Organisers serving tuna as it is
For a salad, sandwich or plate where the tuna will be visible, the size of the pieces, the recipe and the drained weight can all help you choose the right tin.
Who are these options for?
Anyone making their own dressing or seasoning
If you’re adding tuna to a dish for a group, a tuna-in-spring-water recipe lets you choose the oil, herbs and seasoning to add while cooking.
Organisers catering for a group
When you’re expecting several guests, the drained weight, number of tins to open and instructions for storing leftovers matter just as much as the pack size.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether you’ll serve the tuna in pieces or mix it into a recipe. Then compare the quantities you’ll actually serve and any storage requirements, particularly if the meal is spread over several sittings.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| How the tuna is presented | Whether the product is described as “fillets” or “whole tuna”, and the shape of the product in the listing you choose. | For a plate or sandwich where the tuna will be visible, I want pieces that suit the way I plan to serve it; around 36% of consumers would put this first. |
| Control over the recipe | Whether it’s in spring water or oil, and the ingredients list. | If I’m making the dressing myself, I’d rather choose the oil and flavourings separately; this would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portions and leftovers | The drained weight, tin size and instructions for storing the product after opening. | When serving a group, I need to work out how much tuna I can use and make sure there’s somewhere cool to store opened tins; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Label and sourcing | The species listed, nutritional information and any certification shown for the specific product. | If the species, salt content or a certification influences my choice, I want to be able to check those details on the tin; around 14% of consumers would put them first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Working out portions from the total weight
The liquid the tuna is packed in is included in the total weight, but not in the amount of drained tuna you’ll serve.
To work out how many tins you need, use the drained weight shown on each one and consider how much tuna you plan to serve with the meal.
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Opening a large tin without planning for leftovers
Storage instructions after opening vary from one product to another. An opened tin won’t keep in the same way as one that’s still sealed.
Only open as much as you need for the meal, and have suitable containers and somewhere cool to store any leftovers. Follow the storage time shown on the product.
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Assuming a claim applies to every product from a brand
A particular species, an olive oil recipe or an MSC claim may apply to one product without applying to the other tins in the range.
If any of these details are important to you, check the label on the tin you’re planning to buy.
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Trusting the date if the tin is damaged
The DGCCRF warns that dents, rust marks or a bulging tin may indicate that the food has deteriorated.
Don’t use a tin that is bulging, rusty, leaking or badly dented, and check the packaging before taking it to the festival.
Brands to consider, product by product
Petit Navire
The brand offers several ranges, including tuna in spring water, tuna in oil and white tuna.
- A choice of recipes makes it easier to find a product for serving as it is or seasoning on site.
- Check the size, ingredients and claims on each tin: the range does not describe all its products in the same way.
Saupiquet
Saupiquet offers tuna fillets in extra virgin olive oil for a dish that needs little extra preparation before serving.
- The product information for the fillets gives details of the recipe and instructions for storing them after opening.
- The hand-cutting and hand-packing claims come from Saupiquet; they are not an independent comparison with other fillets.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s products include tuna in spring water and recipes with olive oil across different ranges.
- A Carrefour Extra product listing specifies yellowfin tuna, 35% extra virgin olive oil and a drained net weight of 104 g.
- These details apply to this product; check the information for the one you choose for your meal.
Auchan
One Auchan product combines whole yellowfin tuna with extra virgin olive oil.
- Its product information lists the ingredients and explains what to do with leftovers.
- For this product, Auchan advises transferring leftovers to an airtight container, keeping them at +4 °C and eating them within 24 hours.
Lidl / Sol&Mar
A Sol&Mar product listed by Lidl comes in a 750 g pack and combines skipjack tuna with sunflower oil.
- This pack size may be useful when calculating quantities for a group meal; the product page carries the MSC label.
- This recipe uses sunflower oil, not olive oil. Check the product details and availability when you buy.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
Marque Repère is E.Leclerc’s food range. Check each product individually when shopping in store or online for collection.
- The label on the product you choose lets you compare the recipe, drained weight and nutritional information with other tins you’re considering.
- Don’t assume a particular Marque Repère tuna product contains a certain species, oil or pack size without checking its product information or packaging.
Canned tuna available on Joybuy
These Petit Navire products are mostly recipes in spring water, so you can add your own seasoning, along with one recipe in sunflower oil. Compare the pack sizes and details on each tin to find one that suits how you plan to serve it.
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Petit Navire tuna in spring water, 140 g
Worth considering if you’d like to season the tuna yourself for a salad or a dish for a group.
The title states 140 g. Check the drained weight on the tin to work out how much you’ll be serving.
If you’re expecting leftovers, follow the storage instructions after opening shown on the packaging.
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Petit Navire MSC tuna in spring water, 112 g drained weight, 160 g total weight
This recipe in spring water suits a menu where you’d like to choose the seasoning yourself.
The title distinguishes between 112 g drained weight and 160 g total weight: use the first figure to work out how much tuna you’ll serve.
If the species or MSC label influences your choice, check these details on the tin.
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Petit Navire MSC white tuna in spring water, 112 g
This product in spring water can be added to a salad or filling, with the seasoning of your choice.
The title states 112 g but doesn’t say whether this is the drained weight: check before working out portions.
Also check the MSC label on the packaging if it affects your choice.
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Petit Navire white tuna in brine, 140 g
This tuna in brine can be used in a dish with other ingredients added afterwards.
The title states 140 g. Check the label for the drained weight before working out portions, and to confirm the species if that matters to you.
Have a suitable container and somewhere cool to store the tuna if you won’t use the whole tin.
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Petit Navire tuna in sunflower oil, 160 g
Consider it for a salad or sandwich if tuna in sunflower oil suits your menu.
The title states 160 g, but doesn’t give the drained weight; check the tin.
If presentation matters for your meal, also check the shape of the tuna before buying.
Frequently asked questions
How do you choose a tin of tuna described as “premium”?
Compare products based on details that matter for your recipe: fillets or pieces, the species listed, drained weight, ingredients and instructions for storing the tuna after opening. A particular oil or a claim that it has been prepared by hand doesn’t, on its own, prove that it tastes better than other products.
Can you keep leftover tuna in the opened tin?
Follow the instructions on the product you’ve bought. For its yellowfin tuna in olive oil, Auchan advises transferring the tuna to an airtight container rather than leaving it in the tin, keeping it at +4 °C and eating it within 24 hours. Saupiquet says its tuna fillets in olive oil can be kept in the fridge for two days.
Is a best-before date that has passed enough reason to throw a tin away?
No, the date alone isn’t enough to judge the condition of a tin. Follow the storage instructions and check the tin: the DGCCRF highlights dents, rust and bulging as possible signs of deterioration. If you’re unsure about its condition, don’t eat the contents.
Should you plan to serve only tuna if the festival lasts several days?
If you’re serving fish regularly, varying the species rather than serving only tuna is in line with the general recommendations from Anses, which also encourage variety in where your fish comes from. Plan which tinned products to serve at each meal according to the menu and your guests.