The fish reviewed are Pollock, Cod and Haddock, which are considered non oily fish. As a result, they have a mild taste. By contrast, fish such as Salmon, Sardines and Tuna are oily fish which have higher levels of fish oils and are stronger flavored fish.

Fish Sticks

The two reviewed fish sticks are made with Pollock, which has a similar flavor to Haddock and Cod, but milder.

Ian’s Fish Sticks

Ian’s fish sticks are dipped in corn flour and milled corn. The fish sticks are small, perfect for kids, but tasty enough for adults. Because of the cornbread, the coating is coarse and the texture is similar to crunchy fried onion rings.  They are free of egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, soy and gluten.

Starfish Fish Sticks

Starfish fish sticks are also made with corn flour, with the addition of rice flour, which makes the coating less coarse than Ian’s fish stick. Both brands have a great taste, but I prefer Starfish because the breading is smoother and the fish is more tender.

Starfish Crispy Battered Cod

Cod has a subtle, clean flavor, perfect for those who don’t like the “fishy” taste of Sardine or Salmon. The Cod is coated with corn and rice flours. It has a mild taste and is crispy, flaky and delicious.

Starfish Haddock

Of all the fish reviewed, this one is my favorite.  It’s tender and while the taste is similar to Cod, it has a milder, slightly sweeter flavor. If you miss the popular frozen fish sticks Gorton’s and Van de Kamp’s, this is the gluten free version. It is crispy and delicious.

All Starfish fish are certified gluten free by the National Celiac Association. They are also egg, milk, peanut, soy and gluten free.

Chicken Nuggets

Ian’s Breaded Chicken Nuggets

Ian’s chicken nuggets are dipped in cornflake crumbs which has been used for years as a substitute for flour in fried and baked chicken. Like their fish sticks, the meat is tender while the coating is crispy. The chicken has no added antibiotics or hormones. They are also free of egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, soy and gluten.

Applegate Naturals Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets

The chicken is raised without antibiotics and is gluten and dairy free. The nuggets are breaded with rice flour, corn flour, and tapioca starch. I baked them and they came out very tender. This brand looks and tastes the most like the chicken nuggets served at fast food restaurants.

Bell & Evans Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets

Maybe it’s because the nuggets are air chilled and marinated in water and sea salt that they taste very tender and fresh. Being air chilled, it retains no water and locks in natural juices. This brand is my favorite because the chicken is uncooked, so you are not reheating cooked nuggets. All these factors mean you get moist and fresh tasting chicken. In fact, it’s so authentic, the chicken pieces come in various sizes and not the uniformed round shape. The chicken is raised without antibiotics and breaded with rice and corn flours. It’s free of gluten and dairy, but does contain soybean oil and egg.

Conclusion

Whether you like fish sticks, Cod or Haddock, Ian’s and Starfish have great options. Ian’s, Applegate and Bell & Evans also make tender chicken nuggets, raised without antibiotics, gluten or dairy.

Fun Food Fact

The plural form of fish is fish. According to Grammarly.com, you can use fishes as the plural form of fish when referring to multiple species of fish, especially in scientific contexts.

Did You Know

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