Hosts planning a shared side dish
If chickpeas will be one of the main sides at your raclette meal, compare the drained quantities in larger formats before deciding how many containers to open.
Who are these formats for?
Hosts who don’t yet know how many guests are coming
If chickpeas are just one of several toppings, a multipack of small tins lets you adjust how much you open when it’s time to eat.
Guests who check ingredients carefully
Check the ingredients list, salt content and allergen information on the product you buy: these can vary from one product to another.
What should you look for?
First, decide what role the chickpeas will play in your meal. The format, ingredients and how you’ll store an opened container will help you choose between the options.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount to serve | Compare the drained weights and add together the amounts in the containers you plan to open. | If chickpeas are a shared side, I want to make sure there’s enough for everyone without counting the liquid in the tin. Around 42% of consumers might put this at the top of their list. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients, salt per 100 g and allergen information for the exact product. | If I need to consider the other food being served or someone’s allergy, the ingredients matter more than the pack size. Around 33% of consumers might prioritise this check. |
| Leftovers after opening | Check how many containers can be opened individually and the storage instructions once opened. | If only a few guests choose chickpeas, I’d rather be able to keep some containers sealed for another time. For around 25% of consumers, minimising opened leftovers might be the main concern. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Relying on the total weight of the container
When chickpeas are packed in liquid, the total weight doesn’t tell you how much you’ll have to serve once drained. For example, an Auchan tin is listed as having a drained weight of 530 g.
Compare the drained weights, then add together the amounts in the tins you plan to serve.
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Assuming all plain tinned chickpeas have the same ingredients
Monoprix and Bonduelle product listings warn that traces of gluten or soya may be present. Salt content also varies between the products mentioned.
Check the label of the product you choose, especially if a guest needs to avoid an ingredient or you want to adjust the seasoning.
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Opening a large tin without planning for leftovers
Once the container is open, the storage instructions become important. The listing for Auchan’s 530 g drained-weight product says to transfer the contents to an airtight container, refrigerate and consume within two days.
If you’re not sure how much you’ll serve, consider tins that can be opened individually and follow the instructions on each opened pack.
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Counting on a format without checking your chosen store
A product listed online may not be available at the shop or for the grocery collection service you use. For example, Carrefour listed a Sabarot multipack of three tins as unavailable for collection.
Check which formats are available at your chosen store before planning your side dish around a single product.
Retailers and brands to consider
Carrefour
A retailer where you can compare a large tin with multipacks to match the quantity to the role chickpeas will play in your meal.
- Carrefour lists, among other options, a tin with a drained weight of 530 g and a multipack of three 200 g tins.
- Check the exact pack size and its availability at your chosen store or for collection.
Auchan
The retailer lists an Auchan tin with a drained weight of 530 g, as well as smaller formats and multipacks from other brands.
- The drained weight shown on the large tin makes it easier to plan how much to serve.
- Auchan notes that some product information can vary depending on the collection service and purchase date, so check the label on the product you receive.
Monoprix
The Monoprix 3 × 130 g format lets you open the tins individually if chickpeas are a smaller part of the meal.
- Three separate containers give you more flexibility over how much you open than a single container.
- The listing for this product states that it contains 0,70 g of salt per 100 g and may contain traces of gluten and soya.
ALDI / ALL SEASONS
ALDI lists a 265 g tin of ALL SEASONS chickpeas.
- This format is suitable if you need a small amount or want to consider using several containers.
- Check the pack format: a single tin isn’t a multipack.
Bonduelle
Bonduelle’s ‘cooked in very little juice’ product has a drained weight of 265 g; Auchan also lists this range in a multipack.
- Bonduelle describes this product as ready to cook as soon as you open it.
- The product listing warns that it may contain traces of soya and cereals containing gluten.
Chickpeas available on Joybuy
These two GÜNES VADIS formats could work as a chickpea side for raclette. To choose how much to serve, check the drained weight: the weight shown in the product name doesn’t tell you how much chickpea there is without the liquid.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 820 g
This 820 g format could be a good option for a shared side. Check its drained weight before deciding how many containers to serve. The product information mentions lupin, so check the label if a guest has an allergy to this ingredient.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 540 g
This 540 g jar is another option to serve with raclette, but it isn’t a multipack of small tins that you can open one at a time. If the amount you’ll serve matters to you, check the drained weight on the label.
Frequently asked questions
Should you compare net weight or drained weight?
If the chickpeas are packed in liquid, compare the drained weight: this tells you how much chickpea there is without the liquid. The DGCCRF notes that this information must appear on the label of foods sold in a covering liquid.
How should you store chickpeas after opening?
Follow the instructions on the container you buy, as the recommended storage time can vary by product. For its tin with a drained weight of 530 g, Auchan says to transfer the contents to an airtight container, keep it in the fridge and consume within two days.
Is plain tinned chickpeas always suitable if a guest avoids gluten or soya?
No. The ingredients list alone won’t tell you whether there may be traces of other ingredients. The Monoprix and Bonduelle products mentioned warn that traces of gluten or soya may be present, so check the label of the product you’re serving.
Do tinned chickpeas need to be cooked for a long time before raclette?
Not if the product is described as ready to use: Bonduelle says its chickpeas ‘cooked in very little juice’ are ready to cook as soon as you open them. Check the instructions on your chosen product to decide how to serve or heat it.