If you cook dried pulses regularly, standard bags and loose options let you choose a quantity that suits your meals and storage space. A large bag only makes sense if you’ll use everything in it. If saving time matters more, ready-to-eat options meet a different need: check the ingredients rather than treating them as plain dried pulses.
If lentils, chickpeas or beans regularly feature in your meals, you can choose a pack size to suit the recipes you have planned. Stocking up on just one variety may be less useful if you like to switch between soups, salads and slow-cooked dishes.
Buying loose or choosing a large pack means you’ll need somewhere to store your dried pulses away from heat and moisture, as advised on the Auchan green lentils product page, for example. Before buying a larger quantity, check how much space you have and think about your cooking habits.
If you often prepare meals without having time to plan for cooking, ready-to-eat pulses may be more convenient. However, a prepared recipe, such as those from Bjorg, won’t necessarily have the same ingredients as a bag of plain dried pulses.
When buying in bulk, start with the varieties you actually use and the amount you can store. Preparation time and the information on the packaging can then help you decide between formats.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | How much you can use in your meals; storage instructions on the packaging. | When I plan meals for several weeks, I want to be able to store and use everything without leaving an opened bag unused. Around 31% of consumers put finding the right balance between quantity and storage first. |
| Preparation time | Cooking time and whether the variety needs soaking; ingredients in a ready-to-eat option. | If I need to prepare meals quickly, I prefer a variety that suits my schedule, or a ready-to-eat product. This is thought to be a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Origin and ingredients | Origin and organic labelling for the exact product; ingredients list and any allergens. | When buying a large quantity, I want to know the origin and ingredients of the product I’ll receive, rather than relying on information for a different product. Around 23% of consumers are thought to put these details first. |
| Variety and recipes | Type of pulse and the recipes you have in mind before choosing a large pack. | If I’m unfamiliar with a variety, I prefer to check first that it’s suitable for the dishes I make. Finding a variety that fits the meals you cook is thought to be the priority for around 15% of consumers. |
A pack weighing several kilograms needs plenty of space and a regular place in your meals. The weight of the bag doesn’t tell you whether its contents will suit the meals you plan to cook.
Estimate how much you’ll cook and check the storage instructions before choosing a pack size.
A large bag can also be difficult to store and handle once opened.
The Auchan green lentils product page says the origin may vary and notes that the information can differ depending on the online grocery service and purchase date.
If origin is important to your choice, check the details for the product and batch available from your retailer.
A ready-to-eat recipe may contain pulses, grains, oil and salt. It’s therefore not the same as a bag containing only dried pulses that need cooking.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information, then choose according to how you actually plan to use the product.
A variety you haven’t cooked before may not have the texture you want or suit the recipes you have in mind.
Try a smaller pack first and check the preparation instructions before building up a large stock.
Carrefour offers dried lentils under its own brands, as well as products sold by partner retailers.
The Auchan range includes lentils, split peas and beans.
E.Leclerc offers Notre Jardin green lentils in a 500 g bag, as well as a Bio Village product sold loose.
The Goldensun page features several varieties of organic dried pulses.
An ALDI product page features green lentils or white beans in 500 g packs.
Bjorg offers ready-to-eat recipes that include pulses.
No. Choose an amount you can use and store in line with the product instructions. If a variety rarely features in your meals, a smaller bag lets you try it before buying a larger quantity.
Buying loose lets you choose the amount you want; a pre-packed bag may be easier to store if its size suits your habits. In either case, check the variety, product information and storage instructions before buying in bulk.
Follow the instructions on the packaging. The Auchan green lentils product page says to store them away from heat and moisture. Once opened, reseal the bag or use clean, dry containers that are suitable for the amount you have left.
They can save you the time of cooking from scratch, but their ingredients are different. A Bjorg recipe featuring pulses also contains other ingredients, so check the label for the product you choose, particularly for salt and any allergens.
Look for the date on the pack and read the storage instructions that go with it. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between the use-by date and the best-before date on pre-packed foods, so check which one appears on the product you’re buying.