Trader Joe’s canned fish all looks great. I’ll never critique Trader Joe’s graphic design sensibilities and Trader Joe’s tin fish is no exception. It’s not as pretty as some of the expensive stuff you get from Portugal (those boxes are straight up art), but it looks way better than a can of Bumblebee or Chicken of the Sea. And when it comes to what’s inside the cans, some Trader Joe’s canned fish totally lives up to the stylish label. But not all of it.
Which Trader Joe’s tin fish is worthy of your Trader Joe’s haul? We tried 13 different types of Trader Joe’s canned fish to find out—from the salmon to the mussels to the many, many types of tuna. It was a very ripe smelling conference room when we left it after our taste test.
We looked for good texture (not dry, not mushy), great flavor (not too fishy, perfectly savory), and utility. And then we ranked them all. This isn’t a list of the best Trader Joe’s canned fish (though you’ll find it on here). This is a ranking of all the Trader Joe’s canned fish we found. Let’s go.
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
- Trader Joe’s Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water No Salt Added
-
It’s tinny. It’s dry. It’s not good tuna. If you were forced to buy this, then mix it with a ton of mayo and other flavorings. But otherwise, there’s better no salt added tuna out there. (We’ll find it for you, just give us some time.)
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Wild Skipjack Tuna in a Pouch
-
Tuna in a pouch is all the rage right now. At least, that’s how it seemed when I was sourcing products for our latest update to our best canned tuna ranking. And while pouched tuna is a great pantry staple—it’s light and easy to shove anywhere—this one was far too dry and oddly tangy and minerally.
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Skipjack Tuna Chunk Light in Water
-
I have cats. So I come into contact with a lot of cat food. And, if I’m being honest, I tried cat food as a child (a small, curious child!). So I know cat food. And this Trader Joe’s tuna fish is a lot like cat food. It’s mushy and salty and heavy on the iron-rich flavor that tuna sometimes has. There’s better Trader Joe’s canned tuna on here, I promise.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water Sea Salt Added
-
This canned tuna is just fine. It tastes like your basic canned tuna. Nothing more. Nothing less. But there’s better canned albacore in water from Trader Joe’s, if that’s what you’re looking for. In fact, it’s next up on this list. Keep scrolling.
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Solid White Albacore in Water Low Sodium
-
This version of Trader Joe’s canned tuna in water is better than the sea salt one. It’s not quite as dry and it has a perfectly decent flavor. If you don’t like your tuna in olive oil and you’re looking for the best Trader Joe’s tuna fish to buy, then look no further. This boring but satisfactory can of low sodium tuna is here to save the day.
Credit: Merc
- Trader Joe’s Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt Added
-
Trader Joe’s tuna fish is better in oil. This one, which is canned yellowfin tuna (fancy!), has a great texture, thanks to the oil. But I still wouldn’t eat it straight. I’d still mix it with something or top it with cheese in a tuna melt, because the oil is oddly fruity. Olive oil is often described as fruity, but this is, like, fruit punch fruity. It’s distracting when eaten on its own.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Solid White Albacore Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil Sea Salt Added
-
Here’s the best Trader Joe’s canned tuna to buy. It’s firm and flaky. The oil gives the fish a really good texture. It’s certainly not as good as the fancy jarred-in-oil tuna you can find at other grocery stores, but it’s much, much cheaper. If you’re looking for the best Trader Joe’s tuna fish, look no further (but still don’t expect to be wowed).
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Sardines in Olive Oil with Smoke Flavor
-
I don’t love the flavor of liquid smoke, and I was expecting it with these smoke flavored Trader Joe’s sardines. But I didn’t taste a lick of liquid smoke. In fact, I didn’t detect any smoke at all. That said, these are pretty decent sardines. They’re not too salty, they have a silky texture, and the fish isn’t too fishy. It’s pleasantly minerally and sardine-y. They are bone-in, though, so if that makes you squeamish, there’s a better option for Trader Joe’s sardines on this list.
Credit: Merc
- Trader Joe’s Sockeye Salmon
-
Trader Joe’s canned salmon is good canned salmon. It tastes like real salmon. I know, that sounds like a low bar, but I tried a lot of salmon for our best canned salmon ranking, and a lot of it tastes like canned tuna. This one is buttery and oily and salty and savory and distinctly salmon-y. I’d happily put this Trader Joe’s canned salmon on a salad or use it in salmon cakes.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Lightly Smoked Mussels
-
Canned smoked mussels often turn to gritty mush in your mouth. But these Trader Joe’s canned mussels do a great job of holding their shape and remaining, let’s say, al dente as you bite. And they’re not too smoky, either. There aren’t a ton of recipes called for smoked mussels, but these ones would be great on a snacking board alongside some tiny toothpicks.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Wild Caught Boneless Grilled Sardines in Olive Oil
-
Interested in trying sardines for the first time? Try these Trader Joe’s sardines. There are no bones (personally, I love eating tiny bones, but I understand not everyone shares my predilections). And the fish tastes super fresh—like it was just grilled and bathed in olive oil. You seriously get a touch of that charred charcoal flavor. This is a unique canned seafood offering from Trader Joe’s, you won’t find it at your local Kroger.
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Lightly Smoked Salmon in Virgin Olive Oil
-
Boy oh boy, I love this canned smoked salmon. I love how silky and smooth it is. You can just spread it right on toast or a bagel. And the label doesn’t lie; it really is lightly smoked. You taste just a hint of smoke. It’s simply a lovely, oiled salmon that’s good for everything from salads to sandwiches to breakfast hash. And, of course, you can simply eat it right out of the can.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Smoked Trout in Canola Oil
-
Trader Joe’s canned trout has a bit of a cult following on the internet and for good reason. It’s ultra smoky, ultra savory, and ultra flavorful. It’s firm but flakes easily. And the oil, though not olive oil, actually does taste good, infused with all that fishy goodness. It lingers in your mouth. So, you better like fish. It would make for a great dip but it’d also be great paired with tangy cream cheese on a bagel. It’s a great, cheap alternative to the other, much more expensive canned smoked trout on the market.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
No Salt Added Albacore
Wild Skipjack Tuna Pouch
Skipjack Tuna in Water
Albacore with Sea Salt
Low Sodium Albacore
Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna
White Albacore Tuna in Oil
Sardines in Olive Oil
Sockeye Salmon
Lightly Smoked Mussels
Boneless Grilled Sardines
Lightly Smoked Salmon
Smoked Trout
