To add flavour to a comforting dinner, start by choosing the right herb for your dish, then pick a format that suits how often you use it. A 250 g pack makes sense if you regularly use the same herb. A smaller pack is better for occasional use, while a blend makes seasoning simpler but doesn’t let you adjust the amount of each herb individually.
If parsley or another herb features regularly in your cooking, a 250 g pack is worth considering. E.Leclerc, for example, offers Rustica parsley in 50 g and 250 g packs. Choose the size that matches how much you’re likely to use.
If you want to add flavour to a dish occasionally without keeping several large packs in the freezer, a smaller pack or a blend may suit your habits better. Picard, for example, offers a five-herb blend in a 50 g box.
If you want one particular herb to stand out in a dish, choosing it on its own gives you more control. The selections from E.Leclerc, Auchan and Carrefour include a range of herbs and pack sizes.
For a comforting dinner, start with the recipe and your usual cooking habits. The amount you need, the risk of leaving a pack unused and how much control you want over the flavour matter more than pack size alone.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Regular use | Before choosing a 250 g pack, check that you use the same herb often. | If I regularly add parsley to soups or casseroles, I can plan to use a large pack. Around 36% of consumers would put regular use first. |
| How much to store | Compare the pack size with the space in your freezer and how you plan to use it. | If I rarely use a particular herb, I prefer a smaller pack so a large one doesn’t get left unused. This would be the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Quick seasoning | Check the ingredients in a blend, or choose a chopped herb to suit your dish. | When I’m making dinner in a hurry, I want to add several herbs without choosing them one by one, even if that means having less control over the quantities. This convenience would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| A specific flavour | Choose a single herb if you want its flavour to stand out in the recipe. | If my dish calls mainly for basil or coriander, I want to be able to measure out that herb without adding a whole blend. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this level of control. |
A blend won’t necessarily replace the main herb in a recipe. Picard’s blend combines parsley, chives, chervil, basil and thyme, so you can’t adjust the amount of each herb separately.
Check the ingredients before you buy. If you want one herb to take centre stage, choose it on its own.
Keeping food cold matters for small packs of herbs, too. Anses recommends picking up frozen food at the end of your shop, using an insulated bag and keeping transport time to a minimum.
Put the herbs in the freezer as soon as possible and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Picard offers individual herbs and blends in smaller packs.
Carrefour offers several frozen herbs in smaller packs under this brand.
E.Leclerc offers Rustica frozen herbs, including parsley in several pack sizes.
Auchan’s selection of frozen herbs and aromatics includes several 250 g packs.
ALDI presents ALL SEASONS as a range that includes frozen and tinned products, including herbs.
Choose based on how often you use the herb. A smaller pack is suitable for occasional use; a 250 g pack makes more sense if you regularly use the same herb in your cooking and have room to store it.
A single herb is best if you want control over its role in the recipe. A blend works well if its ingredients match the flavour you’re looking for. Check the list of herbs: Picard’s salad blend contains parsley, chives, chervil, basil and thyme.
Pick them up at the end of your shop, carry them in an insulated bag and put them in the freezer as soon as possible. These precautions follow Anses guidance on maintaining the cold chain. You should also follow the instructions on the packaging.