A multipack of whole peeled tomatoes is a good choice if several Christmas recipes call for tomatoes that you can crush or leave in pieces while they cook. If your recipe works with a texture that’s already chopped, a multipack of chopped tomatoes may be more suitable. Check the product description on the tins, then choose a quantity that suits your recipes and how you’ll use any opened tins.
If your menu includes several sauces, slow-cooked dishes or lasagnes, a multipack can save you from having to buy more tins halfway through cooking. Just make sure your recipes call for whole peeled tomatoes, rather than chopped tomatoes.
If you want to decide how big the pieces are in your recipe, start with whole peeled tomatoes. If you’re happy with tomatoes that are already chopped, look for products labelled as chopped tomatoes.
A multipack makes more sense when the number of tins matches the dishes you’re planning. For any opened tin, follow the storage instructions and use-by period after opening shown on the packaging.
Start with the texture your recipes call for, then work out how many tins you need. Ingredients and instructions for storing opened tins can help you choose between suitable options.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for several recipes | Work out how many tins you need for your recipes and check the number and weight stated on the multipack. | When I’m making several dishes, I want to have enough tomatoes without making lots of separate purchases. Around 36% of consumers would put having the right quantity for their recipes first. |
| Tomato texture | Check the product description to distinguish between ‘whole peeled tomatoes’ and ‘chopped tomatoes’. | If my recipe starts with whole tomatoes, using tomatoes that are already chopped would change how I prepare it. Texture would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and product claims | Read the ingredients list and, if they matter to you, check the origin or organic certification claims for the product you’ve chosen. | When planning my menu, I want to choose a product description or claim that suits my preferences, even if the packaging size matters less. Around 19% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Opened tins | Choose a pack size that suits the portions you’re planning and check the storage instructions for after opening. | I’d rather open a tin knowing I can use its contents within the stated period than end up with leftovers. Around 18% of consumers would make this their priority. |
Chopped tomatoes are already cut up, so they’re not the same starting point as whole tomatoes that you can crush or leave in pieces in a slow-cooked dish.
Check the product description on each tin before choosing a multipack, especially if your recipe specifies ‘whole peeled tomatoes’.
An opened tin needs to be stored differently from a sealed one. The Ministry of the Economy advises following the manufacturer’s storage instructions.
Allocate the tins across your recipes and, for any opened tin, follow the storage conditions and use-by period stated on the packaging.
A brand may offer both whole peeled tomatoes and chopped tomatoes. For example, Mutti’s Polpa multipacks and Mutti peeled tomatoes have different textures.
Check the product description and ingredients for the specific product you plan to use.
Mutti’s Pelati range includes whole peeled tomatoes; Carrefour lists a multipack of two 400 g tins, among other options.
Carrefour lists a 400 g tin of Cirio peeled tomatoes, while Auchan also offers multipacks of Cirio chopped tomatoes.
Carrefour offers Carrefour Classic’ peeled tomatoes in juice in a multipack of three 400 g tins.
E.Leclerc offers Bio Village whole peeled tomatoes in a 400 g tin, as well as a Notre Jardin product containing whole peeled tomatoes in juice.
Auchan offers chopped tomatoes in a multipack of three 400 g tins.
Not if the recipe calls for whole tomatoes that you can keep whole or crush as they cook: chopped tomatoes are already cut up. They may be suitable, though, when the recipe works with that texture from the start.
A multipack is handy if several recipes really do use the same type of tomatoes and you’ve planned how you’ll use every tin. If you’re making just one dish or need a small quantity, choose the number of individual tins your recipe calls for.
Follow the storage conditions and use-by period after opening stated on the tin. The Ministry of the Economy recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t use the date printed on a sealed tin to work out how long an opened tin will keep.
No: the number of tins doesn’t tell you what’s inside. Carrefour offers a three-tin multipack of Carrefour Classic’ peeled tomatoes, each weighing 400 g, while Auchan’s three-tin multipacks, also 400 g per tin, contain chopped tomatoes. Always check the product description for the option you’ve chosen.