When it comes to preserving the integrity of sardines—both in flavor and nutrition—how they’re cooked makes all the difference. Most of the tinned sardines lining grocery store shelves have been fried in low-grade oils, sacrificing quality for shelf life and cost. At Skin & Bone, we chose a different path—steamed, never fried.
Here’s why that matters.
1. Preserving Nutrients, Not Destroying Them
Frying sardines at high temperatures can degrade their natural omega-3 fatty acids—one of the biggest reasons people turn to sardines for their health benefits. Steaming, on the other hand, is a gentler process that retains more of those essential nutrients, including:
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DHA & EPA (essential omega-3s)
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Vitamin D
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Calcium (especially when eating the bones)
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Protein
Bottom line: Steaming keeps the good stuff intact.
2. Cleaner Taste, No Burnt Oil Aftertaste
Ever opened a can of sardines and been hit with a fishy or bitter aroma? That’s often a byproduct of frying in refined vegetable oils or reusing low-quality oils.
Steaming allows the natural flavor of the fish to shine, especially when paired with a fresh, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, like we use in every Skin & Bone tin.
Expect:
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A tender, flaky texture
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Pure Atlantic flavor
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No aftertaste from burnt or oxidized oil
3. A More Traditional Approach
In the old port towns of Portugal, steaming is the preferred method of sardine preparation. It’s how local canneries have treated the best catch for generations.
We honor that tradition by working with a family-run cannery in Porto, where our sardines are:
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Scaled, gutted, and steamed
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Hand-packed by fishwives
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Preserved in fresh extra virgin olive oil
This isn’t a shortcut—it’s how it was always done when flavor and integrity mattered most.
4. Better for You, Better for the Planet
Fried sardines often come with:
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Industrial oils
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Heavy processing
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More waste
Steaming is a lower-impact, cleaner process that not only benefits your body—but respects the fish and the oceans they come from.
Why We Steam at Skin & Bone
It’s simple: Steaming preserves everything we love about sardines—their flavor, nutrition, and heritage. The result? Sardines that taste like they’re fresh from the Atlantic, packed just hours after landing in Porto.
No shortcuts. No frying. Just real food, done right.
Hungry yet?
👉 Shop our Steamed Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
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