Groups planning a meal together
If you’re planning to make a salad, couscous, curry or hummus for several people, you could use a large tin in one go. Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Auchan, for example, stock 530 g formats.
Who are these formats for?
Holidaymakers looking to avoid leftovers
If meal plans or the number of guests might change, a multipack of small tins means you only need to open the amount you need. Available formats include packs of 3 × 125 g at Auchan, 3 × 130 g at E.Leclerc and 3 × 200 g at Carrefour.
People who pay close attention to labels
If origin, ingredients, salt or allergens matter to you, check the exact product rather than relying on the details for another tin size from the same brand. Drained net weight also helps you compare how much chickpea you’ll actually have to use.
Which criteria should you prioritise?
Start by choosing a format based on the meals you’re planning and how much you’ll be able to use once it’s open. Then compare the drained net weight and label information for the formats that suit your needs.
Multipack of small tins
Choose this: when meal plans aren’t set yet or several people are sharing a small fridge.
Bear in mind: each tin stays sealed until you need it, but you may need to open several for a meal shared by a group.
Large tin
Choose this: when you’re planning a dish for several people and will use the contents all at once or soon after opening.
Bear in mind: if your meal plans change, you’ll need to store any leftovers according to the product instructions.
Individual tins
Choose this: if you want a few tins for different dishes.
Bear in mind: you may need several tins for one dish if you’re cooking for a group.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for a group meal | Compare the drained net weight of the formats you’re considering with the amount you need for your planned dish. | If I’m cooking for the whole group, I want the amount I’ve planned without having to open several tins; around 40% of consumers prioritise meals shared by a group. |
| Leftovers after opening | Check the size of each tin in the multipack and the storage instructions for after opening. | With changing meal plans and limited fridge space, I’d rather open just a small tin; limiting leftovers is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and origin | Read the ingredients, allergen information and origin shown on the exact product. | If an allergen warning or a specific origin determines what I buy, I need to check the tin I’ve chosen; around 20% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
| Stock for spontaneous meals | Choose the number and size of individual tins to suit the dishes you might make during your stay. | If we haven’t settled on a meal for the group, I want to keep a few tins sealed so I can cook as needed; this flexibility comes first for around 10% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Opening a large tin without a group meal planned
If your plans change, leftovers take up fridge space and need to be stored according to the product instructions.
Save the large format for a dish where you know how much you’ll need. Otherwise, consider a multipack of small tins that you can open separately.
-
Confusing net weight with drained net weight
The weight of a tin including its liquid isn’t the same as the amount of chickpeas on their own once drained. The DGCCRF states that drained net weight must be shown for products sold in a covering liquid.
To compare a multipack with a large tin, check the drained net weight of each format.
-
Assuming every format from a brand has the same label information
For Notre Jardin, E.Leclerc lists the origin of the 3 × 130 g multipack as France, while the product details for the 530 g tin mention several possible origins. Monoprix’s product details for its 265 g tin warn that it may contain traces of gluten and soya.
If origin or allergens affect your choice, check the label on the exact format before you buy.
-
Putting an opened tin away with the unopened ones
Once opened, follow the storage instructions for that specific product. For its 3 × 125 g multipack, Auchan advises transferring the contents to a suitable airtight container, refrigerating them and using them within two days.
Make sure you have a suitable container in your holiday rental, or choose a tin whose contents you can use in full.
Brands to consider for these formats
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour stocks Carrefour Classic' tinned chickpeas in different sizes, including a 530 g tin and a 3 × 200 g multipack.
- Choosing between a tin and a multipack lets you match the number of tins you open to your planned meals.
- Check the exact format available at your chosen shop or for your selected collection service.
Notre Jardin
This E.Leclerc brand offers, among other formats, a 530 g tin and a 3 × 130 g multipack.
- The multipack lets you open the small tins separately, and its product details list the origin as France.
- The product details for the 530 g tin mention several possible origins. If origin matters to you, check the one shown on the format you buy.
Auchan
Auchan stocks 265 g and 530 g formats, as well as a 3 × 125 g multipack.
- The multipack lets you open tins as needed for different meals.
- For its 3 × 125 g multipack, Auchan advises keeping opened chickpeas in a suitable airtight container in the fridge and using them within two days.
Monoprix
The 265 g Monoprix tin is an individual portion for a small dish.
- Its product details list chickpeas, water and salt.
- The same product details warn that it may contain traces of gluten and soya. Check the label if these allergens are a concern for you.
ALL SEASONS®
ALDI France stocks ALL SEASONS® chickpeas in a 265 g tin.
- This individual format could suit a small dish or top up your stores.
- Check which product is available at the shop where you plan to do your food shopping.
A large tin on Joybuy
This 820 g tin is a good choice if you’re planning a meal for a group, rather than looking for a multipack of small tins to open as needed during your stay.
Image unavailable
GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 820 gr
The 820 gr format suits a dish for several people if you plan to use the contents of this single tin soon after opening.
To find out how much chickpea you’ll have after draining, check the drained net weight on the packaging. The product details list lupin as an allergen, so check the label if this affects you. They also advise refrigerating the product after opening and using it within three days.
Frequently asked questions
How do you compare a multipack of small tins with a large tin?
Compare their drained net weight, then choose based on how much you plan to open for each meal. In France, the DGCCRF states that this weight must be shown when a product is sold in a covering liquid; net weight alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll have after draining.
How should you store chickpeas after opening a tin in a holiday rental?
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought rather than leaving an opened tin in the cupboard. For its 3 × 125 g multipack, Auchan advises transferring the contents to a suitable airtight container, refrigerating them and using them within two days.
Does a best-before date that has passed mean you have to throw a tin away?
No. A best-before date passing doesn’t, by itself, mean you have to throw a tin away. The DGCCRF distinguishes this from a use-by date and notes that the packaging must be intact; however, the product’s taste or physical qualities may change.
What should you look for on a tin of chickpeas?
Check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information, net quantity, drained net weight when the chickpeas are in a covering liquid, as well as the date and storage instructions. The DGCCRF includes these details in its labelling rules for prepacked foods in France. If origin matters to you, check what’s stated on the specific product you’re considering.