If you’re preparing a meal on the day, ready-cooked chickpeas are the most convenient choice: simply drain them and add them to your recipe. Dried chickpeas are a good option if you’ve planned ahead for soaking and cooking. Whichever you choose, compare the usable quantity with the number of guests and check the ingredients if they’re important to them.
If you’re preparing for your get-together on the day, ready-cooked chickpeas save you from having to plan ahead for soaking. When comparing two containers, also check how much drained chickpea you’ll actually use in your recipe.
If you’ve planned your menu well ahead, dried chickpeas are still an option. E.Leclerc recommends soaking them overnight before cooking, so factor this preparation time into your choice.
If salt, origin or ingredients your guests need to avoid are a concern, check the specific product you’re buying. Information can vary between products, particularly when it comes to potential allergen traces.
First, decide whether you have time to soak and cook dried chickpeas. Then choose a quantity that suits your recipe, and compare the information provided for products you’d use in the same way.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Comparable prices | Compare the displayed price per kilo and, for tinned chickpeas, the drained net weight. Don’t compare a kilo of dried chickpeas directly with a kilo of ready-cooked chickpeas. | If I’m watching my spending, a tin with a lower individual price won’t necessarily give me the quantity I need; around 33% of consumers prioritise the cost of the usable quantity. |
| Quick preparation | Check whether the chickpeas are already cooked and how to use them. For dried chickpeas, E.Leclerc recommends soaking overnight, then cooking for around 1 h 30 in a saucepan. | When I decide what to cook on the day, I want to get started without soaking the chickpeas first; nearly 33% of consumers prioritise being able to use them straight away. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Choose the drained net weight to suit your recipe and the number of guests. Before opening a large container, read the storage instructions for after opening. | For a few nibbles or a small gathering, I prefer to open a quantity I can use; around 20% of consumers prioritise portioning and managing leftovers. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients list and check the salt content, origin if stated, and any allergen or trace warnings on the product. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, the ingredients list matters more than the format; around 14% of consumers put it at the top of their list of priorities. |
Containers of different sizes don’t provide the same quantity of drained chickpeas. So the price per item alone isn’t enough to help you choose the right amount for your get-together.
Check the displayed price per kilo and the drained net weight, then compare them with what your recipe requires.
Dried chickpeas need to be prepared in advance: E.Leclerc recommends soaking them overnight before cooking.
If you want to cook on the day without that extra step, choose ready-cooked chickpeas; save dried ones for a meal you’ve planned ahead.
Auchan notes that a product’s ingredients may vary depending on the delivery service and purchase date. Product listings from Auchan and d'aucy also warn that some products may contain traces of gluten or soya.
If a guest needs to avoid a particular substance, check the label on the container you’ve actually bought.
A large format may contain more than your recipe requires. The product listing for one d'aucy product says to refrigerate it after opening and consume it within two days.
Choose a format that suits the number of guests and follow the storage instructions for the product once opened.
Carrefour offers plain, ready-cooked chickpeas in several sizes, including 265 g and 530 g.
This E.Leclerc brand offers ready-cooked chickpeas, including in a 530 g size.
Auchan offers ready-cooked chickpeas in 265 g and 530 g sizes.
Bonduelle offers ready-cooked chickpeas in a smaller size and in multi-portion packs.
The products reviewed include 2 × 130 g portions and a 215 g organic jar with no added salt, described as being from France.
These two GÜNES VADIS chickpea sizes could work well in a homemade recipe. Choose between 540 gr and 820 gr depending on how much you’re making; before deciding, check the drained quantity, ingredients and preparation instructions on each product listing and on the packaging.
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For a homemade recipe, check how much drained chickpea you need before choosing this 540 gr size.
If the ingredients matter to one of your guests, check the label, particularly for sodium metabisulphite.
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For a dish that needs more chickpeas, compare this 820 gr size with the drained quantity you’ll actually need.
Lupin is listed as an ingredient in this product, so don’t choose it if a guest needs to avoid lupin.
Choose ready-cooked chickpeas if you need to prepare the meal on the day without soaking them first. For dried chickpeas, E.Leclerc recommends soaking them overnight, then cooking for around 1 h 30 in a saucepan or 40 minutes in a pressure cooker.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve opened. A d'aucy listing says to refrigerate leftovers and consume them within two days; also check the instructions on your packaging.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the product you’re going to serve. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods. Also check for any stated traces.
It depends on the type of date and the condition of the packaging. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control distinguishes between a use-by date, which must not be exceeded, and a best-before date, after which a product in intact packaging may have lost some of its qualities. Check the date and the instructions for your tin.