Who are these options for?

People preparing several Christmas dishes

If the same herb features in several recipes, work out how much you’ll need for the whole menu before choosing a pack size.

People who only need a small amount

For a few specific recipes or a freezer that’s already full, a small pack can help you avoid keeping an herb you’re unlikely to use again for too long.

People looking for something ready to cook with

Chopped herbs and herb mixes can save you some preparation. Check the ingredients, though: a parsley and garlic mix also contains garlic.

What should you look for before buying?

Start with the recipes you’re planning to make to choose your herbs and quantities, then check that you can transport and store them safely in the cold.

Criterion What to check Who this is for
Plan your shopping Identify the recipes that use the same herb and add up the quantities you’ll need before choosing a pack size. I’m preparing several dishes and want to avoid buying lots of separate herb packs. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this kind of planning.
Cut down on leftovers Compare the amount you’ll need with the 50 g and 250 g pack sizes, and check how much freezer space you have. For a single recipe, I’d rather not leave a large, opened pack in the freezer. Around 29% of consumers would prefer a quantity that better matches their needs.
Follow the recipe Read the product name and ingredients to tell a single herb apart from a mix. According to Auchan, Darégal parsley and garlic mix contains 70% parsley and 30% garlic. I want to get the seasoning right without accidentally adding garlic. Around 21% of consumers would put matching the recipe at the top of their list of criteria.
Keep it cold Plan a short journey, take an insulated bag and put the herbs away promptly. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. If my shopping trip takes longer, I need to be able to put the herbs away without breaking the cold chain. For around 14% of consumers, this would be the main priority.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing a pack size without planning how you’ll use it

    A 250 g pack means you’ll have more herbs to store if only one recipe calls for them. E.Leclerc’s Rustica range includes 50 g and 250 g pack sizes.

    Make a note of the dishes you’ll use each herb in, then choose an amount you’re confident you’ll use.

  • Confusing plain parsley with a parsley and garlic mix

    The Darégal parsley and garlic mix featured by Auchan contains 30% garlic, so it won’t season a dish in the same way as plain parsley.

    Check the ingredients and choose plain parsley if you want to add garlic separately.

  • Leaving frozen food until last during a long shopping trip

    A long journey makes it harder to maintain the cold chain. The DGCCRF advises keeping transport time to a minimum and never refreezing food that has defrosted.

    Pick up frozen herbs last, use an insulated bag and put them away promptly, following the label instructions.

Brands to know

ALL SEASONS®

ALDI stocks frozen ALL SEASONS® parsley in a 50 g pack, among other products.

  • A small pack to consider if you only need a little parsley.
  • Check availability at the store where you shop.

RUSTICA

E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère frozen herb range includes single herbs and mixes, in pack sizes from 50 g to 250 g.

  • A choice of pack sizes makes it easier to match your purchase to the recipes you’re planning.
  • A parsley and garlic mix isn’t a substitute for plain parsley in every recipe.

Picard

Picard stocks frozen chopped chives in a 50 g tub, among other products.

  • A small amount of a specific herb for a recipe that calls for chives.
  • Chives won’t replace parsley or a parsley and garlic mix when you want that particular flavour.

Darégal

Auchan stocks a 250 g Darégal parsley and garlic mix made up of 70% parsley and 30% garlic.

  • The mix combines two ingredients for recipes that call for parsley and garlic.
  • Its garlic content makes it unsuitable for recipes that call for parsley alone.

AUCHAN

The retailer stocks frozen herbs and seasonings, including chopped parsley in a 250 g pack.

  • A pack size to consider when several dishes call for parsley.
  • If you’re making just one dish, check that you’ll be able to use the rest later.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 250 g pack suitable for a single Christmas meal?

Only if your recipes need that amount or you plan to use the herb again afterwards. For a single dish that only needs a little, a 50 g pack can help cut down on leftovers.

Can you replace frozen parsley with a parsley and garlic mix?

Yes, if the recipe also works with garlic. According to the ingredients listed by Auchan, the 250 g Darégal parsley and garlic mix contains 70% parsley and 30% garlic. It’s therefore not a substitute for plain parsley if you want to add garlic separately.

How should you transport frozen herbs after shopping?

Keep transport time to a minimum, use an insulated bag and put the herbs away promptly, following the instructions on the packaging. The Ministry of Agriculture gives −18 °C as the reference temperature for frozen storage, and the DGCCRF advises against refreezing food that has defrosted.