Who is this guide for?

Hosts keeping an eye on sugar

You want to compare what the noodles contain rather than rely on a claim on the packaging. The ‘of which sugars’ figure shows the total sugars; also check the state of preparation that the nutritional values refer to.

Busy hosts who are mindful of salt

You need to prepare several portions quickly, while remembering that the stock or sauce may already be salty. Both the preparation time and the ‘salt’ figure matter when making your choice.

Hosts catering for people with dietary restrictions

Check the ingredients of the exact recipe, including those in the seasoning. The products described by Auchan and E.Leclerc contain wheat, among other ingredients; depending on the variety, other allergens or possible traces are also listed.

What should you look for?

The format mainly determines how much preparation is involved. To compare sugar or salt, start with the nutritional information shown on the same basis.

Noodles to cook

Choose these if: you want to make your own sauce and control the added ingredients.

Bear in mind: cooking the noodles and preparing accompaniments take up more time when organising the meal. Check the ingredients in the noodles themselves, too.

Instant noodles

Choose these if: quick preparation is your priority, often in individual portions.

Bear in mind: the sachets and sauces are part of the recipe, so check their ingredients, particularly for salt, sugar and allergens.

Chilled noodle dish

Choose this if: you’d rather heat up a ready-made dish for serving.

Bear in mind: the ingredients and number of portions depend on the exact recipe. A dish with vegetables won’t necessarily suit every guest.

What to consider What to check What matters to shoppers
Sugars The ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the state of the product it refers to; for a ‘reduced sugar’ claim, check what it is being compared with. I want to choose my noodles without mistaking a claim on the packaging for a nutritional comparison. Around 40% of consumers are said to put checking sugar first.
Salt and seasoning The salt per 100 g on a comparable basis, and whether there’s a sachet or sauce to add. If the meal already includes a sauce or stock, I’d rather take its seasoning into account before adding more salt. This is said to be a priority for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients for guests Allergens and possible traces listed for the exact variety, including any separate seasoning. If a guest avoids certain ingredients, I need to be able to check the whole recipe before buying. Around 20% of consumers are said to put this check first.
Preparation and serving The number of portions, the stated preparation time and any steps required, such as draining or reheating. To serve several people without having to prepare everything at the last minute, I look at the format first. Ease of serving is said to be a priority for around 10% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a low sugar figure proves that the sugar content has been reduced

    A figure on the label doesn’t, by itself, show that the sugar content has been reduced compared with a similar product. Nor does it tell you how much of the sugar comes from added ingredients.

    Check the exact claim on the packaging, then compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure and ingredients list for products shown in the same state of preparation.

  • Comparing a dry noodle pot with a ready-to-eat dish

    E.Leclerc lists 5.6 g of sugars and 4.2 g of salt per 100 g for the dehydrated Tables du Monde prawn pot. The Auchan listing for the chilled Traditions d’Asie dish gives 1.7 g of sugars and 0.55 g of salt per 100 g. These figures refer to products in different states.

    Before comparing the figures, check whether each one refers to the product dry, prepared or ready to eat.

  • Assuming a vegetable recipe is suitable for every guest

    A vegetable recipe may contain wheat or soya. Depending on the variety, the product listings we looked at also mention other allergenic ingredients or possible traces.

    Ask guests about their dietary restrictions and read the label of each product, including the seasoning sachet.

  • Adding more salt without considering the sauce

    Salt may already be present in the noodles, stock or sauce. The nutritional figure and the seasoning ingredients can help you assess the whole recipe.

    Taste the dish before adding salt, and check whether you can control the amount of any separate seasoning.

Noodle brands to know when comparing recipes

Tables du Monde

E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range includes instant noodles in pots and multipacks.

  • E.Leclerc’s listings for the prawn pot and vegetable multipack give 5.6 g and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g of dehydrated product respectively. This gives you a like-for-like basis for checking the two labels.
  • These figures don’t, by themselves, prove that the sugar content has been reduced. The recipes mentioned contain wheat, and their seasoning includes sugar and salt.

Apollo

The roasted beef-flavour instant noodles featured by Auchan are prepared in boiling water.

  • Auchan’s listing gives a cooking time of 3 minutes, which is useful when planning portions to serve.
  • The ingredients include wheat, soya and milk, among other things. Check the variety before serving it to guests with relevant dietary restrictions.

Banzaï Noodle

The chicken yakisoba pot described by Auchan pairs instant noodles with a sauce added after draining.

  • Auchan’s listing gives a preparation time of 4 minutes, helping you plan the steps involved when serving.
  • The recipe contains wheat, soya sauce and sugar; the listing also notes possible traces of other allergens.

Traditions d’Asie

The 400 g tray of Chinese noodles with vegetables described by Auchan is a chilled dish listed as serving 2 to 4 people.

  • The listing gives reheating times of 3 minutes in the microwave or 5 minutes in a frying pan, depending on how you choose to serve it.
  • The recipe contains wheat and soya, and may contain traces of several other allergens. The number of portions or the presence of vegetables doesn’t replace checking the ingredients.

Racines Bio

The wholemeal wheat noodle blocks featured by Carrefour are intended for cooking in a wok or frying pan, with an accompaniment of your choice prepared separately.

  • For this product, Carrefour’s listing gives two ingredients: whole durum wheat flour and soft wheat flour. This means you can make a sauce of your choice.
  • These noodles contain wheat; a short ingredients list doesn’t mean you can skip checking your guests’ dietary restrictions.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘reduced sugar’ mean ‘sugar-free’?

No, these claims don’t mean the same thing. The ‘of which sugars’ figure shows the total sugars. When choosing noodles, check the exact claim, what it is being compared with if a reduction is claimed, and the nutritional values shown.

How should I take salt into account in instant noodles?

Read the salt figure given for the recipe and check what’s in the seasoning. If you use a sachet or sauce, taste the prepared noodles before adding more salt.

Are vegetable noodles always suitable for someone avoiding gluten?

No. The Traditions d’Asie vegetable recipe featured by Auchan contains wheat, as do the Tables du Monde vegetable noodles described by E.Leclerc. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you plan to serve.

Can you compare the sugar content per 100 g of all noodles directly?

Only if the figures refer to products in the same state of preparation. A figure per 100 g of dehydrated noodles can’t be compared directly with one for a chilled dish. Check the basis given on each pack before choosing.