So, should you eat the sardine tails? The answer is yes! Everything inside the package of sardines is edible, and sardine tails may actually contain a much higher percentage of those healthy omega-3 fatty acids than the rest of the fish!
Because sardines are fish, they do have heads. Although sardine heads are perfectly safe and healthy to eat, most modern consumers of tinned sardines would prefer not to eat the heads or innards, and so they are removed at the factory before being cooked, flavored, and packaged.
Fish such as sardines, pilchards and herring are delicious to eat whole, but not everyone likes all the small bones – although they are edible.
For veteran sardine eaters, the sky's the limit! Sardines with bones and skin are delicious, too, and they look awesome on top of a salad or platter. P.S. The bones and skin are both edible. Those tiny bones deliver calcium too!
You may ask, “Are sardine bones safe to eat?”—but don't worry, sardine bones are not at all unsafe or dangerous to consume! Because the bones are so small, tinned sardines are cooked without removing the bones first (unlike kippers,) which further softens them and makes them very easy to eat.
Kidney Stones
Because sardines contain purines, which break down into uric acid, they aren't a good choice for those at risk of kidney stone formation. The high sodium in sardines can also increase calcium in your urine, which is another risk factor for kidney stones.
You can buy tinned sardines that are skinless and boneless, but the skin and bones are completely edible, supply a good amount of sardines' calcium content, and are soft enough that most people don't even mind (or notice) them.
Sardines are at the bottom of the food chain and feed entirely on plankton. For this reason, they are much safer for eating, even with their guts, than many larger species of fish that build up heavy metals and contaminants in their tissue throughout their lifetime.
No need to worry about the bones - sardines have bones that are so soft they are more like cartilage than actual bone. Most grocery stores will carry a variety of canned sardines.
Still, tuna is high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamins B and A. This fish is also a good source of iron, phosphorous, and selenium. Sardines do not have a lot of mercury in them, so they're healthier in that regard. They mostly survive on plankton.
You can simply eat canned sardines as are. You may want to drain the liquid they come in. You can easily add some oil, mayonnaise, hot sauce, mustard, or other seasonings; put them into a salad, or grill with some onions and garlic to seal in additional flavour.
And if you're looking for a healthy and delicious way to add more fish to your diet, sardines should be at the top of your list. As with any food, it's best to eat them in moderation—eating sardines two to three days a week is a safe and healthy option.
Yes, that is sardine roe. In Portugal it is considered a delicacy on a par with caviar.
Amazon.com: Canned Sardines in Olive Oil - Canned Mediterranean Sardines without Heads, from El Manar - 12-Pack of 125g Tins : Grocery & Gourmet Food.
The “hair” Karmel was referring to are the small bones sometimes included with grocery store sardines; these bones are entirely edible, but these French sardines lacked such “hair” and so were even more delicate than expected. They were so soft that they could be spread on bread.
So is it bad to eat sardines every day? While dietary cholesterol doesn't affect blood cholesterol levels as significantly as we once thought, it's still best to limit high-cholesterol foods and stick to eating sardines about twice a week rather than every day.
Sardines are high in protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids (associated with heart health benefits), and filled with certain important vitamins (especially D and B12) and minerals (such as calcium). However, sardines packed in oil are high in sodium and cholesterol, so daily consumption of them is not advisable.
Canned sardines
At the cannery, the fish are washed, their heads are removed, and the fish are then smoked or cooked, either by deep-frying or by steam-cooking, after which they are dried. They are then packed in either olive, sunflower, or soybean oil, water, or in a tomato, chili, or mustard sauce.
Sardines
Sardines provide 2 grams of heart-healthy omega-3s per 3 ounce serving, which is one of the highest levels of omega-3 and the lowest levels of mercury of any fish. They contain a great source of calcium and Vitamin D, so they support bone health, too.
And as with all things culinary, the French really do them right. Whether they be grilled then bathed in extra-virgin olive oil before being tinned, or combined with a bit of gentle pepper, or layered with sliced lemon, or just simply put in the tin, they're delicious.
Entrepreneur and VC Craig Cooper swears by eating 5 cans of sardines a day. (And loves a 22-minute power nap.) Being an entrepreneur means doing things differently: Creating new products and services. Finding new ways to solve old problems.
The tiny, inexpensive sardine is making it onto many lists of superfoods and for good reason. It packs more omega-3s (1,950 mg!) per 3-ounce serving than salmon, tuna, or just about any other food; it's also one of the very, very few foods that's naturally high in vitamin D.