For lunch on your own at uni, start by choosing a size you can finish, or one that lets you store any leftovers according to the instructions on the packaging. Plain lentils leave you free to add your own seasoning; a ready-made recipe takes less preparation, but you’ll need to check its ingredients and salt content separately.
Pre-cooked canned lentils can be served cold according to the instructions or heated if you have access to the right equipment, making lunch easy to prepare with very little. A small can means you won’t have to deal with leftovers.
A large can can be split between two meals, provided you can transfer the leftovers to a suitable container and refrigerate them as instructed on the product.
Check the ingredients, salt content and allergen information for each product: plain lentils and a ready-made recipe won’t necessarily have the same ingredients.
Choose these: for an individual lunch when you have no reliable way to store leftovers.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to add your own seasoning or side dish.
Choose this: for several meals or a shared lunch, if you can refrigerate the leftovers.
Bear in mind: the storage instructions after opening are especially important.
Choose these: when a pre-seasoned recipe better suits the time you have available.
Bear in mind: the ingredients and salt content depend on the specific recipe.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick preparation | Instructions for serving the lentils cold or heating them; equipment needed. | Between lectures, I want to be able to prepare lunch with the equipment I have. Around 31% of shoppers prioritise how quickly they can serve it. |
| Managing leftovers | Drained weight; storage instructions after opening. | If I won’t have access to a fridge after my meal, I’d rather buy an amount I can finish. Around 25% of shoppers put managing leftovers first. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients and allergens on the packaging; salt per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If I need to avoid an ingredient or keep an eye on salt, I want to compare specific products rather than just their names. Around 25% of shoppers put ingredients first. |
| Keeping the cupboard stocked | Drained quantity to suit the meals planned; best-before date and storage conditions. | To plan my next few lunches, I look for cans in sizes that suit the meals I intend to make. Around 19% of shoppers prioritise keeping their cupboard stocked. |
A 530 g can may leave you with more than you can use if you don’t have access to a fridge. The Auchan and d’Aucy product information cited for certain products says to transfer leftovers to a suitable container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days.
If you haven’t planned a second meal, consider a smaller size instead. Otherwise, follow the instructions on the can you buy as soon as you open it.
Any portion that can’t be stored may end up being thrown away.
The Auchan ready-made recipe cited here contains carrots and onions, among other ingredients. Its product information lists 0.93 g of salt per 100 g, compared with 0.58 g for the 530 g Auchan plain lentils checked. These figures apply to those two products, not to every canned product in their categories.
Choose based on how much preparation you want to do, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the products you’re considering.
When lentils are packed in liquid, the total weight includes the liquid. The drained weight helps you compare how many lentils you’ll get for your meal; the DGCCRF states that this information appears on the labels of relevant food products.
Check the drained weight and compare it with the number of meals you plan to make.
Depending on the product, the Auchan and Bonduelle product information checked mentions that traces of cereals containing gluten or soya may be present.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the ingredients list and allergen information on the can you receive.
Plain lentils in 265 g and 530 g sizes, to suit the number of meals you’re planning.
A pack of three cans, each with a drained weight of 130 g, worth considering if you want to split your lunches into separate portions.
A 530 g can of lentils to consider if you’re planning several meals or a shared lunch.
Two products suit different needs: 530 g of plain lentils and a 400 g ready-made recipe with carrots and onions.
This canned ready meal contains lentils, but it’s different from plain canned lentils. If you’re thinking of taking it to uni for lunch, check its ingredients and instructions for use.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a ready meal containing lentils rather than a can of plain lentils. This 420 g can also contains pork and wheat gluten, so check the ingredients as well as the serving and storage instructions after opening.
Yes, if they’re pre-cooked and the instructions say they can be served that way. The product information for Auchan plain lentils recommends draining and rinsing them before serving cold; always follow the instructions on your can.
Follow the storage instructions on the can you buy. For the Auchan and d’Aucy products mentioned, these say to transfer the leftovers to a suitable container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days.
No, not automatically if the packaging is intact. The DGCCRF distinguishes between a best-before date and a use-by date. Check the condition of the can and follow the product instructions before using it.
If the lentils are packed in liquid, compare their drained weights rather than their total weights. This makes it easier to match the amount of lentils to the number of meals you’re planning.
No. It depends on the product and its labelling. Some Auchan and Bonduelle product information mentions that traces of cereals containing gluten or soya may be present. If you need to avoid these ingredients, check the specific product packaging.