For a large batch of lentil biscuits, choose a tin of plain lentils based on the drained weight required by the recipe, rather than lentils already cooked with vegetables or seasoning. A large tin may be enough for several batches; if you’re trying the recipe for the first time, smaller portions mean you’ll open only what you need. Check the ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions after opening, then rinse and drain the lentils if the recipe calls for it.
If you’re planning a large batch of dough or several rounds of biscuits, compare the amount of drained lentils you need with the quantity shown on the tin. Carrefour, for example, lists a product with a drained net weight of 530 g.
For your first batch, smaller portions let you open only the amount you need. A recipe published by The Conscious Plant Kitchen calls for canned lentils that have been rinsed and drained. Check whether yours gives the same instruction before measuring out your portions.
For sweet dough, compare the ingredients in plain lentils with those in a seasoned product. If allergens or potential traces matter to you, check the information for the exact product: Bonduelle notes that its lentils cooked in very little juice may contain traces of soya and cereals containing gluten.
Start with the ingredients to rule out products with seasoning that won’t suit your biscuits. Then choose the drained weight to match the quantity you need and how you could use any leftovers.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients for sweet dough | The ingredients list and whether it includes vegetables, flavourings or spices. | When I’m making sweet biscuits, I want to avoid savoury seasoning changing the flavour of the dough; around 31% of consumers would prioritise plain ingredients. |
| Enough for several batches | The drained net weight shown for the product and the quantity required by the recipe. | For several batches, I need enough drained lentils without opening lots of tins; around 31% of consumers would prioritise a family-size pack. |
| Managing leftovers | How much you need to open and the storage instructions after opening. | If I’m trying the recipe just once, I’d rather open a portion close to the amount I need; around 23% of consumers would put leftovers first. |
| Allergens and storage | Allergens, precautionary allergen information and the instructions on the exact tin. | If I need to take a dietary restriction into account, I check the packaging before cooking; around 15% of consumers would prioritise this check. |
Auchan’s prepared lentils include carrots, onions and natural flavourings. These ingredients will change the flavour of sweet biscuit dough.
Compare the ingredients on the tin you choose with the flavours intended in your recipe.
If your recipe measures drained lentils, the total weight of a tin won’t tell you how much you can actually use.
Check the drained net weight and work out how much you need before choosing a large tin or several small portions.
Any surplus needs to be stored and used according to the product’s instructions after opening.
Plan to use it in another recipe, or choose smaller portions for a single batch.
A short ingredients list is no substitute for checking allergens and precautionary allergen information. For one of its products, Bonduelle notes that it may contain traces of soya and cereals containing gluten.
Check the information on the exact pack you’re using.
Bonduelle offers lentils cooked in very little juice in a 265 g drained net weight tin; Carrefour also lists its plain-juice lentils in a 530 g size.
Carrefour offers lentils in a large tin as well as smaller sizes, including a pack of 3 × 130 g.
E.Leclerc lists ECO+ lentils in a 530 g tin.
Auchan offers prepared lentils in a 400 g tin, among other pack sizes in its range.
Aldi offers Fleurs des Champs prepared lentils, intended to be eaten as a savoury dish.
For sweet biscuits, plain canned lentils make it easier to follow a recipe that calls for lentils to be rinsed and drained. Auchan’s prepared lentils include carrots, onions and natural flavourings. Choose them only if those ingredients suit the flavours you want.
Yes, if your recipe calls for it. The recipe published by The Conscious Plant Kitchen uses canned lentils that have been rinsed and drained. Follow the instructions for the recipe you’re making when measuring the lentils and liquid for the dough.
Follow the instructions on the tin you’re using. For its lentils cooked in very little juice, Bonduelle advises storing them at a maximum of 4 °C and eating them within 48 hours of opening. For its prepared lentils, Auchan advises storing them in a suitable airtight container in the fridge and eating them within two days.
No. Check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information for each product. Bonduelle notes that its lentils cooked in very little juice may contain traces of soya and cereals containing gluten.