Who are these sizes for?

Households preparing several servings

You want to serve ready-cooked lentils to several people or use them in dishes over a short period, without soaking or cooking dried lentils.

People who find chewing tiring

You want to cut down on preparation and have the option to mash or blend the lentils if needed. However, a texture that is easy to chew day to day is not necessarily suitable for a prescribed texture in cases of dysphagia.

Smaller households keen to avoid leftovers

You prefer a smaller tin or separate portions if you do not expect to use up a large tin soon after opening it.

What should you look for?

First work out how much you will use after opening, then check the recipe and the texture when serving. Each of the criteria below reflects a need that some consumers might prioritise.

Criteria What to check Who it matters to
Quantity for several servings Compare the drained weight with the number of meals you plan to make, rather than looking only at the weight including liquid. If I’m preparing several plates without cooking dried lentils, I want enough ready-to-use lentils. Around 37% of consumers in this group might put this quantity first.
Texture when serving Check the consistency after preparation. If a specific texture has been prescribed, follow your healthcare professional’s advice and the relevant IDDSI methods. When chewing takes effort, I look for a dish whose consistency I can adjust when serving. Texture might be the top priority for around 36% of consumers in this group.
Leftovers after opening Look at 265 g tins or smaller portions, and follow the storage time stated on the packaging. If I’m cooking for just a few people, I prefer to open an amount I can use within the recommended time. Around 18% of consumers in this group might prioritise avoiding leftovers over quantity.
Recipe ingredients Read the ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details, including the salt content per 100 g. Before choosing between plain lentils and a prepared recipe, I want to know what’s in the tin. Around 9% of consumers in this group might make this their top priority.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming the tin’s weight is the amount you’ll serve

    The net weight may include liquid. When planning portions, the drained weight of the lentils is a more useful basis for comparison.

    Check this information for each size, then compare it with the meals you plan to prepare.

  • Confusing plain lentils with prepared lentils

    Ingredients vary by recipe: Auchan’s plain lentils product listing gives lentils, water and salt, while its lentils with goose fat recipe lists milk among its ingredients.

    Before buying, read the full ingredients list and allergen information for the product you’ve chosen.

  • Opening a large tin without planning for leftovers

    Any unused portion should be stored according to the instructions for that opened product. The French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control stresses the importance of following these storage conditions and time limits.

    Plan another dish that fits the label’s instructions, or choose a smaller size.

  • Assuming whole lentils are suitable for everyone with swallowing difficulties

    A ready-cooked product does not automatically meet a prescribed texture. The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) describes methods for assessing the texture of food when it is tested.

    If you have dysphagia or have been prescribed a modified texture, ask the relevant healthcare professional for advice and check the preparation against the required level.

Brands to consider

Bonduelle

Bonduelle offers ready-cooked lentils, including a 265 g drained-weight product and a 530 g tin of plain lentils in their juice.

  • The brand’s product information includes serving suggestions for hot or cold dishes.
  • The brand’s description of the texture does not confirm that a product meets a prescribed texture.

Carrefour Classic'

Carrefour France offers plain lentils in 265 g and 530 g drained-weight tins, as well as a pack of 3 × 130 g.

  • These sizes let you choose according to the portions you have planned. The product information for the 530 g drained-weight tin lists soaked lentils, water and salt.
  • Check the drained weight and storage instructions for the specific product you choose.

Auchan

Auchan offers a 530 g tin of plain lentils and prepared recipes, including one made with goose fat.

  • The product information for its plain lentils lists soaked lentils, water and salt.
  • The prepared recipe with goose fat lists milk, so check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy.

Fleurs des Champs (ALDI)

ALDI France offers Fleurs des Champs prepared lentils in a 530 g tin, described as ready to eat.

  • This size may suit you if you’re planning several servings.
  • Check the usable weight for your portions and the texture when serving.

A smaller-size option on Joybuy

This 265 g tin of prepared lentils is better suited to a small portion or a household looking to avoid leftovers than to preparing several family-sized servings.

Cassegrain prepared lentils with carrots and onions, 265 g

Cassegrain Prepared Lentils with Carrots and Onions, 265 g

Worth considering if you’re looking for a smaller tin rather than a large size for several servings.

The product name states that this is a 265 g prepared lentil dish with carrots and onions. Check the drained weight and texture when serving if these are important to your choice; do not assume that this product is suitable for a prescribed texture.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a 530 g tin necessarily suitable for a family meal?

No. Check whether 530 g refers to the net weight or the drained weight, then compare the usable amount with the portions you have planned. Carrefour France also lists 265 g tins and a pack of 3 × 130 g if you’d prefer to open smaller amounts.

How should you store lentils after opening?

Follow the instructions on the packaging you buy. The Bonduelle and Auchan product information reviewed recommends keeping the lentils in the fridge and using them within 48 hours or two days. Auchan specifies storing its product in a suitable airtight container.

Are whole canned lentils suitable if you have dysphagia?

Not automatically: being ready-cooked does not confirm that they meet a prescribed texture. If you have dysphagia, ask the relevant healthcare professional for advice and have the preparation checked against the required level and methods of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI).

What should you check when comparing plain and prepared lentils?

First compare the ingredients, declared allergens and nutritional information, including the salt content per 100 g, on the relevant packaging. The French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control notes that prepacked food labels include information such as the ingredients list, nutrition declaration and net quantity.