that fishy. At least the jarred stuff isn’t. I guess the broth isn’t either. I’ve only had homemade at other people’s houses, and it’s not something I’ll ever make. Would this liquid be a good addition to chicken soup, for instance, along with chicken broth? Any other uses for it besides pouring over the cat’s kibble? Any opinions on this? Am I the only one? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/2 "2020-01-27T00:28:52Z")
After trying [Yehuda](https://www.amazon.com/Yehuda-Gefilte-Fish-Original-Ounce/dp/B001SB16LW) Original Gefilte Fish, I discovered I actually like the stuff, after many decades of thinking gefilte fish was awful. I just finish the broth off when I’m done eating the fish. The original variety is ever-so-slightly sweet, not full-on sweet like the sweet broth variety. Much better than the Manischevitz of my childhood. I wish it weren’t so expensive. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/3 "2020-01-27T00:32:20Z")
I just drink/slurp it, right out of the jar. I wouldn’t think of adding it to chicken soup or giving it to my cat. But really, homemade isn’t that hard to make, and it’s radically different than what comes in jars. I used to help my _bubbe_ make it. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/4 "2020-01-27T00:50:18Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > After trying [Yehuda](https://www.amazon.com/Yehuda-Gefilte-Fish-Original-Ounce/dp/B001SB16LW) Original Gefilte Fish, I discovered I actually like the stuff, after many decades of thinking gefilte fish was awful. I just finish the broth off when I’m done eating the fish. The original variety is ever-so-slightly sweet, not full-on sweet like the sweet broth variety. Much better than the Manischevitz of my childhood. I wish it weren’t so expensive. Yes, definitely Yehuda. I had some this evening. 🙂 > [@panache45](#): > > I just drink/slurp it, right out of the jar. I wouldn’t think of adding it to chicken soup or giving it to my cat. > > But really, homemade isn’t that hard to make, and it’s radically different than what comes in jars. I used to help my _bubbe_ make it. I don’t have to start with a live carp in the bathtub, do I? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/5 "2020-01-27T02:32:03Z")
I was under the impression you lived in Texas or someplace like that. Do, uhhhh…your friends and neighbors know you eat gefilte fish? It might be wise to eat it alone, in a dark room. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/6 "2020-01-27T03:13:43Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I was under the impression you lived in Texas or someplace like that. > > Do, uhhhh…your friends and neighbors know you eat gefilte fish? It might be wise to eat it alone, in a dark room. Yes. I closed all the curtains before I chowed down. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/7 "2020-01-30T22:46:25Z")
I love the jelly. With good strong horseradish. I have to admit I have never heard of Yehuda, but I can’t imagine it is anything like my grandmother’s. She started by choosing a carp swimming in a tank at the fishmonger’s. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/8 "2020-01-31T00:05:01Z")
I believe the proper name for it is “aspic”. Yes, we were very amused by that as children. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/9 "2020-01-31T04:42:44Z")
I’d experiment with making a big batch if I had a way of preserving it. I can’t imagine it would freeze very well. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/10 "2020-01-31T12:47:41Z")
Growing up, gefilte fish, chopped liver, and matzo were some of my favorite foods. As an adult I’ve made chopped liver and purchased matzo (and made matzo balls for soup), but it’s been a long time since I’ve had gefilte fish. Guess I’ll be buying some now. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/11 "2020-01-31T13:42:32Z")
As a person who usually enjoys odd seafood concoctions, and as a former supermarket nightstocker whose responsibilities included restocking the Jewish section, I was always intrigued by the jars of strange-looking white blobs that the label claimed to be fish, but in 12 years I never bought one and tried it. It seemed like a fairly large jar and I didn’t want to have to toss out that much food if I hated it. I have many Jewish friends who could probably give me some, or at least certainly their parents could, but I’ve never taken advantage of that opportunity, either. Someday I’ll get around to trying it. I’m guessing it’s similar to Asian fish balls, which is fish meat that’s been pounded into a paste, then mixed with a few seasonings, formed into balls, and boiled. Is that close? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/12 "2020-01-31T13:44:54Z")
I’ve no use for the jelly, but love gefilte fish with tons of the hottest horseradish I can find. When I was a kid, my grandmother used to make shredded turkey in aspic. Great big deep casserole dish of the stuff. So rubbery you cut it with knife to serve. That with hot horseradish was heaven to me. That must be going on 40 years ago now. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/13 "2020-01-31T13:47:16Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’m guessing it’s similar to Asian fish balls, which is fish meat that’s been pounded into a paste, then mixed with a few seasonings, formed into balls, and boiled. Is that close? Similar. Not quite as dense. Gefilte fish tends to be fluffier. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/14 "2020-01-31T15:34:28Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > …I’m guessing it’s similar to Asian fish balls, which is fish meat that’s been pounded into a paste, then mixed with a few seasonings, formed into balls, and boiled. Is that close? Gefilte fish isn’t fishy-tasting at all. It has a very mild, neutral taste, which is why it needs: > [@QuickSilver](#): > > … love gefilte fish with tons of the hottest horseradish I can find… The other day I took too big a bite of horseradish and it sat for a few seconds in my throat as I attempted to swallow it, eventually flooding it with water. It occurred to me at that moment that you could kill someone with a big dose of horseradish. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/15 "2020-01-31T16:53:52Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I just drink/slurp it, right out of the jar. Let some dribble down your chin, and maintain eye contact to establish dominance. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/16 "2020-01-31T18:14:59Z")
Now I want some gefilte fish. I usually splurge for Gold’s whitefish and pike premium stuff, rather than plain carp. With plenty of Gold’s horseradish. Preferably the beet kind, to liven up the plating. I think matzoh tastes like cardboard. If I have Carr’s rosemary crackers instead, does it mark me as hopelessly _goyische?_ ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/17 "2020-01-31T19:32:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I just drink/slurp it, right out of the jar. I wouldn’t think of adding it to chicken soup or giving it to my cat. > > But really, homemade isn’t that hard to make, and it’s radically different than what comes in jars. I used to help my _bubbe_ make it. Speaking for your goyische neighbors, don’t. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/18 "2020-01-31T20:22:48Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Speaking for your goyische neighbors, don’t. :eek: Why? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/19 "2020-02-01T00:18:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > After you fish (as it were) the oval patty-things out of the jar you have this gelatinous,broth-y substance left. Rather a lot of it. Seems a shame to throw it away…Any other uses for it besides pouring over the cat’s kibble? Sell it to Hollywood, [to use as paranormal slime](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2nYqyfDMnQ&t=1m28s)in the next remake of Ghostbusters. ---
**Author:** ![road\_lobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@road\_lobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/road_lobo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028/20 "2020-02-01T03:23:13Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Sell it to Hollywood, [to use as paranormal slime](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2nYqyfDMnQ&t=1m28s)in the next remake of Ghostbusters. Fun ectoplasm fact (Wikipedia): “[Danish medium Einer] Nielsen was … caught hiding his ectoplasm in his rectum.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-the-liquid-broth-that-jarred-gefilte-fish-comes-in/847028.md?page=2)