Students with a freezer and microwave
If you’re preparing several lunches, you can take portions from the frozen Auchan option, store it at −18 °C and heat it up without defrosting first.
Which option suits you?
Students having lunch without reheating
If you’re putting together a salad without a microwave, ready-to-eat tinned chickpeas, such as those sold by Auchan or Monoprix, mean you can skip reheating. Once you’ve opened the tin, follow its storage instructions.
Students preparing several portions
Pack size matters if you won’t eat everything at once: check how much you’ll use and how to store the rest. The packs sold by Carrefour, Aldi and Monoprix don’t all contain the same amount.
What should you check?
First, choose based on where you’ll store the chickpeas and whether you’ll be able to heat them up. Then check how much you can use, both before and after opening.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick preparation | For frozen chickpeas, check that they’re already cooked and follow the heating time for your portion size and microwave wattage. | If I need to eat between lectures, I want to be able to heat up a portion without defrosting it first; around 46 % of consumers would prioritise this convenience. |
| Amount you can use | Compare pack sizes with the meals you have planned. For tinned chickpeas, check the drained weight if it’s shown. | To avoid leaving a large tin open, I’d rather choose an amount that suits my next few meals; around 36 % of consumers would put portion planning first. |
| Storage and transport | Frozen chickpeas need to be stored at −18 °C. Once you’ve opened a tin, follow the product’s instructions on refrigeration and how long it will keep. | If I can’t keep a frozen product at the right temperature during my journey, I need to plan my lunch differently; around 18 % of consumers would prioritise transport and storage. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a large pack without planning your other meals
Once opened, a tin needs to be stored differently. Auchan says its 530 g tin should be transferred to a suitable container, kept in the fridge and eaten within two days of opening.
Choose an amount that suits the meals you plan to make, or decide when you’ll use the leftovers.
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Buying frozen chickpeas without planning your journey
The frozen bag needs to be stored at −18 °C. Auchan and Carrefour product information advises against refreezing a product once it has defrosted.
Before choosing this option, think about how you’ll keep it cold from the time you buy it through to storage and meal preparation.
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Assuming another product has the same ingredients
Auchan notes that the ingredients in some of its tinned products can vary depending on the store’s online grocery service and the date of purchase. This may include the allergen traces listed.
If an ingredient or allergen matters to you, check the label on the product you actually buy.
Brands to know for these options
Auchan
Auchan sells a 600 g bag of pre-cooked frozen chickpeas, described as providing 3 to 4 portions, as well as a 530 g tin.
- The bag’s product information says you can use the chickpeas without defrosting them first and gives heating times for different quantities.
- For the tinned chickpeas, check the ingredients on the product you receive and follow the storage instructions after opening.
Carrefour
Carrefour sells tinned chickpeas and lists a 450 g Carrefour Classic’ frozen option.
- The different tin sizes let you choose an amount to suit the meals you have planned.
- The product information for the 450 g frozen option says it’s no longer available; check which products your store currently stocks.
Aldi
Aldi sells a 265 g tin of Fleurs des Champs chickpeas.
- This size could suit you if you’d like to open a smaller amount for one meal.
- Check the information on the tin you choose, especially how to store it after opening.
Monoprix
Monoprix sells 530 g of ready-to-eat chickpeas. Its product information lists chickpeas, water and salt as the ingredients.
- The ready-to-eat format lets you put together a cold meal without heating the chickpeas.
- Check the allergen and storage information on the product you choose.
Tinned chickpeas on Joybuy
These two tins of GÜNES VADIS chickpeas are suited to a lunch you can put together without reheating. Choose a size based on how much you plan to use, and check the storage instructions for after opening.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 820 gr
If you’re making a salad without reheating, consider whether this 820 gr pack is right for the meals you have planned. Check the drained weight, allergen information and storage instructions for after opening.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 540 gr
For a cold meal you can put together, this 540 gr pack is another size to consider. Before choosing, check the drained weight, ingredients and storage instructions for after opening on the label.
Frequently asked questions
Can you heat frozen chickpeas without defrosting them?
Yes. Auchan’s pre-cooked option can be used without defrosting first. For 250 g in a microwave, its product information recommends 5 minutes at 750 W or 4 minutes at 900 W, stirring halfway through. Follow the instructions for the amount you’re heating.
Can I carry a bag of frozen chickpeas around with me all morning?
Only choose this option if you can keep it at the stated storage temperature during your journey and until you’re ready to prepare it. Auchan and Carrefour product information says to store it at −18 °C and not to refreeze it once defrosted.
Which size should I choose for a salad without a microwave?
Ready-to-eat tinned chickpeas let you put together a salad without needing to heat them. Choose a tin size that suits the amount you need, and follow the storage instructions if you don’t use it all.
Are the ingredients the same at every store?
Not necessarily for the Auchan products mentioned here: the retailer says their ingredients can vary depending on the store’s online grocery service and the date of purchase. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the label of the product you actually receive.