When shopping for Christmas, choose your recipe based on how you plan to serve the sardines: opt for fillets in water for a preparation with no added oil, or sardines in olive oil for toast or a starter. An individual tin makes it easier to serve the right amount, but check the drained weight, the fish’s format and the storage instructions after opening before deciding how many tins to buy.
If you’re serving sardines on toast or as a starter, an individual tin lets you open just the amount you need when it’s time to serve. Compare recipes in olive oil and drained fish weight, rather than looking at the stated tin size alone.
If you’re adding sardines to a salad or a simple meal, fillets in water are a different recipe from whole sardines in oil. The Saupiquet product described on its product page comes in a 100 g tin.
If the type of oil, salt, fish format or allergens affect your choice, read the label for the exact product. Two tins with the same total weight don’t necessarily contain the same drained fish weight.
First decide whether you’ll serve the sardines as they are or add them to a dish, then check how much fish each tin contains.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount to serve | Compare the drained net weight and the number of tins you’ll need. For example, Carrefour states that its 135 g Classic’ tin in sunflower oil contains 95 g drained weight. | I want to make sure there’s enough sardines for everyone without opening an extra tin. Around 33% of shoppers prioritise getting the quantity and leftovers right. |
| Recipe and presentation | Choose between fillets and whole sardines, then check the oil, sauce or seasoning, and whether any bones are present. | For toast or a starter, I’m looking for a recipe that suits how I plan to serve the fish. This is the top priority for around 27% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Read the ingredients and nutritional information, including salt and fat, as well as the allergens listed for the product you’re considering. | If I want to avoid added oil or compare different seasonings, the ingredients guide my choice. Around 20% of shoppers rank this as their top consideration. |
| Availability at your chosen store | Confirm the product and its availability at your store or through your chosen collection option; also check the dates for any advertised offers. | I’m doing my Christmas shopping at a particular store and want to know I can find the recipe I’ve chosen there. Local availability is the top priority for around 20% of shoppers. |
For sardines in oil, the total weight includes the liquid they’re packed in. Carrefour’s 135 g Classic’ tin states a drained fish weight of 95 g. This second figure helps you work out how much to serve.
If the drained net weight is shown on the label, use it to compare products packed in liquid.
The Saupiquet fillets in water described by the brand contain fish, water and salt, while other products are whole sardines in olive or sunflower oil. The fish format and ingredients affect what you’ll be serving.
First choose between fillets and whole sardines, then read the ingredients and nutritional information on the tin you’ve selected.
The product pages for Saupiquet sardines in water and Auchan organic sardines say to refrigerate after opening and consume within two days. Always follow the instructions on your tin.
If you’re only planning to serve some of the contents, check these instructions before opening the tin.
Any leftovers not eaten within the stated time may need to be thrown away.
A product shown online may not be the one available at your chosen store. Lidl France also gives specific validity dates for its catalogues.
Before finalising your shopping, check the product at your store or through your collection service, and check the offer dates if applicable.
A 100 g product of sardine fillets in water to consider if you’re looking for a recipe with no added oil.
A 115 g tin of whole sardines in extra virgin olive oil to consider for a drinks gathering or starter.
The individual Carrefour Classic’ tin in sunflower oil is labelled 135 g, including 95 g drained net weight.
The retailer lists individual Pêche Océan tins of 95 g and 100 g, as well as a 115 g Nos Régions ont du Talent product in olive oil.
An organic sardines in extra virgin olive oil product is labelled 115 g, including 80 g drained net weight.
You can check the retailer’s catalogue before your Christmas shopping to see dated offers at your chosen store.
These tins let you compare sardines in olive oil, a chilli recipe, a recipe in water and a truffle recipe for toast, a starter or a quick meal. If the portion count matters, check the drained weight on the label.
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A recipe to consider for toast or a salad. The tin is listed as 140 g; check its drained net weight on the label to work out how much fish to serve.
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A tin to consider if you’d like to serve sardines in olive oil on bread. The stated size is 135 g; check the label for the drained fish weight.
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This 115 g recipe offers a chilli-flavoured option for a drinks gathering, as an alternative to sardines in plain olive oil. If you want to avoid chilli or adjust portion sizes, check the ingredients and drained net weight on the tin.
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An option to compare for a salad or a quick meal if you prefer sardines in water to a recipe in oil. The tin is listed as 98 g; check the drained net weight if you need to plan a specific amount of fish.
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This recipe is worth considering for toast or a sharing platter if you’re looking for truffle seasoning. Compare the 115/81 g figures with the net weight and drained net weight shown on the label, and check the listed allergens too.
No. The amount you’ll need depends on how you serve the sardines and the drained fish weight. Auchan’s product page for its 115 g organic tin states a drained weight of 80 g. Compare this figure with the number of guests before deciding how many tins to buy.
Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve opened. For the products featured here, Saupiquet and Auchan say to refrigerate after opening and consume within two days.
Check the product name, ingredients, allergens, quantity and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen. For prepacked food sold in France, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that mandatory information must be visible, legible and written at least in French. Drained net weight also matters when fish is packed in liquid.
No. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, canned foods generally carry a best-before date (DDM). Check the exact wording on your tin, and follow its storage instructions after opening separately.