Fakeaway cooks who want visible pieces
If tuna is a prominent topping or part of a salad, the distinction between fillets, steaks and chunks affects how it appears in the finished dish. Tesco Groceries lists these as different tinned formats.
Who is choosing?
Shoppers assembling a quick cupboard meal
You want tuna that can be added to a filling, pasta or salad without cooking fresh fish. The piece size and packing medium still need to suit the recipe.
Cooks following a fresh-tuna recipe
If the method calls for searing a tuna steak, look for chilled fresh tuna rather than a product labelled tinned fillets or tinned steaks.
What matters when buying?
For a fakeaway-night tuna meal, check the recipe method before choosing a tin or a chilled steak. If a tin fits, decide whether the tuna should remain in pieces or blend into the dish.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Visible tuna pieces | Look for fillets or tinned steaks rather than chunks or flakes; check the drained weight if the amount of fish matters to your recipe. | If tuna stays visible on pizza or in a salad, I want recognisable pieces rather than fish mixed throughout the dish; about 40% of consumers put intact presentation first. |
| Quick, adaptable assembly | Choose a piece size that will mix into the dish, then check whether the oil, water, brine or sauce suits its seasoning. | For a quick filling or pasta sauce, I want a cupboard ingredient that fits the flavours I am using; about 30% of consumers prioritise quick assembly and flexibility. |
| A recipe requiring fresh tuna | Check whether the method calls for cooking a tuna steak; if so, look in the chilled-fish section rather than the tinned aisle. | When the recipe calls for searing a tuna steak, I need fish intended for that method, not a ready-to-use tin; about 30% of consumers make the fresh-steak method their primary concern. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Treating tinned fillets as fresh tuna steaks
“Fillets” describes a tinned format, not chilled fish for a searing recipe. Tesco Groceries lists tinned tuna and chilled yellowfin tuna steaks in separate categories.
Read the cooking method before shopping: choose chilled tuna steak when cooking the fish is central to the dish, or a tinned format when you need tuna to add to it.
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Counting tuna as oily fish
The NHS says fresh and canned tuna do not count as oily fish.
If you are planning meals around the NHS oily-fish guidance, do not count a tuna dish towards that category.
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Overlooking pregnancy guidance
The NHS advises people who are pregnant not to eat more than four cans of tuna or two tuna steaks a week.
If this applies to you, consider tuna already planned for the week before adding it to a fakeaway meal.
Brands to consider for tuna formats
John West
Its canned-tuna range includes chunks and no-drain formats relevant to cupboard meals.
- John West lists tuna, water and salt for its Tuna Chunks in Brine product.
- Check the individual product’s format and packing medium rather than applying that ingredient list across the range.
Princes
Princes lists chunks, drained tuna, sandwich tuna, tuna steaks and flavoured Ocean Select products in its range.
- These named formats give shoppers distinct options for mixed fillings or dishes where larger pieces remain visible.
- Check the specific tin for its packing medium and flavouring before adding other seasoning.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label tinned chunks and steaks, as well as yellowfin tuna steaks in its chilled-fish category.
- The separate categories help distinguish tinned tuna for assembly from chilled tuna for a cooking recipe.
- Check the exact product and recipe method: a tinned steak is not a chilled fresh steak.
Joybuy tuna selections
These tinned tuna options suit fakeaway dishes built around visible pieces or quick mixed fillings. Choose by piece size and packing medium; recipes that require searing call for chilled fresh tuna instead.
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Tropical Sun Tuna Steaks in Sunflower Oil
Consider this tinned steak format when you want pieces of tuna for a salad or pasta without cooking a fresh steak. The sunflower oil will be part of the dish if you use the packing liquid.
After opening, the listed directions say to transfer unused tuna to a non-metallic container, refrigerate it and consume it within 24 hours.
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Rio Mare Tuna Fillets in Olive Oil, 180g Glass Jar
The fillet format suits a pasta or salad where you want distinct pieces, while the olive oil suits a dish in which you intend to use that packing medium.
If the quantity of fish matters, check the jar’s drained weight. Follow its label for storage after opening.
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Fish4ever Tuna Steaks in Organic Olive Oil 160g
The tinned steak format is an option for a rice or pasta dish where you want pieces of tuna and olive oil as part of the flavour.
Check the pack directions before serving it without further cooking, and account for the olive oil and sea salt when seasoning the dish.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 3 × 100g
Chunks suit a filling or pasta bake where the tuna will be mixed in rather than displayed as fillets. This three-can pack is labelled as packed in springwater.
Despite “No Drain” in the name, check this pack’s directions to confirm whether to drain it or use it straight from the can.
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Century Tuna Flakes in Adobo Style Sauce 180g
Choose flakes for a rice dish or filling where intact fillets are not needed. The adobo-style sauce makes this a seasoned option rather than a plain tuna base.
Check the pack’s ingredient and allergen information if either affects your choice.
Common questions
Are tinned tuna fillets fresh tuna fillets?
No. “Fillets” describes the format of the tuna in the tin. If your fakeaway recipe calls for searing a fresh tuna steak, choose chilled tuna intended for cooking instead.
Should I use fillets, steaks or chunks for tuna pasta?
Choose tinned fillets or steaks if you want pieces to remain visible; choose chunks when you will stir the tuna into a sauce. Check whether the packing liquid suits the flavours you plan to add.
What should I do with tuna left after opening?
Follow the storage directions on the specific pack, including any instructions to transfer and refrigerate unused contents and consume them within a stated time.
Does tinned tuna count as oily fish?
No. The NHS says neither fresh nor canned tuna counts as oily fish, so do not count a tuna fakeaway towards that category when planning meals.
Is there a limit on tuna during pregnancy?
Yes. For people who are pregnant, the NHS advises no more than four cans of tuna or two tuna steaks a week. Consider tuna in other meals that week before choosing it for fakeaway night.