Everything You Need To Know About Fish Fingers
Contents
What Are Fish Fingers?
Fish Fingers are a staple in most households. They are boneless fish that has a golden, crunchy breadcrumb coating around a soft and flaky white fish center.
The breading is usually made from ground cereal crumbs mixed with spices and may include other ingredients such as herbs and (for the more gourmet) actual chopped vegetables for texture and flavor.
Fish fingers are sometimes called fish sticks or fish poles.
*I use affiliate links in this post. If you buy anything from my links I will earn a small commission*
Are Fish Fingers Good For You?
Are fish fingers healthy for you? Yes, but only if the fish fingers are made and cooked with olive oil or another healthy oil.
Fish Fingers are fish fillets that are coated in butter or regular vegetable oil tend to be higher in cholesterol and fat than other foods.
Where Are Fish Fingers From?
Fish Fingers may have gotten their name from fishermen who’d often eat small cuts of fried or grilled fish between or during fishing trips.
Fish Fingers were first introduced in the 1950s by Birds Eye Foods. When Mrs Birds Eye heard that her husband brought fried fish to work for his co-workers, she quickly went back to the kitchen and created a new method of cooking fish fingers at home for him to enjoy with his friends outside of work!
When Were Fish Fingers Invented?
No one knows for sure, but the first known commercial frozen Fish Fingers were made by Birds Eye in 1953. Fish fingers became an immediate hit and soon appeared on store shelves all across Britain. Nowadays they’re available in most supermarkets in many countries around the world.
Are Fish Fingers Gluten Free?
If you are gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease, then you can enjoy fish fingers, but you will need to ensure they are specially labelled gluten-free.
Most Fish Fingers consist of just fish and seasoning, making them naturally gluten-free. However, the bread crumbs coating the outside are usually made from cereal that contains gluten, so you should always check the label.
Can You Eat Fish Fingers When Pregnant?
Fish Fingers can be safely eaten when pregnant, as long as they are cooked to the correct temperature.
Fish Fingers should always be cooked until they’re steaming hot before serving, and never raw or partially cooked.
It is also important that the fish inside the Fish Finger is opaque and flakes easily when you poke it with a fork. This is because cooking them thoroughly will kill any bacteria that may be present.
Best Recipe Fish Fingers
The best recipe for fish fingers depends on your preference but usually it is clean fingers that you coat properly and spread breadcrumbs over. Most fish recipes use fish pieces that you pat dry before covering and most fish finger breadcrumb recipes have freshly ground black pepper.
They make a delicious appetizer and are either baked, grilled or deep-fried in hot oil.
How Many Carbs In Fish Fingers?
Fish Fingers are fairly low in carbs, with each Finger containing around 5-6g of carbs.
How Many Calories In Fish Fingers?
You’ll find about 270 calories in a typical serving of three Fish Fingers.
Can You Eat Fish Fingers On Keto Diet?
Fish Fingers can be enjoyed on the Keto diet as long as they are breaded with almond meal or coconut flour and fried in healthy oil.
Fish is a great source of protein. Protein is essential for maintaining and building muscles, as well as regulating metabolism. Fish, however, can be enjoyed more on the keto diet since it doesn’t contain carbohydrates like meat does.
How To Make Fish Fingers Healthy
There are many ways to make Fish Fingers healthier. Here’s how…
- Switch The Breadcrumbs For Almond Meal Or Coconut Flour – This will not only lower the carbs but also boost the protein and healthy fats.
- Use A Healthy Oil To Fry Them In – Olive oil, coconut oil or macadamia oil are all great.
- Cut The Fingers Into Smaller Pieces – This will mean you don’t consume so many calories in one go.
- Add Vegetables To The Batter – Try adding in some grated carrots or pumpkin, to add even more nutrients and fiber.
- Eat Fish Fingers With A Side Salad – You’ll feel less hungry when you eat fish fingers alongside a salad or grilled vegetables.
How Many Fish Fingers Is A Portion?
Each average-sized Fish Finger will typically contain around 80 calories. One tends to eat three fish fingers in one portion. One pack of delicious fish fingers can generally feed the whole family.
Can Diabetics Eat Fish Fingers?
Diabetics can eat fish fingers as fish is healthy and good food to eat, however, it is best to try and use almond meal or coconut flour and to bake or grill and not fry them.
Crumbed fish sticks are higher in carbs and if you’re diabetic, it’s best to stick with low-carb vegetables and meat.
Seafood is a great source of protein, but some types tend to be higher in fat than others.
Fish Fingers usually contain around 4g of saturated fat per serving – so should only be eaten occasionally or as part of a healthy balanced diet.
Homemade Fish Fingers V’s Shop Bought
Making your own fish recipes is healthy as you are in control of what goes into them. You can add herbs and veg to make them more healthy.
Shop-bought fish fingers however are still super tasty, convenient, and quick to cook and can be eaten as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
What Fish Is Good For Fish Fingers?
You’ll find Cod, Haddock, Coley and Skate are all commonly used to make Fish Fingers. They are all lean fish and taste delicious when covered in panko breadcrumbs or a homemade covering.
How Long Do Fish Fingers Take To Cook?
Fish Fingers should be cooked at 180 degrees Celsius, till they are steaming hot and the coating is golden.
It will take around 5-7 minutes to cook them in the oven or 2-3 minutes in a frying pan.
Fish fingers can be baked, grilled, air fried, or fried regularly. They are best eaten when golden brown.
Grill Fish Fingers
To Grill fish fingers, simply brush each side with a little oil and cook for around five minutes, turning halfway through.
Air Fryer Fish Fingers
To air-fry fish fingers follow the same method as grilling them but set the temperature to 170 degrees Celsius.
How Long To Air Fry Fish Fingers?
It should take around 8-10 minutes to cook your Fish Fingers in the air fryer.
Fry Fish Fingers In A Pan Or Skillet
To fry your fish fingers, heat a dash of oil on medium-high in your pan or skillet.
Cook the fish fingers at this temperature for around 3 minutes on each side or until they are crispy and golden.
What Fish Is Good For Fish Fingers?
You’ll find Cod, Haddock, Coley and Skate are all commonly used to make Fish Fingers.They are all lean fish and taste delicious when covered in panko breadcrumbs or a homemade covering.
How Long Do Fish Fingers Take To Cook?
Fish Fingers should be cooked at 180 degrees celsius, till they are steaming hot and the coating is golden.
It will take around 5-7 minutes to cook them in the oven or 2-3 minutes in a frying pan.
Fish fingers can be baked, grilled, air fried, or fried regular. They are best eaten when golden brown.
Grill Fish Fingers
To Grill fish fingers , simply brush each side with a little oil and cook for around five minutes, turning halfway through.
Air Fryer Fish Fingers
To Air Fry fish fingers follow the same method as to grill them but set the temperature to 170 degrees celsius.
Fry Fish Fingers In A Pan Or Skillet
To fry your fish fingers, heat a dash of oil on medium-high in your pan or skillet.
Cook the fish fingers at this temperature for around 3 minutes each side or until they are crispy and golden.
Baked Fish Fingers
Oven baked fish fingers are very easy to make. Just place them on some baking paper and a baking sheet and pop them in the oven at 190 degrees celsius for around ten minutes, or until they’re cooked through and crispy.
One way to make your homemade breaded fish fingers a little healthier is to air fry them instead of deep-frying them.
Can You Microwave Fish Fingers?
Yes, however if you do so it will be easy to overcook the coating and the fish. If using a microwave, ensure to cook on high for around 30-60 seconds at a time and check between each interval.
What Can I Serve With Fish Fingers?
If you’re wondering what to have with fish fingers then here are some suggestions you may enjoy:
- Fish Fingers and Chips
- Coconut crusted fish fingers, oven baked fries and homemade tartar sauce.
- Sautéed Brussels Sprouts Fish Fingers
- Oven baked sweet potato wedges and a side salad.
- Grilled Vegetables And Oven Baked Fish Fingers
One of the best things about Fish fingers is that they’re versatile, you can eat them with pretty much anything.
The Best Fish Dip
You can enjoy your fingers with a tasty dip or sauce. Here are a few which I would recommend:
- Tartare Sauce
- Tomato Dipping Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Salsa
Fish Fingers And Custard
One of the strangest sides to serve with fish fingers which are ever so popular is custard and it tastes just as good as weird as this sounds! That’s right in some parts of the UK, custard and fish fingers are a popular dinner combination!
Matt Smith’s version of Dr Who otherwise known as the 11th Doctor was also a lover of Fish Fingers and Custard. As a result, Fish Fingers and Custard day is celebrated annually on April 3rd each year.
What Are Low-Carb Alternatives To Fish Fingers?
If you’re looking for low-carb alternatives to fish fingers, then there are plenty of options available. Vegetables such as eggplant or zucchini make fantastic substitutes for fish fingers. Simply slice them into thin strips and coat them in your favorite batter.
You can then air fry or bake them until they’re golden brown and crispy.
Another great alternative is cauliflower fingers which are made by coating florets in a delicious batter before baking or frying. They make a tasty, low-carb snack
Homemade Fish Finger Recipe
To make your own fish fingers recipe you can follow this recipe.
Once you have your breaded coating, place them in the oven at 180 degrees celsius for just over 10 minutes. They should be nice and crispy when they are ready.
Ingredients For Homemade Fish Fingers
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Black Pepper
- Salt
- 3 tbsp chopped parsley or coriander
- 400g Cod Fillet (cut into finger sized pieces)
- 1-2 Medium Potatoes (cooked and mashed)
- 1 Egg
- 3 tbsp all-purpose Flour
For The Breadcrumbs:
2 slices of bread, torn into small pieces
Place the bread in a blender and blitz until it resembles bread crumbs. Transfer to a bowl with the remaining ingredients for the breading and stir until combined.
Coating Your Fish Fingers
Coat each fish finger in the egg, then in the breading mixture and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 10-12 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius, flipping halfway through.
After cooking squeeze a little lemon juice for added flavor.
Serve with lemon wedges and fries or a tasty side salad.
Enjoy Fish Fingers As Part Of A Balanced Meal
Fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fats, which can help reduce inflammation and protect against disease. It is important to ensure that you include fish in a balanced diet as part of your overall health.
More Useful Articles And Food Facts
You may find the following food articles interesting:
How Much Juice In Half A Lemon?
Infused Water Recipes For Hot Days
How To Roast Garlic In an Oven
Best Chocolate Caramel Bark Recipe
