Portlock Nova Smoked Sockeye Salmon Review

Grappling with elevated cholesterol in recent times, I’m always watching for convenient yet diverse sources of seafood to lower it.  My goal is to decrease the saturated fats in my diet, and raise the good fats, like the mono- and polyunsaturated fats, not to mention the Omega-3 fatty acids.

In tha quest, I came across this Portlock Nova Smoked Sockeye Salmon at Walmart last week.  Being an avid salmon fan, and given all the much-publicized health benefits of controlled amounts of salmon in the diet, I immediately threw a 4-ounce package into my cart.

It’s salty but certainly tastes like sockeye salmon.  It’s convenient; packaged much like a cold-cut lunch meat.  It can be handled the same way.  But be sure to seal up any unused portions, as if left open, it might smell up your ice box.

 

Benefits, Pros, Advantages, and Features

  • The use-or-freeze-by date on the package is nearly a month out from the date I bought mine.  So it will keep for some time longer than that, if you keep it cold and sealed.  Freezing it can extend its useful life to years.  Once you open it when not frozen however, use it up within five days.
  • This 100% natural seafood contains no saturated fat and plenty of the healthier fats, including lots of the heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.
  • This is a great healthy snack but also works well as an entrée.
  • It goes great on pizzas, omelets, bagels, and salads.  I’ve tried it on all four.  Delicious every time.
  • You can eat this fish right from the package; no cooking or further preparations required.
  • This is a product of the USA.
  • The salmon is quite moist and easy to chew, yet satisfying and filling as well.  Two ounces for lunch on bread or a salad along with a few whole-grain crackers, fills me up for the rest of the afternoon.
  • The flavor here is certainly salmon but definitely mild.  It will not overpower the other tastes in your salads, pita breads, or crackers.  Its aroma might be stronger than its taste.

 

Disadvantages, Cons, Problems, and Concerns

  • While this is a cured product, keep in mind that it’s still raw and uncooked.  You need not cook it to safely eat it, though some folks find its rawness off-putting.  If you’re one of those, you may cook it in a frying pan or in the microwave to banish the rawness.
  • Lots of sodium here.  So don’t overeat this if you’re sensitive to salt.
  • The scent of sockeye salmon fish is moderate to strong in this product.  However, if you’re a salmon fan like me, it shouldn’t bother you.
  • It must always be refrigerated at 38 degrees F or lower to preserve its freshness for the longest possible time.
  • It contains added salt and brown sugar, but no nitrites.
  • The package is not resealable.  So unless you plan to eat this delicacy right away, be sure to transfer it to a sealable bag before putting the unused portions back in the refrigerator.
  • Seafood, including salmon, can contain high levels of mercury and other toxins.  So moderate consumption is advised.  Do not eat any seafood every day; twice a week is a safe amount.  Make salmon part of a wide variety of seafood you consume each week.
  • This salmon has a delicate flavor that can easily be nullified by applying too much hot sauce, tartar sauce, ketchup, or lemon.  So generally, I do not season my salmon prior to eating; preferring to enjoy its naked, natural taste.

 

Ingredients

Sockeye salmon, salt, brown sugar, and natural wood smoke.

Contains fish (sockeye salmon).

 

Nutrition Facts

  • Serving size: 2 Oz. (56 grams).   Servings per container: about 2.
  • Calories: 70.  Fat calories: 15.
  • Total fat: 1.5 grams, 2% DV.
  • Saturated fat: 0 grams, 0% DV.
  • Trans fat: 0 grams.
  • Cholesterol: 10 milligrams, 3% DV.
  • Sodium: 670 milligrams, 28% DV.
  • Total carb: 2 grams, 1% DV.
  • Dietary fiber: 0 grams, 0% DV.
  • Sugars: 0 grams.
  • Protein: 13 grams.
  • Vitamin A: 0% DV.
  • Calcium: 0% DV.
  • Vitamin C: 2% DV.
  • Iron: 0% DV.

 

Product Rating

Aside from the added sugar, and salt, I highly enjoy this product.  It’s healthy, tastes very good, and is not too expensive right now; though it does cost more per pound than cold cut meats.  I believe this extra cost well worth the added health benefits of consuming the salmon from Trident Seafoods Corporation.  I’d rate it at 92 out of 100.

 

Where To Buy Portlock Nova Smoked Sockeye Salmon

I’ve not seen this product in smaller grocery stores and convenience outlets.  So I’d seek it at larger grocery stores and super food centers.  I bought mine at Walmart.  Look for it in the clear, evacuated black, white, and red plastic bag,.

 

References

 

Revision History

  • : Moved this post to the   Tom’s Diet Quest   blog, added whitespace, adjusted ad placement, and tweaked the content.
  • 2012-06-26 Originally published.