For adding a small amount of herbs to a children’s dinner, a 50 g pack that’s easy to reseal or measure from is a practical place to start, but it isn’t a pre-portioned serving for one meal. A 250 g pack may suit you better if you regularly use the same herb. If you’re choosing a parsley and garlic mix, check that the garlic works with your recipe.
If you want to add a little herb to an omelette, pasta or vegetables, check whether the pack lets you take out the amount you need a little at a time. Picard sells its 50 g chives in a shaker-style container, while Carrefour describes its 50 g pack as resealable. Neither is a pre-portioned serving.
If parsley regularly goes into your sauces or stir-fries, a 250 g pack may suit the way you cook. E.Leclerc and Auchan list packs of this size. Bear in mind how much freezer space you have and how often you’ll actually use it.
To choose exactly which herbs go into a meal, tell the difference between a single herb and a blend. The chives listed by Picard and Carrefour contain chives only, while the Darégal parsley and garlic mix listed by Auchan combines parsley and garlic. Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the product you buy.
For a small dinner, first choose between a single herb and a blend. Then check whether the pack size suits the amount you expect to use each time.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring a small amount | Check whether the pack is resealable or lets you sprinkle out the herbs, and whether they’re described as individually frozen. A net weight of 50 g doesn’t mean the herbs are pre-portioned. | I want to add flavour to one dish without using the whole pack. Around 50% of consumers would put this at the top of their list of needs. |
| How much to keep in the freezer | Compare 50 g and 250 g packs against how often you use the same herb and how much freezer space you have. | If I often cook with the same parsley, I want a supply that suits my needs without opening several packs. This would be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Read the product name and ingredients list: a parsley and garlic mix isn’t measured in the same way as plain parsley. | To adjust the flavour of a meal, I prefer to decide separately how much of each herb to use. Around 17% of consumers would make this control their priority. |
Picard’s 50 g chives are described as “individually frozen” and come in a shaker-style container, while Carrefour describes its pack as resealable. These details refer to the product and its packaging, not to a measured serving for one meal.
If you only need a few pinches, check how the herbs are dispensed and look at the net weight rather than relying on the “50 g” label alone.
The Darégal parsley and garlic mix listed by Auchan contains 70% parsley and 30% garlic, so you’ll add garlic every time you use it.
Choose a single herb if you want to measure the garlic separately. Save the parsley and garlic mix for dishes that suit both ingredients.
A larger pack means more herbs to store once you’ve opened it. It doesn’t, by itself, provide ready-to-use portions.
Before choosing 250 g, think about the meals you’ll actually use the same herb in. A 50 g pack takes up less space if you like to switch between flavours.
Anses advises against refreezing food once it has defrosted. Freezing doesn’t eliminate most microorganisms.
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, carry it in an insulated bag and put it back in the freezer promptly, following the pack instructions.
Picard sells 50 g of chopped frozen chives in a shaker-style container.
Carrefour describes its 50 g pack of frozen chives as coming in a resealable container.
E.Leclerc lists several 50 g frozen herbs in this range, as well as 250 g options.
Auchan lists Darégal chopped parsley in a 50 g pack, as well as a Darégal parsley and garlic mix.
No. The 50 g packs of chives listed by Picard and Carrefour are designed to be used several times, not as pre-portioned servings for one meal. If you only need a small amount, check whether the pack lets you sprinkle out the herbs or reseals easily.
Yes, for the 50 g pack of Darégal chopped parsley listed by Auchan: its product information says it can be used straight from the freezer, without defrosting first. Follow the instructions for the product you buy rather than assuming this applies to all frozen herbs.
Pick them up at the end of your shop, keep the journey home short and use an insulated bag. Then put them in the freezer according to the pack instructions. Anses advises against refreezing food once it has defrosted.
First, check the product name and ingredients list to see whether it’s a single herb or a blend. Also check the allergen information and storage instructions for the product you choose. For example, the Darégal parsley and garlic mix listed by Auchan contains both parsley and garlic.