Do Freeze-Dried Sardines Smell? A Moderate Fish Smell

Do freeze dried sardines smell? Yes, they smell like fish, and we describe ours as a moderate fish smell. After opening, press the bag shut and store it in a cool, dry spot. Since the sardines are freeze-dried raw, a hand wash follows every handful.

How strong is the smell of freeze-dried sardines?

Moderate. That is our word for it, said plainly, and it is our description, not something printed on the label. It covers the sardines as they come in the bag, sold whole with head and tail on.

We will not grade it any finer than that, and we will not call it mild or strong, and we have no comparison to canned fish or to a kitchen to offer. What you can know before you open a bag is what is in it: sardines only, nothing added, made in Malvern, Pennsylvania from imported fish.

In our photos, the pieces look like a mixed pile of brown and tan chunks and small fragments, some with a silvery blue-gray skin side showing. The sardines are roughly bite size, so each handful is a handful of small pieces rather than a few big ones.

You can buy them by the 1.5, 3 or 6 ounce bag. Every size holds the same fish, and we make no claim that a bigger bag smells any different from a smaller one. Pick a size by how much you want on hand, not by smell.

Do sardine heads smell more than whole sardines?

We do not rank them. The heads listing ties their aroma to training, calling them a pick for it, and we pass that along as the listing's wording, not as a measurement of ours. We do not turn it into a comparison with the whole fish.

What the two products share is easy to list. Each one is freeze-dried, each holds a single ingredient, and each is made in Malvern, Pennsylvania from imported fish. The heads are whole sardine heads, and the freeze-dried sardines are the whole fish.

If you want to settle it for your own nose, the practical test is to open the two bags one after the other in your own kitchen and decide there. Press each bag closed again when you are done.

How do sardines compare with anchovies?

We describe the smell of both as moderate. The anchovy listing words it differently, and it calls its smell a strong natural fish smell. Those are two descriptions from two places, so we do not line them up as a ranking.

The fish are different in other ways you can see. Our anchovies are about 2 to 3 inches long, and the sardines are roughly bite size. If the anchovies are on your list too, the page on whether freeze-dried anchovies smell covers them in the same way.

How do you stop sardine smell leaving the bag?

Close it after every use, and do not leave it open on the counter while you do something else. The sardine label has a storage line to follow. The bag says: "Press the bag closed after opening and keep it somewhere cool and dry."

For the full rundown, see our guide to storing freeze-dried fish treats. A short routine after each handful:

Press the bag closed.
Store it where it stays cool and dry.
Wash your hands, because the fish is raw.

Our guidance on timing is simple. The best by date is printed on the bag, and once you open it, plan to use the sardines within 30 days. Feed them as a treat or a meal topper and not as a complete diet. Set out fresh water and stay with your dog through the snack. Whole, broken into smaller pieces or crumbled over a meal, it is the same fish and the same bag, so the closing routine does not change.

Questions

Does the smell stay on my hands?

Wash your hands after handling raw fish, which is the habit the sardine heads listing spells out. We make no claim about how long a smell lingers, so wash well before you touch anything else in the kitchen.

Does the smell mean the sardines have gone bad?

We make no claim from the smell. Use the sardines by the best by date printed on the bag, and within 30 days of opening them. For a question about one particular bag, contact Sniff and Shift.

Do I need to keep sardines in the fridge?

No. The sardine label says no refrigerator is needed. Keep the bag pressed closed somewhere cool and dry, such as a cupboard or a pantry shelf, and leave it out of the fridge.

Will my cat mind the smell?

We make no claim about that. Sardines may be suggested for cats in small pieces, and you should ask your vet first. If a cat and a dog share one bag, close it fully after each use.

Is the smell stronger in the 6 ounce bag?

We make no claim about it. The sardines are the same in every size, 1.5, 3 and 6 ounces, and what changes from one bag to the next is the amount inside it.

Does the smell fill a car?

Keep the bag pressed closed for the drive, the same as at home. We make no promise beyond that, and once you arrive the bag goes back somewhere cool and dry.