Families who cook in bulk
If you prepare the sauce and accompaniments yourself, the pack weight and cooking time can help you choose a noodle base for several people.
Who are these formats for?
Busy families
A frozen noodle dish cuts out some of the steps involved in making dinner. However, check the total weight, the stated number of portions and how much freezer space you’ll need.
Households mindful of ingredients
If certain ingredients or allergens are important to your choice, check the label on the pack you buy, even if you’re choosing plain noodles. Auchan says the ingredients in its product may vary depending on the store’s click-and-collect service and purchase date.
Which criteria should you compare?
To choose between noodles you cook yourself and a ready meal, start with the number of people you’re serving, then consider what else you’ll need to add and any storage requirements.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity to serve | Net weight and stated number of portions; quantity of planned accompaniments. | If several people are having the same dish, I want to avoid mistaking an individual portion for a dinner to share. Around 37% of consumers rank the quantity to serve as their top priority. |
| Meal to put together | Ingredients needed in addition to the noodles; number of packs required. | I prefer to prepare dinner myself, but I want to know when I’m shopping what else I’ll need to add to the noodles. For around 27% of consumers, the items needed for the meal take priority over other criteria. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients list, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g. | If an ingredient needs to be avoided in my household, the exact recipe matters more than the format. Ingredients are the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Preparation and storage | Cooking or reheating instructions; storage method stated on the packaging. | On an evening when I don’t have much time, I want to keep preparation to a minimum without making storage more complicated. Around 18% of consumers put convenience first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Forgetting what you need to add to dried noodles
A large pack provides a base to cook with, but not necessarily everything you need for dinner.
Before you shop, plan the sauce and accompaniments you’d like, based on the number of people you’re serving.
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Assuming a small frozen tray will make a family meal
Carrefour lists a 300 g frozen recipe, while the Tables du Monde chicken noodle dish comes in a 900 g pack. Weight alone doesn’t tell you how many people it will serve.
Check the total weight and stated number of portions, then adjust the quantity for the number of people and the accompaniments.
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Assuming plain noodles suit every dietary requirement
Auchan’s dried noodle listing specifies wheat and notes that the ingredients may vary depending on the product supplied.
If you have an allergy, check the ingredients list, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you actually buy.
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Leaving frozen food out for too long on the way home
Transport and storage are part of choosing a frozen meal, especially if you have other errands to run after shopping.
Anses recommends buying frozen food at the end of your shop and not refreezing food once it has thawed. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Brands to know
Carrefour Sensation / Carrefour Classic'
At Carrefour, these ranges include dried noodle pasta as well as a frozen noodle recipe that’s ready to heat.
- Carrefour Classic' appears in 1 kg packs in the retailer’s search results; Carrefour Sensation offers a 300 g frozen beef and onion recipe.
- Before choosing the 300 g frozen recipe as a dish to share, check that it’s enough for the number of people you’re serving.
Tables du Monde
E.Leclerc sells a 900 g bag of frozen chicken noodles under this brand.
- E.Leclerc’s product listing states that this recipe contains 50.3% vegetables and 14% chicken pieces, and has a Nutri-Score B.
- Check how many portions suit your household and whether the product is available from your E.Leclerc store or click-and-collect service.
Auchan
Auchan’s range includes 1 kg packs of dried noodles to cook, as well as other noodle recipes.
- The product listing for the 1 kg pack of dried noodles specifies durum wheat semolina and an 8-minute cooking time for an al dente texture.
- Auchan says the ingredients may vary depending on the click-and-collect service and purchase date, so check the label on the pack you receive.
Asia Green Garden
ALDI sells instant noodles in a cup under this brand, in an individual portion size.
- The cup shown by ALDI contains 67 g of dried noodles.
- For dinner with several people, work out how many cups and what accompaniments you’ll need.
Noodles to cook and portion packs on Joybuy
This selection includes packs of noodles to cook and multipacks of individual portions. For a family dinner, choose between an amount you can prepare yourself and individually packed portions, then plan the accompaniments you’ll need.
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Lamianfan 0 Fried Udon Noodles (Tomato Beef), 123 g × 5
Individual portions make it easy to give everyone their own pack; check that the quantity is right for the people you’re serving.
Pack of five 123 g portions.
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Wan He Sesame Paste Rice Noodles Family Special Pack, 121 g × 4
This pack of rice noodles with sesame paste is suitable for a meal served in individual portions, if four packs are the right quantity for you.
Pack of four 121 g portions.
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Bai Xiang Corn Noodles, 1 kg
This pack is a good choice if you want to measure out the noodles yourself for a dinner made with other ingredients.
1 kg pack; decide how much to cook based on the number of people and the accompaniments.
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Toyoung Sichuan-Style Dan Dan Noodles, 2 kg
The 2 kg pack is suited to a household looking to cook enough to share or split the pack across several meals.
2 kg pack; adjust the quantity you prepare to suit your planned dinner.
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Bai Xiang Hand Rolled Noodles, 1 kg
This pack gives you a base for a dinner where you can choose how much noodle to cook and what to serve alongside it.
1 kg pack; adjust the portion you prepare to suit the number of people.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if one pack is enough for the whole family?
Compare the net weight and stated number of portions, then factor in the accompaniments and the number of people you’re serving. Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Auchan list 300 g, 900 g and 1 kg formats respectively, but these weights don’t correspond to a universal number of meals.
What should I check on the label if I have an allergy?
Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging you buy. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, allergens must be declared and highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods in France.
How should I bring frozen noodles home after shopping?
Pick them up at the end of your shop and keep transport time to a minimum, then follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Anses advises against refreezing food that has thawed.
Can instant noodles make a family dinner?
They can, if you have enough portions and plan what to serve alongside them. The Asia Green Garden cup listed by ALDI weighs 67 g, so check the weight of each product rather than assuming one pack will feed several people.