We tested canned tuna fish from stores.
In Iltalehti’s tuna test, there were nine different types of canned tuna to be tasted. The tuna selection in the shops is really big. This time, only tuna fillets preserved in oil (no flakes, no seasoned) were chosen for the test, which are sold in S and K Group and Lidl stores.
There are both the store’s own brands and more expensive products.
Some of the test tuna are MSC certified, which means the product meets the responsibility criteria.
The brands of the tested tunas were covered with foil so that the tasters did not know the brand but could see what the fish looks like in the can.
Only tuna pieces preserved in oil were included in the test. Elle Laitila
Two brands rose brightly to win the test. Rainbow and Ortiz were in a class of their own. None of the tunas got a ten, but according to the testers, it is almost impossible to give full points to anything.
The winning Rainbow yellowfin tuna was a big surprise for the board.
– Really. Wow, now we’re confused. What a surprise, were the comments of the judges when the winner emerged.
The S group has announced that it will discontinue the Rainbow brand, but its communications say that in September 2024 this same tuna will be available under the Coop brand. Despite the brand change, its recipe remains the same.
K-Menu’s tuna remained in jumbo place. According to the jury, the other tunas were average.
In the top two, everything was just right: oil, salt and the taste of fish.
The jury awarded points with school grades 4–10.
The stores have a very wide selection of different tuna. Elle Laitila
The tuna karaade included:
Mari Moilanen: food journalist and influencer, founder and entrepreneur of Jotain maukasta website.
Mélanie Rezé: Top chef and food influencer, Tiktok professional, entrepreneur of the family bakery Reze.
Heikki Liekola: Top chef and head chef, Chef of the Year winner, entrepreneur Pahe Catering, 15-year career in Michelin restaurants.
Food industry professionals Heikki Liekola (left), Mari Moilanen and Mélanie Rezé ranked the tunas. Elle Laitila
1. Rainbow yellowfin tuna pieces in sunflower oil
Price: €2.49
Grade: 9+
Comments:
– A delicious scent. Tasty, clean-tasting tuna. Really nice. Attractive light color. A very balanced whole.
– Beautiful light color, quite crumbly. Good taste. Easy to like, high quality.
– Nice taste and appearance. Pleasant, mild taste. The best of the test.
2. Ortiz albacore tuna in olive oil
Price: €9.94
Grade: 9
– Big chunks of tuna with a good smell. Sophisticated taste, beautifully pale color, large grain texture. Nice mouthfeel. Good quality.
– Beautiful pale and even color. High quality oil. The fish has a lovely texture, mild good taste. Clearly gourmet.
– Looks like a deluxe product. Beautiful light color, really nice mouthfeel, taste quite mild. Need more salt.
3. Marinate the tuna pieces in olive oil
Price: €2.69
Grade: 7+
Comments:
– Clean scent. Full dark tuna, the oil doesn’t taste much at all. Large grain, a little dry.
– Clear blocks, uniform dark color, “meaty”, mild taste.
– Nice, decent pieces. The color is good.
4. Rio Mare MSC tuna in olive oil
Price: €3.65
Grade: 7
Comments:
– Better quality oil than the previous one. It’s good that the pieces are a little bigger.
– The smell is mild. High-quality tuna. Nice structure, with a few pieces, not just a piece. Balanced.
– Floury, the appearance is not good either.
5. Calvo tuna in sunflower oil (3x65g)
Price: €3.99
Grade: 6½
Comments:
– Flaky, slightly floury taste, not very fishy.
– Basic tuna smell. The taste is nice and juicy, oily, not dry at all. Fresh appearance.
– Slightly crumbly texture. Just ok taste. Could use more salt.
6. Nixe a piece of tuna in olive oil (Lidl)
Price: €1.59
Grade: 6+
– Mildly scented, flake-like tuna. A bit dry. Beautiful light, even color.
– Good fishy taste, salty and so-called juicy.
– Neutral tasting oil, good mouthfeel.
7. John West tuna steak in sunflower oil
Price: €2.79
Grade: 6
Comments:
– The smell is mild. Composition of a dark nugget, not a particularly tasty taste. The oil tastes too much.
– Very crumbly. Average, the oil strong, causing the tuna to fall apart.
– Color ok. The appearance is crumbly, the taste is quite good.
8. Abba MSC yellowfin tuna in oil
Price: €3.65
Grade: 6-
Comments:
– Good smell, pure tuna-like taste. Slice-like structure. Basic good.
– The color is pale, almost even chicken-like, the taste is quite mild, does not arouse emotions.
– Light color, mild taste. I need more salt.
9. K-Menu tuna pieces in oil
Price: €1.54
Grade: 4 ½
Comments:
– Strange and strange aftertaste in the taste. It doesn’t taste very fresh. A very small peak. I would not eat.
– Strong taste, salty, leaves an aftertaste.
– Looks ok. There is some extra flavor here.
Mari Moilanen (left) and Mélanie Reze use tuna a lot in their own cooking. Elle Laitila