Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fish Sticks Make No Sense How a weird 1950s finger food made it big
theatlantic ^

Posted on 04/25/2021 5:39:34 AM PDT by mylife

There are many curious facts about fish sticks. The invention of this frozen food warranted a U.S. patent number, for instance: US2724651A. The record number of them stacked into a tower is 74. And, every year, a factory in Germany reportedly produces enough fish sticks to circle Earth four times.

But the most peculiar thing about fish sticks may be their mere existence. They debuted on October 2, 1953, when General Foods released them under the Birds Eye label. The breaded curiosities were part of a lineup of newly introduced rectangular foods, which included chicken sticks, ham sticks, veal sticks, eggplant sticks, and dried-lima-bean sticks. Only the fish stick survived. More than that, it thrived. In a world in which many people are wary of seafood, the fish stick spread even behind the Cold War’s Iron Curtain.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; History; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: birdseye; fishfingers; fishsticks
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-126 next last
To: Clutch Martin

“I recommend the Ultimate Fish Stick, available at Costco.”

YES!!!! I came on this thread to do this exact thing. I am not the world’s biggest fish stick fan but these are delicious. Hubby makes fish tacos with them and they are the best fish tacos you could ever have.

Just a great thing to have in the freezer for a quick dinner.


61 posted on 04/25/2021 6:50:10 AM PDT by jocon307 (Dem party delenda est!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Fish sticks are the gateway drug to fish n chips.


62 posted on 04/25/2021 6:50:29 AM PDT by Sparky1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: mylife

I remember back in the 60’s Fish Sticks tasted pretty good but had some the other day and they have NO taste


63 posted on 04/25/2021 6:52:41 AM PDT by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: drjimmy

Ketchup on fish sticks? No way


64 posted on 04/25/2021 6:53:04 AM PDT by gcparent (MAGA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: \/\/ayne

6.99 lb at fish store. I only eat fresh fish from the fish store.


65 posted on 04/25/2021 6:54:52 AM PDT by gcparent (MAGA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Never had fish sticks. Not real big on fish aside from smoked salmon. My parents loved fish. Grew up on the coast of MA, 50 miles South of Boston so fish was a big thing. Everyone in the family loved clams too but I couldn’t stand them. When we went to Ho Jo’s, I might get the clam strips which is just the neck. Couldn’t stand the bellies. The only sea food we ate that I liked was lobster. My dad and his uncle were lobstermen but my dad only did it for 10 years or so and way before I was born. His uncle did it for over 50 years. We had lobster 2-3 times a month and the guy up the road gave us a pretty good price since we had lobstermen in the family.

All those guys went out alone and my dad couldn’t really swim. These days lobstermen go out as a two man team.

The fish ma cooked was always breaded and fried. Everything at Ho Jo’s was breaded and deep fried. Lobster is very high in cholesterol. Needless to say, both my parents had heart or circulation issues.


66 posted on 04/25/2021 6:54:55 AM PDT by Pollard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mylife

My wife and I have been married 44 years this August in spite of me serving her fish sticks when she came over to my apartment for supper when we were dating in college. At that time, I had no idea she did not like fish. I, OTOH, grew up in strongly Catholic town (I was not) so fish was regularly featured in the school cafeteria and I learned to like it. Fast forward to college days in the mid-70s, fish sticks were a cheap way to get protein and maintain a food budget.

She still does not care for fish so I only get that when we eat out or another alternative is available when eating at home. Example: Easter included the traditional ham but also featured deep-fried striped bass fillets caught a couple of days earlier in Lake Texoma by my son, his daughter, and me.


67 posted on 04/25/2021 6:54:56 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: \/\/ayne

make a marinate of coconut milk, ginger, hot serrano pepper, lime zest, cracked coriander seed.
after marinating over night dredge that fish in zatarains spice fish fri and cook it up... Yow!


68 posted on 04/25/2021 6:55:23 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Liz

Liz, I am trying to stay away from fried foods, but that looks downright yummy. Hot, protein, and I could come up with a sauce w/ a mexican flair to go w/ the shredded letuce. quick lunch or diner, food you can hold, good...


69 posted on 04/25/2021 6:56:18 AM PDT by taildragger ("Do you hear the people Singing? Singing the Songs of Angry Men!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: taildragger
I could come up with a sauce w/ a mexican flair to go w/ the shredded lettuce.

Recipe?

70 posted on 04/25/2021 6:58:01 AM PDT by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: mylife

I don’t read anything The Atlantic publishes.


71 posted on 04/25/2021 6:59:03 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds ("The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." M. Thatcher )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pollard

I like fried whole belly clams.


72 posted on 04/25/2021 6:59:50 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: mylife

When I was growing up, Friday night dinner was usually fish sticks and mac and cheese.


73 posted on 04/25/2021 7:00:41 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.d)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mylife
They debuted on October 2, 1953, when General Foods released them under the Birds Eye label.

I was a Mrs Paul's fan myself.

74 posted on 04/25/2021 7:01:25 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.d)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: be-baw

Now you’re talking some good food, not spoiled with any foreign substances. Fish sticks, salt and pepper. Maybe a slice of cheddar cheese, with the bun toasted in a skillet of course. With some Ruffles or Fritos and a 7-up.


75 posted on 04/25/2021 7:01:52 AM PDT by OKSooner (With Republicans like these we have no need for enemies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: mylife; Wayne; Liz
make a marinate of coconut milk, ginger, hot serrano pepper, lime zest, cracked coriander seed. after marinating over night dredge that fish in zatarains spice fish fri and cook it up... Yow!

Gonna have to try that. I haven't done it in years, but at one time I'd make Fish Sandwiches like MickeyD's for the kids. OMG they devoured them. Batter the Cod w/ a simple batter w/ spices in it, & fry gentley in Olive Oil, paper towel dry then put the cheese on top on a toasted bun. Not bragging but they were good.

76 posted on 04/25/2021 7:02:10 AM PDT by taildragger ("Do you hear the people Singing? Singing the Songs of Angry Men!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: taildragger

its a cabbage slaw, and its delicious


77 posted on 04/25/2021 7:02:29 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: taildragger

buttermilk works too.


78 posted on 04/25/2021 7:03:31 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: ReleaseTheHounds

then why click on it and respond?


79 posted on 04/25/2021 7:04:38 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: All

Fish stick nachos, anyone?

80 posted on 04/25/2021 7:05:06 AM PDT by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-126 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson