View in browser

December 24, 2024

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; food styling by Maggie Ruggiero

A good tin of fish is delicious and delightfully versatile: equally at home on a camping trip, at a holiday party, in a lunch box, or served at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Maybe this versatility explains the recent surge in popularity in the US (elsewhere, of course, it never went out of style). Or, sure, maybe the influx of new, prettily packaged options has something to do with it, too.

Whatever your tinned-fish occasion may be: We tasted more than 100 options from Spain, Portugal, Italy, and beyond—and landed on 24 favorites. The following picks are all delicious (sweet, savory, or deeply smoky). We’d happily serve any at a party or give any as a gift, though many would also just make a nice meal for one.

The very best tinned fish→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Delicious boxes of chocolate We found six luxurious and unique options→

The best butter For your toast and beyond→

Chicken broth we love A more robustly flavored chicken broth adds welcome richness to stuffings, braises, and hearty stews→

The best Nespresso pods We’ve got 11 favorites, from light and citrusy to dark and nutty→

Tony's Chocolonely; Rozette Rago/NYT Wirecutter; Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

Realizing on December 24 that, despite your best make-a-list-and-check-it-twice intentions, you’ve forgotten to get a Christmas gift for a certain someone can cause panic.

Worry not: We’ve found that there are a trove of surprisingly gift-worthy items that are likely still in stock at your local grocery stores, including higher-end versions of everyday staples and even a few Wirecutter picks.

Zingy olive oil, a bottle of nonalcoholic bubbly, and more→

Some inspo from our friends at NYT Cooking: sardine toast with tomato and sweet onion. Yum.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

Was this email kindly forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Recommendation from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Recommendation, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app

Connect with us on:

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018