For a large family, choose your peas based on how many meals you’re planning and how much storage space you have. A bag of frozen peas works well if you can keep it frozen and use only what you need, while a tin or multipack can be stored in the cupboard until opened. A large tin is only worthwhile if you’ll use all of its contents. Compare the drained weight of tinned peas, and check the ingredients and storage instructions once opened.
If peas regularly accompany meals for several people, a 750 g to 1 kg bag or a large tin may suit the quantities you prepare. Check the portions listed, the space in your freezer and, for tinned peas, the drained weight.
A large tin or multipack lets you plan meals without using freezer space. Choose tin sizes to suit how much you use each time you open one, and follow the storage instructions for any leftover product.
Check the ingredients list and origin information for the exact product, even when comparing items from the same brand. In particular, compare the ingredients in a tin with those in a bag of frozen peas before choosing a format.
When choosing peas for several meals, start with how much your household will use. Then check that the packaging suits your storage space and cooking routine.
Worth considering: if you use peas regularly, want to take only some out of the bag and have enough freezer space.
Bear in mind: transport and storage must maintain the cold chain. Anses advises that food which has been defrosted should not be refrozen.
Worth considering: if the drained quantity is right for a family meal and you’d rather store unopened food in the cupboard.
Bear in mind: the total weight includes the liquid. Once opened, follow the storage instructions on the tin.
Worth considering: if you serve peas across several meals rather than in a large quantity all at once.
Bear in mind: check the drained weight of each tin to see how much you’ll open at a time.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per meal | The portions stated and whether you can use the contents across the meals you have planned. | When I cook for several people, I want to open or take out an amount we’ll eat, without leaving any over. Around 36% of consumers put this need first. |
| Drained weight | The net drained weight of a tin, as distinct from its total weight including liquid. | If I’m choosing between a tin and a bag, I want to know how many peas will be in the tin once drained. Around 29% of consumers put this criterion first. |
| Storage | The space available in your cupboard or freezer, and the instructions for storing the product once opened. | To plan meals without filling up my freezer, I prefer a format that can be kept in the cupboard unopened. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this storage convenience. |
| Ingredients and origin | The ingredients list and origin information for the product you choose. | Before choosing a family-size format, I mainly want to know what’s in that specific product and where it comes from. Around 14% of consumers make this their top priority. |
According to its product information, a 600 g Bonduelle tin contains 420 g of peas once drained. So the total weight isn’t the same as the amount of vegetables you’ll serve.
When planning portions, check the net drained weight of tinned peas. The DGCCRF states that this information must appear on the label of food sold in a liquid medium.
A bag of frozen peas needs enough space in your freezer, and you’ll need to keep it cold on the way home. Anses advises against refreezing food that has been defrosted.
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, keep the journey home as short as possible and follow the storage temperature on the bag.
The 600 g Bonduelle tin lists peas, water, sugar, salt and vegetable stock, while peas are among the ingredients listed for the 750 g Bonduelle frozen bag. Ingredients vary from one product to another.
Check the ingredients list, nutrition information and allergen information on the packaging you choose.
These examples show a range of packaging formats. The details given apply to the specific products listed, not to every product in these brands’ ranges.
The brand offers, among other products, a 750 g bag of frozen peas and a 600 g tin, with 420 g drained weight.
Carrefour sells a 1 kg bag of extra-fine sweet peas under this brand.
The retailer offers, among other products, a 1 kg bag of frozen peas and a multipack of three 140 g tins.
This E.Leclerc brand offers a 1 kg bag of extra-fine frozen peas.
ALDI sells a 1 kg bag of extra-fine frozen peas under this brand.
The brand offers a 560 g tin of extra-fine peas.
No. It’s a good fit if the quantity suits the meals you have planned and you can store it properly. Auchan lists its 1 kg bag as five portions, but how much each person eats will depend on the meal. Use this information to plan your own portions.
It tells you how many peas are in the tin once the liquid has been drained, unlike the total weight of the tin. The DGCCRF states that the net drained weight must appear on the label of food sold in liquid.
Pick it up at the end of your shop and transport it in a way that keeps it cold until you can put it in the freezer. Then follow the storage instructions on the bag. Anses advises against refreezing food that has been defrosted.
Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve chosen, as they can vary by product. For the small Auchan tins mentioned, the product information says to transfer the contents to an airtight container, refrigerate and eat within two days.