Who is this option for?

Hosts who like to control the salt

You’re making hummus, a salad or a hot dish to share, and want to season it once you’ve brought the other ingredients together.

Cooks preparing a meal for a group

You’re looking for ready-cooked chickpeas to save time, and need to know how much you’ll have once they’re drained.

Shoppers who care about organic certification and origin

You want to take organic certification or French origin into account without assuming these details also tell you how much salt is in the tin.

What should you look for first?

For a meal to share, start with your recipe and the quantity you need, then check the ingredients, salt content and drained weight. A standard tin of ready-cooked chickpeas may be suitable if you’re happy with its seasoning. Claims such as ‘steam-cooked’ and ‘very little juice’ don’t, on their own, tell you whether salt has been added.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Salt in the tin Read the ingredients and check the salt content per 100 g. Before comparing two jars, check whether the figures are for the drained product. If I want to season the hummus myself, while other foods in the meal are already salty, I’ll start by checking how much salt the chickpeas contain. This could be the main consideration for around 36% of consumers.
Usable quantity Compare drained weights and choose according to how much you’ll need for your recipes. If I’m serving several people and don’t want to cook dried chickpeas, I mainly need a sufficient quantity that’s already cooked. This would be the top consideration for around 29% of consumers.
Organic certification and origin Check organic certification, stated origin, ingredients and salt content separately. I want to know where the chickpeas come from and choose an organic product, while still checking how it’s seasoned. Around 21% of consumers could prioritise this combination of factors.
How you’ll use them Check the suggested uses on the tin, its ingredients and any allergen trace warnings. I’m looking first for ready-cooked chickpeas to use in a salad or hot dish, then I’ll adjust the seasoning in my recipe. Around 14% of consumers could put this use first.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Assuming ‘organic’ or ‘steam-cooked’ means ‘no added salt’

    These claims answer different questions. Carrefour’s product listing for Jardin Bio Étic chickpeas includes sea salt in the ingredients, while d’aucy declares 0.51 g of salt per 100 g drained for its Cuisson Vapeur product.

    Check organic certification, origin and cooking method separately from the ingredients and salt content.

  • Taking ‘very little juice’ to mean ‘no added salt’

    This describes the packaging, not the absence of salt. Bonduelle lists salt among the ingredients of its chickpeas ‘cooked in very little juice’ and declares 0.60 g of salt per 100 g.

    If you want to season the dish yourself, compare these ingredients and figures with those of a product explicitly labelled no added salt.

  • Planning portions using the net weight alone

    The net weight includes the liquid. The two d’aucy jars with no added salt listed by Auchan show drained chickpea weights of 215 g and 340 g respectively.

    Base the quantity you buy on the drained weight, and check the storage instructions on the jar if you’re expecting leftovers.

  • Trusting a product title when the details don’t match

    A Monoprix Courses listing titled ‘Prosain Organic Chickpeas, No Added Salt’ nevertheless includes sea salt in its ingredients.

    Before choosing this product because it claims to have no added salt, check the packaging or ask the retailer to clarify.

Brands and products to consider

Salt content varies from one product to another, even within the same brand. Choose based on the label of the specific product you plan to serve.

d’aucy

The brand offers chickpeas in jars and tins, including Bio Engagé products with no added salt.

  • According to d’aucy and Auchan, the 340 g drained Bio Engagé jar contains chickpeas and water, and has 0.01 g of salt per 100 g drained.
  • This figure doesn’t apply to the whole range: d’aucy declares 0.51 g of salt per 100 g drained for its Cuisson Vapeur chickpeas.

Bonduelle

Bonduelle recommends its ‘cooked in very little juice’ product for salads or hot dishes.

  • The chickpeas are ready-cooked, and Bonduelle lists a drained weight of 265 g for the pack shown.
  • Salt is included in the ingredients, and Bonduelle declares 0.60 g of salt per 100 g. ‘Very little juice’ does not mean ‘no added salt’.

Eco+

E.Leclerc lists a standard tinned chickpea product.

  • This product gives you the option of a standard tin in the 265 g size listed by E.Leclerc.
  • According to the E.Leclerc listing, the ingredients include salt and the declared salt content is 0.70 g per 100 g.

Jardin Bio Étic

Carrefour’s product listing describes these chickpeas as organic and sourced from France.

  • The Carrefour listing gives the chickpeas’ origin and organic status.
  • The ingredients include sea salt, so check the salt content of this product rather than assuming it’s low because it’s organic.

Monoprix

Monoprix Courses lists a 265 g tin of standard chickpeas.

  • The listing lets you check the ingredients, salt content and allergen information before you buy.
  • It lists salt among the ingredients, 0.41 g of salt per 100 g, and traces of gluten and soya.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘very little juice’ mean the chickpeas have no added salt?

No. This claim refers to the packaging. Bonduelle lists salt among the ingredients of its ‘cooked in very little juice’ product and declares 0.60 g of salt per 100 g. Check the ingredients and nutritional information before you choose.

How do I choose chickpeas for a dish I’ll season myself?

Look for a product explicitly labelled no added salt, then check its ingredients and salt content. According to d’aucy and Auchan, the 340 g drained Bio Engagé jar contains chickpeas and water, and has 0.01 g of salt per 100 g drained. Compare other products on an equivalent nutritional basis.

What should I do with leftover chickpeas after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the jar you’ve bought. If you’re preparing several recipes for dinner, check the drained weight before you buy and plan how you’ll use any leftovers.

Should I check allergen information on a tin of chickpeas?

Yes. Check the label of the product you’re buying if you have any concerns about allergens. The Monoprix Courses listing for its 265 g chickpeas warns that they may contain traces of gluten and soya. This information shouldn’t be assumed to apply to all tinned chickpeas.