Families using tuna for several meals
If you make a salad one day and pasta or sandwiches another, a multipack of individual tins means the remaining portions stay sealed until you need them.
Who are these formats for?
Households that cook in larger quantities
A large tin can be a good choice for a meal served to several people at once. Before choosing one, check that you’ll be able to use its contents within the storage instructions after opening.
Shoppers who care about ingredients and fishing practices
To stock up on tuna that suits your dishes and shopping priorities, compare tuna in spring water with tuna in oil, check the species listed, and read the exact wording of any certifications or traceability information.
What should you look for?
When shopping for a large family, start with the meals you have planned. The amount of tuna you can use and the number of tins you’ll need to open matter just as much as the recipe.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Compare the number of tins, their weight and the drained net weight where it’s shown. The DGCCRF highlights the importance of the latter for products packed in liquid. | When I’m making several dishes from one shop, I want to know how much tuna will actually go into my recipes. Around 36% of shoppers say this usable quantity is their top priority. |
| Portions and leftovers | Choose a tin size to suit a meal, and read the storage instructions for the specific product after opening. | When meals are spread out over several days, I’d rather open a small tin than store a large amount once it’s been opened. Around 29% of shoppers put portion management ahead of other criteria. |
| Recipe and nutritional information | Check whether the tuna is in spring water or oil, then read the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen. | If I’m planning several recipes, I want the liquid and ingredients to suit the dishes I’m making. Around 21% of shoppers put this choice of recipe first. |
| Fishing and traceability | Read the exact wording of any certification, certification programme or information about the fishing method, as this can vary between products. | Before stocking the cupboard, I want to know exactly what each tin says about fishing and traceability. Around 14% of shoppers put this criterion first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Comparing only the number of tins
Two four-tin multipacks don’t necessarily contain the same amount of drained tuna. The Carrefour Extra listing gives four tins of 140 g drained net weight, while the Petit Navire multipack description gives four tins of 140 g without stating the weight on the same basis.
To compare the usable quantity, check the drained net weight on each pack rather than assuming these two figures mean the same thing.
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Opening a large tin without planning the next meals
How long tuna keeps after opening depends on the product: a Pouce listing says 24 hours, while a large Saupiquet tin states 48 hours.
Plan your meal around the contents of the tin, and follow the refrigeration and decanting instructions on the product you buy.
Any leftovers you can’t use within the stated time may go to waste.
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Confusing certification with a move towards certification
The wording matters: one Saupiquet product is described as MSC-certified, while the listing for the Petit Navire multipack mentioned refers to a fishery taking part in a programme working towards this certification.
Check the claim on the specific product, and don’t assume it applies to every tin from the brand.
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Planning a menu around a multipack you’ve only spotted online
Multipacks listed on Carrefour.fr were marked as unavailable for Drive collection when checked. The range may vary by store and collection method.
Check that your chosen product is available before finalising your meal plans.
Brands and products to consider
The formats and features below apply to the specific products mentioned, not to every product from each brand or retailer.
Saupiquet
Carrefour.fr lists, among other products, a multipack of eight 140 g tins of plain tuna fillet and a multipack of three large 800 g tins, each with a stated drained net weight of 600 g.
- The eight-tin multipack lets you open tins for different meals, while the large-tin multipack is suited to cooking in larger quantities.
- For the large tin mentioned, the listing says to use it within 48 hours of opening. Don’t assume this instruction applies to other products.
Petit Navire
Carrefour.fr lists a multipack of four 140 g tins of plain tuna fillet. The ingredients are listed as tuna, water and salt.
- The four tins let you open them as needed for separate meals.
- The statement that a fishery is taking part in a programme working towards MSC certification does not, by itself, mean that every Petit Navire product is MSC-certified.
Carrefour
The Carrefour Extra product mentioned is a multipack of four 140 g tins of plain albacore tuna, with a drained net weight of 140 g per tin and water and salt in the ingredients.
- The drained net weight per tin makes it easy to calculate the stated quantity of tuna in the multipack.
- These details apply to Carrefour Extra in this format, not to every Carrefour canned tuna product.
Auchan
Auchan.fr lists canned tuna under its own brand, including a 140 g tin of plain skipjack tuna from its Cultivons le Bon range.
- For this product, Auchan states that the tuna is caught on free-swimming schools without a fish aggregating device, and that the vessel’s name is shown on the tin.
- The Cultivons le Bon tin described isn’t a multipack, and its claims don’t apply to every Auchan product.
Lidl
A Lidl France offer dated 25 September 2026 featured Sol&Mar tuna in sunflower oil, with a stated drained net weight of 750 g and an MSC label.
- The stated drained net weight helps you gauge how much tuna is available for a family meal.
- This dated offer doesn’t guarantee the product will be available when you shop. Its recipe in oil is also different from tuna in spring water.
A format available on Joybuy
This large tin of tuna in oil is suited to family meals prepared in larger quantities. If your meals are spread out over several days, compare it with multipacks of small tins before choosing a format.
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Saupiquet tuna in vegetable oil, 2.4 kg
This large format could suit a meal for several people if your recipe calls for tuna in oil and you can use the contents soon after opening.
The 2.4 kg figure is the stated pack size, not the drained net weight. Check the latter for this product before comparing the usable quantity of tuna.
The Joybuy listing for this product says to keep it refrigerated at between 0 and 4 °C after opening and to use it within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Which weight should you check when comparing two tins of tuna?
If the tuna is packed in liquid, check the drained net weight. This lets you compare the stated quantity after draining. The DGCCRF says this information must appear on the label in this case; the total weight alone doesn’t tell you how much tuna you can use.
Can you use a large tin once opened for several meals?
Yes, as long as your meal plans and storage follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought. The listings mentioned give different storage times after opening: 24 hours for a Pouce product and 48 hours for some Saupiquet products. Also check whether you need to transfer the contents to another container before refrigerating.
What should you check on the label before stocking up on several tins?
Check the product name, ingredients, highlighted allergens, nutritional information, quantity and date on each product. The DGCCRF includes these among the labelling information for prepacked foods. For a multipack, also check the weight and recipe of the tins inside.