This Is The Best Type Of Fish For Fish And Chips

Ah, fish and chips — Britain's most crispy, comforting culinary tradition. Everyone loves a hot crunchy fish with golden fries, even Queen Elizabeth herself! Chippies (short for fish and chip shops) are where memories are made, and as the BBC writes, "They sustained morale through two world wars and helped fuel Britain's industrial prime." Quite a resume for the humble fish fry.

Fish and chips is the kind of meal that is deceptively simple: mess it up, and it won't be great, but it'll probably still taste good. Pull it off with precision, and all the lads will want to buy you a round at the pub. And as with all good food, success starts with the most basic ingredients: in this case, the fish. You can use cod for your fish and chips, or any thick white fish like haddock or pollock — all of which will stand up to the hot oil and batter without falling apart (via CBS News).

Though there are fierce debates over which fish is best, cod and haddock lead the pack. Although it's hard to find definitive proof of the distinction between the two, a blog by Fishing Booker, a fishing trip booking service, says "Cod has a more mild, clean taste. Haddock is more flavorful and 'fishy.'" They also note that cod fillets are thicker and firmer, making them better for grilling. Haddock have thinner and more fragile fillets, which they argue makes them better for frying.

Meanwhile, on Reddit, battles have been waged over cod vs. haddock. In a controversial statement, user skrahtahk said, "Always haddock. In my home town asking for cod is just not a thing you would do, there's a stigma to it." Another user, Taffydoolboot, opts for the environmental choice: "Always pollock instead of cod, because it's being sustainably fished. We are basically emptying the seas of cod." When it comes down to it, which fish is best isn't what counts — choose the one that tastes best to you, and celebrate the timeless gift of fried food with friends. Oh, and please don't use salmon.