Justine Sterling
Cheap caviar is rarely the best caviar. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t good, cheap caviar out there. We tasted a bunch of different types of caviar (yes, we’re referring to salmon roe as caviar, get over it), each of which costs less than $25, to find the best cheap caviar on the market.
Before we dive into our updated list of the best caviar under $25, let me caveat that none of these caviars taste like osetra caviar. The only way you’re getting that for cheap is if you have some questionable connections. So, you’re not going to get that certain je ne sais quoi (or whatever the equivalent of that phrase is in Russian) that really good, fancy, expensive caviar has. But these caviars are still special enough and tasty enough to buy for a celebration—and some of them are cheap enough to buy for a Tuesday.
What we looked for in the best cheap caviar:
- Good pop. Caviar (or roe) should burst in your mouth like savory little Gushers.
- Briny flavor. Notice I said briny—not salty. The best caviar is not simply salty, it has a complex oceanic flavor.
- Structural integrity. The saddest thing is a beautiful jar of sticky, gloopy, fish eggs. The balls should hold together.
- Price under $25. To some, cheap caviar might mean $90 an ounce. But we’re talking cheap caviar.
Whether you’re looking for salmon caviar, bursting with fishy flavor, or tiny black caviar, perfect for garnishing, we found the best caviar under $25 that you can buy.
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Best Caviar Under $25, Ranked
- Plaza Black Capelin Roe
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You’ll find this black caviar near the tinned fish in World Market (a true revelation of a store, especially when it comes to affordable luxuries like this). Though it looks the most like an expensive caviar out of our picks (because it looks the most like classic caviar), it is actually the best caviar on this list for garnishing. It tastes a bit like the flying fish roe you get on sushi rolls (aka tobiko), so use it similarly. The tiny fish eggs provide crunch and pops of salty, rich flavor. Use it on your DIY sushi rolls, sprinkle it onto deviled eggs or latkes with sour cream, or stir it into some creme fraiche for a luxe dip.
Credit: Merc / World Market
- Lasco Whitefish
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If you’re looking to dip your toe into caviar, then I’m sure there’s a specialty spa out there that’ll satisfy your needs. However, if you’re looking to get into eating roe, this whitefish caviar is the best affordable caviar to buy. It’s extremely mild—not fishy at all—but more flavorful than flying fish roe. The balls are tiny and crunchy, they’re slippy and slidy. And they have a bit of that oceanic (again, not fishy) flavor of traditional caviar. Even though this is whitefish caviar, the roe itself is reddish brown—almost the color of kelp.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Whole Foods Salmon Caviar
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Whole Foods caviar is, in my experience, pretty darn good and there are some deals to be had there, as well. And that includes their Coho salmon caviar, which is the best caviar for cooking. It pops with so much flavor—perhaps a bit too much to enjoy on its own—and the skin of the fish eggs is a little thick (sorry to make you think about fish egg skin), but that means these vibrantly orange eggs will hold up to some mixing and stirring. This is the best salmon roe to use in a creamy pasta dish like this one from Food & Wine. Though this salmon caviar is more pungent than the other salmon roe on this list, it is also less gloopy, which is a big plus.
Credit: Merc / Whole Foods
- Plaza Saffron Whitefish Caviar
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Another World Market caviar, this saffron-flavored whitefish caviar is so wild—but it works. It has a great texture. The eggs are small but delicate and silky—a lot like more expensive caviar. And the flavor is totally strange. It tastes like paella…but it’s also caviar. This is a great addition to any charcuterie or seacuterie board. If you can’t get the good stuff, at least get the fun stuff. And this cheap caviar is fun.
Credit: Merc / World Market
- Whole Foods Keta Salmon Caviar
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Whole Foods’ Coho salmon caviar is for sure good for mixing into a dish, but their Keta salmon caviar should be savored on its own. The flavor of these vibrant eggs is a little minerally but there’s still a rich butteriness. It’s more subtle than the Coho roe (that’s fun to say). And each egg has a perfect pop. There are no sad sticky, deflated balls in the mix. And the aftertaste is wonderful—oceanic and fresh. This is really lovely stuff.
Credit: Liv Averett / Whole Foods
- Echo Falls Wild Alaskan Keta Salmon Roe
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Another Keta salmon roe, this is our pick for the best salmon roe overall. The eggs have a great pop and a wonderful, rich salmon flavor—but they aren’t overly salty. Each bite ends on a deliciously oily, palate-coating note. The skins are thin and the eggs taste super fresh. Serve this as you would fancy caviar, with blini or little potatoes and creme fraiche or sour cream. Use them to top baked potatoes or scrambled eggs (my favorite way to eat caviar). Or put a spoonful on your hand and take a bump like the cool foodie influencers do.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Whole Foods Market Whitefish Caviar
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What’d I tell you about Whole Foods caviar? Not only do they sell some of the best salmon roe, but you can also find delicious whitefish caviar, which is our pick for the best caviar under $25. It’s a beautiful pale yellow color—like citrine. The eggs are quite small and delicate, and they clump together without any goop. Most importantly, though, they taste incredible—more like the expensive caviar than any other caviar on this list. Put a spoonful in your mouth and you’ll get hit with a punch of salt, some nice minerality, and that true, unmistakable caviar flavor. Close your eyes and you might think you’re eating the black-brown stuff. This is the best cheap caviar around, and you can probably get it at a Whole Foods near you.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Black Caviar
Best Caviar for Beginners
Best Salmon Roe for Cooking
Best Flavored Caviar
Best Whole Foods Salmon Caviar
Best Salmon Roe
Best of the Best
Other caviar brands we tried:
Plaza Wasabi Whitefish Caviar, Romanoff Black Lumpfish Caviar, Romanoff Vodka Lumpfish Caviar, Romanoff Red Salmon Caviar, Kolikof Salmon Caviar, Bristol Farms Malossal Rainbow Trout Caviar, Elsinore Caviar Lumpfish, Pava Malossol Salmon Cavia, Caviar Stars Salmon Caviar
Griffin Parker
Will Morgan
Luke Field
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!