Who is this choice for?

Buffet manager keeping a close eye on quantities

You need to compare the net weight and stated number of portions to work out how much will actually be served, without mistaking pack size for portion size.

Team with little time before service

You’re looking for preparation instructions that fit your morning set-up. For its 1 kg POUCE frozen peas, Auchan says they can be cooked without defrosting first.

Hotel serving prepared dishes at the buffet

You need to know the product name, ingredients and allergens for each item you choose, so you can manage the information provided to guests.

What should you look for?

Frozen vegetables

Worth considering: for a hot dish prepared to order, provided you have a freezer and suitable cooking equipment.

Plan for: keeping the cold chain intact right up until preparation.

Dried pulses

Worth considering: when the dish calls for dried pulses and the kitchen can manage the preparation.

Plan for: preparation time, which you should check for the product you choose; dried pulses are not an automatic substitute for frozen vegetables.

Tinned pulses

Worth considering: if tinned pulses suit the buffet recipe you’re planning.

Check: plain and prepared varieties may have different ingredients.

Criteria What to check What matters to consumers
Preparation before service Check the cooking instructions for the product and make sure you have the right equipment. If there’s little time for the morning set-up, I look for a format the team can prepare when needed. Around 36% of consumers would put ease of preparation first.
Serving quantities Compare the net weight and stated number of portions with the quantities planned for the buffet. To organise the buffet, I need to know how many portions the chosen format will provide. Getting the quantities right would be a priority for around 29% of consumers.
Product category Check the product description: dried pulses, tinned pulses or frozen vegetables. If the dish calls for dried pulses, I don’t want to replace them with frozen vegetables just because the names sound similar. Nearly 21% of consumers would put choosing a product that matches the dish first.
Ingredients and storage Check the ingredients and allergens again; for frozen products, check the storage instructions too. When a recipe or product changes, I need to be able to update the information for guests and organise storage accordingly. Around 14% of consumers would put this first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing dried pulses with frozen vegetables

    Auchan lists dried pulses and frozen vegetables in separate sections. Choosing one instead of the other could change both the dish you’re planning and how it needs to be prepared.

    Make the required product category clear, and use the product description for your chosen item in the kitchen instructions.

  • Overlooking storage requirements for frozen food

    The POUCE frozen peas listed by Auchan must be stored at −18 °C and must not be refrozen once defrosted. Anses highlights the importance of maintaining the cold chain.

    Check that you have enough freezer space and plan the portions you’ll need to prepare for service.

  • Assuming all tinned products are the same

    Plain white beans and a prepared dish may have different ingredient lists. This matters for the information you provide at the buffet.

    Check the ingredients and allergens for each product you choose, then update the information for guests if the recipe changes.

Brands worth looking at

Auchan

Auchan lists dried pulses, including lentils and chickpeas, separately from frozen vegetables such as peeled broad beans and peas.

  • The different formats and categories make it easier to check that you’re choosing the product type you need.
  • Before choosing a product for the buffet, check its preparation instructions and storage requirements.

Carrefour

Carrefour lists several types of tinned white beans, which may differ in format and recipe.

  • The different options make it easy to compare net weight and ingredients.
  • Don’t assume that a prepared tinned product is the same as plain beans without checking the ingredients list.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are frozen peas or broad beans classed as dried pulses?

Don’t automatically describe them that way: Auchan lists frozen peas and peeled broad beans separately from its dried pulses. For the buffet, use the product description and choose the format specified in the recipe.

Do you need to defrost POUCE frozen peas before cooking?

No. For the 1 kg POUCE product listed by Auchan, the cooking instructions say to cook the peas in a pan without defrosting them first, for around 6 to 8 minutes once the water returns to the boil. Follow the instructions on the pack of the product you’re using.

How should you store frozen food for the buffet?

Make sure you have enough freezer capacity and follow the instructions for the product you choose. The POUCE peas listed by Auchan should be stored at −18 °C and must not be refrozen once defrosted; Anses recommends keeping the cold chain intact.

What should you check about allergens before serving food at the buffet?

Check the ingredients and allergens for every product used in the dish, and keep the information provided to guests up to date if a product changes. The DGCCRF reminds businesses that allergens must be clearly indicated in the ingredients list of prepacked products. For the buffet, check the dishes actually being served and the information you need to make available.