What exactly are sardines?

Question

I understand that they are canned fish... but can you call them sardines while they are still alive? Is the sardine a variety of fish? Or just a variety of food?

I'm genuinely confused!

Answer 1

Sardines are a type of fish even when alive.

Answer 2

Sardines are fish.  And they are very close in appearance to Pilchards, just smaller.

Answer 3

Yes they are a type of fish.Dead or alive they are called sardines.

Answer 4

I really liked your question about sardines. I love eating sardines.

Sardines are basically a group of several type of small oily fish that are related to herrings.

Sardines are also named after an island called Sardinia, because they had tons of sardines there before.

Hope this answers.

Answer 5

Sardines is a small kind of fish, silvery like, fished in Spring and done in a variety of ways all of which is very delicious. It is one of the most nutritious fish to eat as it is rich in vitamin A. you could steam, or turn it in preserve if you clean it well and put a lot of salt after you take the bones off. Then, after its colour changes to a more white tone,  you put it in olive oil and herbs and can keep it in the fridge for as long as you want it. These are only two of the ways you can prepare them.

Answer 6

They're nothing much more than baby herrings.

Sardines > Pilchards > Herring

Answer 7

This is a cracking question. I am used to seeing sardines as wee teeny fish in a tin with oil. When we went to Spain, the dinner menu offered sardines as a main course. I was totally surprised when they turned up, huge and with thier eyes still showing!! They were really tasty and a big change from the usual tinned tiny fillets that I am used to.. I imagine that they are both the same fish, small ones for mass production and nice big ones for fresh, tasty meals...

Answer 8

yes they are fish, you can get them canned in tomato sauce, oil or brine, you have to make sure that you seperate the fish and pull the bones out, nice on toast, or if in spain, they barbaque them, they are bigger than canned ones, but very messy to eat as you have to keep picking the bones out

Answer 9

They are a group of small, oily fish related to herring, named after the island of Sardina. So yes, they are a variety of fish.

Answer 10

Yes, they're a fish. Usually come canned because they're so small.  

Answer 11

just ask on Google don't waste 5 points asking it here or go in Wikipedia and type in sardines!

Answer 12

My favorite canned sardines:

http://www.all-things-italian.com/prodde...

Answer 13

they are fish  

Answer 14

tiny ocean fish: a small ocean fish related to the herring, especially the European pilchard.

Sardines are netted in large numbers for food and preserved in cans, packed tightly in oil.

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Answer 15

They are fish, generally canned due to their small size.

Answer 16

Yep they are the fish