Why does Schmaltz Herring cost $22 a pound? (excluding the onions & oil)

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  • #1519991
    Haimy
    Participant

    Herring is one of the cheapest fish commercially available. Even our poor grandparents in Poland could afford a few pieces of herring.
    A 7.5 oz of herring retails for about $5.49 in the heimisher groceries. The majority of the contents are soybean oil & onions with no more than 3-4 oz. of fish. That comes to about $22-$28 per pound of herring, can you explain how herring became a luxury?

    #1520106
    ubiquitin
    Participant

    Sure

    Because people are willing to pay for it.

    #1520156
    Joseph
    Participant

    Start a new herring brand and undersell everyone else.

    #1520232
    Gadolhadorah
    Participant

    Most herring is cheap but the species “Herringus Schmaltzus” is on the endangered species list and there are annual catch quotas limiting supplies and increasing prices. There are some commercial efforts at raising the rare schmaltz herrings at fish farms but the results so fare have been mixed and the taam of the farm-raised fish lacks the natural onion taste of the wild-caught variety.

    #1520260
    Mammele
    Participant

    I’d venture a guess that we are mostly paying for the time and space – for the fish to marinade – labor, and government regulations involved. I’d assume the cost of the fish plays a role as well. There is no fish named herring (or herringus) but thanks for the laugh GH…

    Additionally, the companies now produce so many varieties, and creative/artisinal products cost more. If you opt for the plain herring fillets (I forgot the name of the brand, but I saw something similar made by Rockland on Rockland Kosher’s website) you get a lot more fish for your molney. To make it taste good you have to cut it up and finish it off with the flavors/recipe you desire.

    #1520264
    Uncle Ben
    Participant

    Dorah; You should consider writing for the National Onion.

    #1520268
    Takes2-2tango
    Participant

    For the same reason kosher cream cheese cost almost 5 dollars not on sale for 8 oz.
    Or flanken on bone cost 16 dolllars not on sale. Flanken is known to be the lowest grade meat but peple buy it primarily for chulent because of the fat content and bones. Go figure

    #1520283
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    GH, nice.

    The scientific name for the Atlantic herring is actually Clupea harengus.

    #1520284
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    For the same reason kosher cream cheese cost almost 5 dollars not on sale for 8 oz.

    I’ve been paying about $2.

    #1520323
    iacisrmma
    Participant

    For the same reason, a mixture of flour and water before pesach costs $15 – $50 / LB. The cost of the labor involved in cutting the fish and the onions, the cost of oil, making the various “sauces”, packaging and the space to age the fish. Regular old fashioned pickled herring costs about $7 – $8 for a 26 oz jar.

    DY: Where can you find CY cream cheese for $2 per 8 oz container?

    #1520343
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    Norman’s is $2 wherever it’s sold. Hatov is on sale now for $2.29 in NPGS, and others are $2.49 or $2.59. You can even get J&J on sale now for $2.99 in KRM.

    #1520349
    👑RebYidd23
    Participant

    There are fish that are called herrings.

    #1520359
    Gadolhadorah
    Participant

    Norman’s, HaTov, Vita, Acme and J&J are ok if you are just a poishete yid satisfied with a poishete herring as might be served in your shul’s kiddush for the regular tzibur while the baal simcha has a formal catered luncheon for “friends and family”, If you are a herring aficionado, as I’m sure are most YWN CR readers, than only the best will do such as the fresh product sold at Pomegrante or Russ and dauhgter’s or the Bay View bottled variety available online and only during certain times of the year with overnight shipping. They will provide a complete life story of the particular herring you will be consuming and was niftar for your gastronomical joy.

    #1520372
    ChadGadya
    Participant

    I only buy it for the onions. Seriously, I don’t like the texture of the fish, but the flavor is great in the onions.
    So for me the actual red herring is literally just a … (i’m sure there’s a pun here somewhere)

    #1520456
    iacisrmma
    Participant

    DY: Thanks for the info on NPGS however I am in Flatbush, not in Lakewood. Yes, Normans is $2 but is not whipped and has only been available for a short period of time. And yes, a current sale at KRM for J&J is 2.99 but the regular price is 4.49.

    #1520457
    iacisrmma
    Participant

    Haimy: one cannot separate the ingredients as it is factored into the price. It is like saying why is cole slaw $5.00 a pound but don’t include the cost of the mayo and vinegar in the price.

    #1520431
    Gadolhadorah
    Participant

    To CG…

    Then try Reubenshtein’s herring flavored crispy onion rings…they come in “original plain”, “matjes” and “schmaltz” flavors…..much more economical and efficient

    #1520498
    Takes2-2tango
    Participant

    iacisrmmaParticipant
    Haimy: one cannot separate the ingredients as it is factored into the price. It is like saying why is cole slaw $5.00 a pound but don’t include the cost of the mayo and vinegar in the price.
    ——————————-
    Your correct. However, thay doesnt answer ehy the heimishe Herring makers literally put in a measly 5 pcs. Of herring and mostly oil. Put in more herring and less oil. Oil anf onions doesnt cost 25 dollars a pound

    #1520532
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    Iacisrmma, Givat is currently on sale in Goldberg’s for $1.99.

    #1520542
    cholentmitkugel
    Participant

    We are in a real pickle…with that herring!

    #1520547
    iacisrmma
    Participant

    DY: Unfortunately, I don’t have time to run to every store, purchase the $7.50 or $10 minimum to get the sales price. If one does have hat time, kol hakavod.

    T22T: You also have to factor in the costs of refrigeration and refrigerated trucks for delivery. I generally don’t buy shmaltz herring but I know that many people buy the herring from Schwartz’s and they generally have more then 5 pieces of fish in the container. The first question is how much does the raw herring cost as that is the first ingredient.

    I am just wondering if the OP also questions the cost of a roll of sushi when you get one small piece of fish, a lot of rice and other ingredients, and spend $8 – $14 a roll.

    #1526053
    Haimy
    Participant

    Ok, but what’s with the onions? Do we need half an onion to go with a few measely pieces of herring? Fill the container with herring & charge 9.99. At least the majority of the container should be herring, not onions & oil.

    #1526063
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    Fill the container with herring & charge 9.99. At least the majority of the container should be herring, not onions & oil.

    I’m looking forward to seeing that in stores soon, under the name “Haimy’s Heimishe Herring”.

    #1526064
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    DY: Unfortunately, I don’t have time to run to every store, purchase the $7.50 or $10 minimum to get the sales price. If one does have hat time, kol hakavod.

    Just curious; then why did you ask?

    #1526106
    Toi
    Participant

    In Yershalayim ir hakodesh, one can either buy herring in a fish store and make it themselves- cheap, time consuming, and taste depends on your culinary skills- buy the ready made israeli herring- not so cheap, and utterly gross, or buy one of the well-made american style herrings for a premium, but they’re amazing.

    #1526195
    Meno
    Participant

    Sometimes I just combine two containers so that I end up with one container full of just herring and I leave a container of oil and onions for the next guy.

    #1526199
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    Lol

    #1526204
    zahavasdad
    Participant

    Thats why someone should switch to Sushi, Its cheaper

    #1526212
    Meno
    Participant

    Thats why someone should switch to Sushi, Its cheaper

    Um…. if you calculate the price per pound of just fish in a roll of sushi, it probably comes out to something like $50/lb

    #1526216
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    if you calculate the price per pound of just fish in a roll of sushi, it probably comes out to something like $50/lb

    Sure, but how much can seaweed cost already?

    #1526221
    zahavasdad
    Participant

    I get like 18 pieces of Sushi for like $11, Thats a decent meal

    And you get some food there unlike the Herring sauce which really isnt eaten

    #1526224
    Meno
    Participant

    I get like 18 pieces of Sushi for like $11

    The average price of sushi is much higher than that.

    I buy herring fillets for around $6 a pound (just fish, nothing else). They taste great straight out of the package. Maybe you should switch to herring.

    #1526225
    Mammele
    Participant

    ZDad: for the price you quoted, it probably includes a few vegetable rolls. Not such a bargain if I’m correct.

    #1526229
    zahavasdad
    Participant

    They sell Rolls buy 2 get 1 free , any roll you want at most stores

    I do not get Vegitable or California roll. Only Salmon, Tuna and Yellow Tail

    They are usually $5-$6 per roll

    Fresh Salmon costs less than $6 a pound, I dont know what fresh tuna or fresh Yellow tail costs as Ive never seen it in a store sold seperately

    #1526231
    Meno
    Participant

    They sell Rolls buy 2 get 1 free , any roll you want at most stores

    No they don’t

    Fresh Salmon costs less than $6 a pound

    No it doesn’t

    #1526251
    DWKL1
    Participant

    for all you herring connoisseurs who dont want to spend too much money

    you can buy whole or sliced fillet shmaltz herring at any kosher supermarket is imported comes in a blue flat plastic container comes with OK hescher $3.19 @ gourmet glatt $3.99 @ aisle 9 in lkwd for 3 fillets comes either pre sliced or whole fillets ( they even have a larger package must be 10 fillets but dont know price)
    i cut up a large onion and put in canola oil let it percolate a few days and you have great tasting herring
    i rinse off the original oil as too salty for me

    #1526278
    zahavasdad
    Participant

    Everywhere I look its buy 2 rolls , get 1 free and they sell it at almost every store

    #1526281
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    The Novardokers ask for it in every store.

    #1526283
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    They sell Rolls buy 2 get 1 free , any roll you want at most stores

    No they don’t

    Fresh Salmon costs less than $6 a pound

    No it doesn’t

    You’ve got to find out where ZD shops.

    #1526338
    zahavasdad
    Participant

    They sell a Whole Platter of like 100 pcs for $45

    #1526334
    yehudayona
    Participant

    Iacisrmma, Rosner’s has various brands of cream cheese for less than $2.50. There’s no minimum purchase but it’s cash or EBT only. Closest one to Flatbush is at McDonald and Ave F. They also have chrain at reasonable prices. Speaking of which, chrain is mostly beets, water, and sugar with a little horseradish thrown in. So why do most stores sell 8 oz for $4-$5?

    #1526409
    Meno
    Participant

    I wash off the oil too. It’s too salty

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