Who each format suits

People preparing food for a group

If you are making several sandwiches, wraps, salads or fishcakes, consider how much salmon the recipe will use before choosing a larger tin.

People short on preparation time

A skinless-and-boneless format can reduce preparation steps, but Tesco and M&S both caution that small bones may still remain in their respective products.

People making a smaller dish or choosing red salmon

A smaller tin may fit the portion you need. If salmon type matters to you, Princes lists both standard red salmon and a skinless-and-boneless red-salmon format.

What matters when choosing

Start with the amount your picnic dish needs, then decide how much preparation you can do and whether salmon type or leftovers affect your choice.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Amount for the group Compare tin size with the amount your sandwiches, salad or fishcakes will use. If I am feeding several people, I want enough salmon for the shared dish without opening more than we need. About 42% of consumers put the amount for a group first.
Preparation and bones Check whether the tin is skinless and boneless, and read any warning about remaining bones. When I am assembling sandwiches shortly before leaving, I want less skin and bone handling, but I still need to inspect the fish. Quicker preparation is the primary need for about 33% of consumers.
Portion and salmon type Check the tin size, salmon type and instructions for any contents left after opening. For a smaller dish, I want a portion that fits; I may also be looking specifically for red salmon. About 25% of consumers chiefly prioritise portion or salmon-type fit.

Picnic preparation pitfalls

  • Choosing a large tin without planning the dish

    A larger tin is useful for a shared filling only if the recipe calls for that amount or you can handle what remains after opening.

    Work out the quantity needed before selecting a pack size, and read that tin’s storage instructions.

  • Assuming boneless means no bones can remain

    Tesco’s skinless-and-boneless pink salmon and M&S’s skinless-and-boneless red salmon both warn that small bones may remain.

    Inspect and flake the salmon before mixing it into sandwiches or salad if bones are a concern.

  • Applying one leftover rule to every tin

    The checked M&S red-salmon instructions say to eat refrigerated leftovers within 24 hours; Tesco’s skinless-and-boneless pink salmon gives two days. Both specify transferring unused contents to a non-metallic container.

    Follow the instructions on the tin you open rather than assuming every product has the same storage period.

  • Leaving prepared salmon dishes in the heat

    An unopened tin and a prepared cold picnic dish have different storage needs. Waitrose & Partners advises keeping cold perishable picnic food in a fridge or cool box until serving.

    Keep prepared sandwiches and salads chilled and out of the sun. Waitrose & Partners advises against leaving served dishes out for more than two hours, or one hour in very hot weather.

Brands and retailer ranges to consider

Tesco

Tesco lists standard pink salmon in several tin sizes, alongside red salmon and skinless-and-boneless options.

  • Its 418 g standard pink-salmon tin offers an amount to consider for a shared dish.
  • Tesco warns that some bones may remain even in its skinless-and-boneless pink salmon.

Asda

Asda lists a 213 g Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon tin.

  • The 213 g size gives shoppers a mid-size pink-salmon option.
  • Its product information says the salmon contains soft edible bones.

Princes

Princes lists pink and red tinned salmon, including a 170 g skinless-and-boneless red-salmon format.

  • The red-salmon range offers a choice between a standard tin and a lower-preparation format.
  • Check the exact variant: the standard and skinless-and-boneless formats are different products.

John West

John West’s 213 g Wild Pacific Pink Salmon is an option for salads, sandwiches and fishcakes; UK retailer listings also show its red salmon.

  • John West identifies its 213 g pink-salmon product as keta salmon and salt.
  • Check the particular tin’s format and size rather than assuming all John West salmon products suit the same recipe.

M&S

M&S lists Wild Alaskan Red Salmon in standard and skinless-and-boneless formats.

  • Its product pages give instructions for refrigerating unused salmon and eating it within 24 hours.
  • The standard product contains bones, and M&S says small bones may remain in the skinless-and-boneless version.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's has product pages for branded tinned salmon, including John West pink and red varieties.

  • Individual branded product pages let shoppers check the specific tin they want.
  • Check the current listing before planning a picnic around a particular product.

Joybuy pink-salmon tins

These Morrisons pink-salmon options offer a single 213 g tin or a pack of four for picnic sandwiches, salads or fishcakes. Choose the quantity your dish needs and check the label if bones matter to your group.

Morrisons Pink Salmon 213g, pack of four

Morrisons Pink Salmon 213g, pack of four

Consider the four-pack when preparing several picnic dishes or feeding a group. Check how many tins the recipes require, and read the label for skin, bones and storage instructions before use.

View on Joybuy
Morrisons Pink Salmon 213g tin

Morrisons Pink Salmon 213g

Consider the single tin when a smaller picnic recipe needs pink salmon. Check that 213 g fits the dish, and read the label for skin, bones and instructions for any leftovers.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a large tin always the right choice for a picnic?

No. Choose a large tin when the dish will use it or you can follow its instructions for storing leftovers. For a smaller recipe, check whether a smaller tin fits the amount you need.

Can skinless-and-boneless salmon still contain bones?

Yes. Tesco’s skinless-and-boneless pink salmon and M&S’s skinless-and-boneless red salmon both caution that small bones may remain. Inspect the fish while preparing the picnic dish if this matters to the people eating it.

How should I store salmon left in an opened tin?

Follow the exact product label. Tesco instructs users of its skinless-and-boneless pink salmon to transfer unused contents to a non-metallic container, cover, refrigerate and eat within two days; M&S gives a 24-hour refrigerated limit for its checked red-salmon product.

Can prepared salmon picnic food sit in the sun?

Keep prepared cold salmon dishes chilled and out of the sun until serving. Waitrose & Partners advises using a fridge or cool box for cold perishable picnic food and not leaving served dishes out for more than two hours, or one hour in very hot weather.

Is tinned salmon suitable for a guest with a fish allergy?

Salmon is fish, and the checked salmon listings identify fish in their ingredient information. Check the current label, including its allergen and precautionary information, when preparing food for a guest with an allergy.