I Ask You…Is It Worth It?

Last night’s meal was salmon cakes. Honestly, I was not looking forward to making this meal. Was it because I don’t like salmon cakes? No, I do. Was it because this meal takes a long time to prepare and cook. No, it’s rather easy. The reason why I was dreading this meal was because of the can of salmon.



I knew what was waiting for me inside that little can. Bones. Skin. Yuck! You know what I mean. It’s basically a whole, complete fish just shoved into a can….waiting for you. Am I the only one who is grossed out by this?


I do know that you can buy salmon pouches that have no scary things waiting for you. So why don’t I buy those instead of the can? The stupid price difference that’s why. A can of salmon is like $3.79 for 12 ounce. The pouch is like $2.50 for 4 ounce. So yea, I have to buy three to equal the same size as the can. Which is like more than double the price of the stinkin’ whole-fish-in-the-can! So, I ask you…is it worth it?

I play this ‘is it worth it’ game all the time at the grocery store. For example, whole mushrooms verse sliced mushrooms. The whole ones are like a whopping $.10 cheaper. So, you’d think for a dime I would save time cutting and get the pre-sliced, right? Nope. Not me. I can slice my own mushrooms thank you very much. And I will keep my ten cents!

But a difference of over $3.00 in the fish department and I am in turmoil. You don’t know how long I stood in that isle. Can of fish in one hand, pouch in the other. Waiting. Debating. Hoping that a cashier would come by and say, “Oh, we forget to mark the pouches on sale today. 10 for $1.00.” Woo hoo! Yes! No scary fish for me!


But no, that didn’t happen.

Pasta sauce, however, is an example of something that I am willing to buy even though I know it would cost less to make it from scratch. I wait for the perfect storm (coupons and sales) and stock up. To me, it is worth it to pull some sauce out of the pantry and make a quick, good tasting meal in record time. And really, I don’t think I could make a home made, simmered for hours sauce that would taste any better.

Am I alone? Am I the only one who plays the ‘is it worth it’ game when purchasing products?

I am telling you right now, that the next time salmon cakes appears on the menu I will be over this silly dilemma. I will walk up to that can of salmon with confidence and say, ‘I am a strong woman and your slimy skin and little bones don’t scare me.’

But that would be a lie. I am pretty certain I will still be that woman holding a can in one hand, pouch in the other. Wondering. Is it worth it?

4 Comments

  1. I normally go with the cheaper version… but I totally agree with you. Canned salmon is so good for you and yummy to eat but I can’t get passed those bones and the slimy skin!

  2. I do this all the time with boneless skinless chicken breast v. the whole chicken. I KNOW its a ton cheaper to debone and skin the chicken yourself, but…. for me… on that one, the convenience is worth it. I’d rather not see the chicken look like a chicken. Just saying.

  3. Thanks Danielle for letting me know that I am not alone! 🙂

    I feel the same way about chicken, Kristy. It’s totally worth it to me to buy the boneless, skinless chicken. The less it looks like a real chicken the better! 🙂

  4. Buy the can, get someone else to separate the flakey meat and throw the rest in the food processor. When it is all smooshed up, have them put both the smooshed up salmon and the flakes in the mixing bowl and call for you to return! Problem solved!

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