Trader Joe's Panko Breaded Tilapia

The pros: Trader Joe's Panko Breaded Tilapia are reasonably priced, heat up well, make for a solidly portioned fish meal and are crisp.

The cons: When prepared in the oven this product does leak some oil so be prepared to put something under this.

The verdict: I enjoy the frozen foods section of Trader Joe's. My household is only two people. On top of that we don't have work schedules that allow us to eat together most days in the week. Cooking for one is a pain. Plus, I'm the only one in the household who enjoys fish. For me, these are a perfect solution to the occasional fried fish cravings that I get.

For $5.99, I picked up this package of Trader Joe's Panko Breaded Tilapia Fillets. Inside the box are four individually wrapped precooked fillets. These fillets shouldn't be microwaved. In order to guarantee that they are crisp, these are to be heated in the oven or toaster oven only. Be sure to use parchment or something under this as a good amount of oil will escape the fillet. In about 20 minutes they are ready. The panko makes a very crisp outside to a not fishy type of fish. The fish is since and firm and flakes nicely when cut up.

Since the fish is so mild, this is a solid choice with tartar sauce, salsa, or any other creative topping that you can think of that goes well with fish. This would also make a fish sandwich which would taste far better than anything McDonalds could make, at a fraction of the cost. Just be aware that if you squeeze some lemon on this, the extra liquid will be absorbed quickly.

Overall, I enjoyed this. This makes a meal without any of the hassle of prep, clean up, or waste. Well done and worth a try. As for me, I'd buy another box and keep these fillets in the freezer to have on hand.

The box of Trader Joe's Panko Breaded Tilapia Fillets: