Organisers planning quantities
You need to serve a group and work out how many packs to buy. Tinned chickpeas come in different sizes, so compare their net drained weights to estimate how much chickpea you can use.
Who is this for?
Teams with freezer space
You have a freezer and are looking for chickpeas that are already cooked and ready to portion. Auchan sells a 600 g frozen pack for 3 to 4 portions, while Picard and Maison Thiriet offer 450 g frozen packs.
Cooks who check the labels
You need to check ingredients and allergen information for the people you’re serving. Auchan says the ingredients in its 530 g tin may vary depending on the store and purchase date, so check the packaging of the batch you receive.
How do the different formats compare?
Whether you can store frozen food is the first thing to consider. Then choose according to preparation time, usable quantity and the labels you need to check for your group.
Pre-cooked frozen chickpeas
Consider these if: you have a freezer and suitable transport right up until serving time.
Plan for: keeping them frozen and reheating them according to the instructions on the pack.
Tinned chickpeas
Consider these if: you need to store your shopping before the event without a freezer.
Plan for: the drained quantity in each tin and how to store any leftovers after opening.
Dried chickpeas
Consider these if: your team can prepare them before serving.
Plan for: the time, water and equipment needed, unlike with formats that are already cooked.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | The net drained weight of tinned chickpeas and the weight of frozen packs; the number of portions stated, if shown on the product. | When I’m serving a group, I want to buy enough chickpeas without mistaking a tin’s total contents for its drained quantity. Around 40 % of consumers prioritise the usable quantity. |
| Preparation and keeping food cold | Whether you have a freezer set to −18 °C, how you’ll transport the product and the preparation instructions for the product you choose. | If service needs to be quick, I look for a format that’s already cooked, but I need to store it properly until it’s ready to use. Speed and keeping food cold come first for around 30 % of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and allergen information on each batch you actually buy. | When I’m cooking for people with dietary requirements, I need to know what’s in the food I’m serving, even if the product name sounds straightforward. Checking the label is the priority for around 30 % of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing the tin’s weight with its drained quantity
Two tins of different sizes won’t necessarily give you the same amount of chickpeas once drained.
To work out how much you need for your group, check the net drained weight of each product.
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Choosing frozen chickpeas without a plan for keeping them cold
Transport and storage are part of the preparation. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting your freezer to −18 °C; the Picard and Auchan products reviewed also say not to refreeze after thawing.
Plan how you’ll transport, store and prepare them before choosing this format. If you can’t keep them frozen, consider tinned chickpeas or dried chickpeas prepared in advance.
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Relying on the label of a different tin
Auchan says the ingredients in its 530 g tin of chickpeas may vary depending on the store and purchase date; some versions warn that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten and soya.
For a group meal, check the ingredients and allergen information on every batch delivered or collected.
Retailers and brands to know
These products are examples of the formats to compare when catering for a group; check the details for the product you choose.
Auchan
Auchan offers pre-cooked frozen chickpeas in a 600 g pack, stated to serve 3 to 4 portions, as well as 265 g and 530 g tins.
- According to Auchan’s instructions, the frozen pack can be cooked without thawing first.
- Auchan notes that the ingredients in its 530 g tin may vary depending on the store and purchase date.
Picard
Picard offers pre-cooked French organic chickpeas, frozen in a 450 g pack.
- The product information describes ways to serve them hot or cold and includes preparation instructions.
- This format requires suitable arrangements for transporting and storing frozen food.
Maison Thiriet
Maison Thiriet offers cooked frozen chickpeas in a 450 g pack, suitable for a cold salad or a hot dish.
- The product information says to heat them in a saucepan for 2 to 3 minutes.
- You’ll need a freezer to store this pack.
Carrefour
Carrefour Classic’ tins include a 530 g size, giving you an example of the quantities available in a tin.
- A choice of tin sizes makes it easier to find a pack that suits the service you’re planning.
- Tinned chickpeas aren’t prepared or stored in the same way as a frozen pack.
E.Leclerc
The Notre Jardin range includes a 265 g tin of chickpeas; E.Leclerc also sells them dried.
- Tinned chickpeas are a ready-to-use format to consider when serving a group.
- Dried chickpeas need to be prepared before serving.
Chickpeas available on Joybuy
These two GÜNES VADIS packs are options that don’t need to be stored frozen. When catering for a group, check the drained quantity, storage instructions and label for the product you choose.
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GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 820 gr
Worth considering if you’re catering without a freezer to store the product before opening, provided you follow the storage instructions on the pack.
Check the net drained weight to plan portions, and check the lupin information on the label before serving.
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GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 540 gr
Worth considering if you’re catering with a ready-to-use product that doesn’t need to be stored frozen before opening.
Check the storage instructions after opening and the label on the batch: the available information lists sodium metabisulphite as an ingredient, but gives conflicting allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Frozen or tinned chickpeas: which should you choose for a festival?
Choose pre-cooked frozen chickpeas if you can keep them frozen and follow the preparation instructions on site. If you don’t have a reliable freezer for transport and storage, tinned chickpeas avoid this issue before opening.
How should you store frozen chickpeas and an opened tin?
Follow the instructions for each product. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting your freezer to −18 °C and your fridge to +4 °C; the Picard and Auchan frozen products reviewed say not to refreeze after thawing. For its 530 g tin, Auchan says to transfer the contents after opening, refrigerate them and use within two days.
Can you assume that all chickpeas carry the same allergen information?
No: check the label for the product and batch you’ll be serving. Auchan says the ingredients in its 530 g tin may vary depending on the store and purchase date; some versions warn that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten and soya.
How do you plan how many chickpeas you’ll need for a group?
Start with the amount of chickpeas you can use from each pack, including the net drained weight for tinned chickpeas. If a product states how many portions it serves, such as Auchan’s 600 g frozen pack, which is listed as serving 3 to 4 portions, compare this with the meal you’re planning.