Families making lunch on the day
If you need to put several plates together quickly, compare large tins of ready-cooked chickpeas with multipacks of tins. A multipack lets you open only the amount you need if the number of people changes.
Who are these pack sizes for?
People preparing several meals in advance
A 1 kg pack of dried chickpeas could be a good choice if your routine allows time to follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
People who pay attention to ingredients and portions
Compare the ingredients, salt content and drained weight where shown. The pack weight alone doesn’t tell you how many chickpeas you’ll be serving.
What should you look for?
If you’re planning several lunches, first decide whether you need chickpeas that are already cooked or can prepare a pack of dried chickpeas in advance. Then choose a pack size that suits the portions you’ll actually open.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick lunches | Look for ‘ready to use’ on the pack and check the drained weight shown. | If you’re making lunch for several people on the day, you’ll want chickpeas you can use without having to cook them first. Around 40% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Preparing food in advance | The 1 kg pack of dried chickpeas and its preparation instructions. | If you’re cooking for several lunches, you can set aside time to prepare a large pack. Around 30% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Ingredients and portions | The ingredients, salt content and storage instructions after opening. | If portion sizes vary from one meal to another, you may prefer to choose how much to open and control the seasoning yourself. Ingredients and portions are the top priorities for around 30% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a large pack is a quick lunch option
Dried chickpeas aren’t ready to use like tinned ones. Auchan’s product information for its 1 kg pack, for example, includes a soaking step followed by a long cooking time.
If you’re making lunch on the day, choose a product that’s already cooked. Save dried chickpeas for meals you can prepare in advance.
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Opening a large tin without planning the portions
Once opened, you’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions. A large tin is only practical if you can serve or store its contents in line with those instructions.
Work out how many portions you’ll need before buying, and read the instructions on the packaging.
Any leftovers that aren’t used within the stated time may go to waste.
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Confusing plain chickpeas with a ready-made meal
A prepared meal and chickpeas that you season yourself serve different purposes. Manger Bouger recommends choosing plain or minimally processed foods rather than prepared meals in tins.
Check the ingredients list if you want to put together and season lunch yourself.
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Overlooking the condition of a tin
The DGCCRF advises that a bulging, rusty or dented tin may indicate that the product has deteriorated.
Set aside any tin showing these signs, and don’t eat its contents if you’re unsure.
Retailers and brands to consider
Carrefour / Carrefour Classic' / Carrefour Bio
Carrefour offers, among other options, a 530 g Classic' tin and a multipack of three 200 g tins.
- The multipack lets you open tins separately to suit the portions you need.
- Check the details of the product and the options available at your store before choosing.
Auchan
Auchan’s range includes, among other options, a multipack of three 265 g tins and a 1 kg pack of dried chickpeas.
- These pack sizes let you compare ready-cooked portions with chickpeas that need preparing in advance.
- For the dried chickpeas, follow the preparation instructions for the product you choose.
Monoprix
Monoprix offers a 530 g pack of ready-to-use chickpeas. According to its product information, the ingredients are chickpeas, water and salt.
- These ready-cooked chickpeas can be used as the basis for a lunch made on the day.
- To compare ingredients, check the nutritional information on the packaging too.
E.Leclerc / Notre Jardin
E.Leclerc offers Notre Jardin chickpeas in a 265 g tin.
- A small tin could work well if you’d like to open portions as you need them.
- If you’re making a meal for several people, check how many tins you’ll need.
ALDI / All Seasons
ALDI offers a 265 g tin of All Seasons chickpeas.
- Buying several tins lets you plan separate portions.
- If you’re looking for a larger pack, check which products are available at your store.
Lidl
Lidl shares recipes for dishes made with chickpeas, including a Buddha bowl.
- These recipes offer ideas for using chickpeas in a lunch.
- To choose a pack size, check the details of the products available at your store.
Large packs of chickpeas on Joybuy
These two GÜNES VADIS pack sizes are for anyone comparing chickpeas for several portions, rather than preparing a 1 kg pack of dried chickpeas.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 820 g
This large pack could be a good choice if you’re preparing several portions without starting with dried chickpeas.
The stated pack size is 820 g. Check the drained weight to work out how much you’ll be serving.
The product description mentions lupin. If you have an allergy, check the label before eating.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 540 g
This pack could be a good choice if you want to put lunch together without preparing dried chickpeas.
The stated pack size is 540 g. Check the drained weight and storage instructions after opening before deciding how many packs you’ll need.
Frequently asked questions
Are chickpeas enough to make a balanced lunch?
No: a balanced lunch also depends on what you eat with the chickpeas. If you’re choosing a base to prepare yourself, Manger Bouger recommends opting for plain or minimally processed foods rather than prepared meals in tins.
How should you store a large tin after opening?
Follow the storage temperature and time limit given by the manufacturer on the packaging. The French Ministry for the Economy reminds consumers to follow the storage instructions after opening.
Can you eat a tin that’s bulging, rusty or dented?
Set aside any tin showing these signs: the DGCCRF advises that they may indicate the product has deteriorated. If in doubt, don’t eat its contents.
What should you check on the label of prepacked chickpeas?
Check the ingredients list, nutritional information and net quantity. These are among the details the DGCCRF says should be provided for prepacked foods. If you’re planning several portions, compare the drained weight too, where shown.