For a big Sunday meal, an 800 g tin can save you from opening several tins, while a pack of 2 × 400 g lets you open them separately. For a smaller gathering, consider sizes from 240 to 480 g, then check the ingredients, the type of weight shown and the storage instructions after opening.
If you’re making a sauce, a slow-cooked dish or several dishes for Sunday lunch, start with the quantities your recipes call for. Mutti offers its Pelati peeled tomatoes in 800 g tins and packs of 2 × 400 g; Carrefour also stocks Cirio peeled tomatoes in 800 g tins.
For a small group, or when you’re not sure how much you’ll need, being able to open one tin at a time matters just as much as the total quantity you buy. Also check the storage instructions for the product you choose.
If ingredients, salt, stated origin or an organic claim influence your choice, read the label on the tin you’re buying. Auchan notes, for example, that the ingredients in its whole peeled tomatoes in juice may vary depending on the online store and purchase date.
First, work out how much you need for your recipes, then compare the stated weights, ingredients and storage instructions for the sizes you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| How much you need for your gathering | Work out what your recipes need, then compare an 800 g tin with a pack of 2 × 400 g. | If I’m cooking several dishes, I want to have enough tomatoes without opening another tin halfway through; around 33% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Leftovers after opening | Check the storage time and conditions shown on the tin you choose. | For a small gathering, I’d rather open only as much as I can use; this would be the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and origin | Check the ingredients and any information about salt or origin on the product you actually buy. | When I’m following a particular recipe, I want to know what’s in the tin and where it’s said to come from; around 20% of consumers would prioritise this information. |
| Stated weight | Distinguish between the total net weight and the drained net weight before comparing two tins. | If my recipe mainly calls for whole tomatoes, I want to know their weight separately from the contents with the juice; around 20% of consumers would consider this the main criterion. |
An 800 g tin can work well for a big meal, but any unused tomatoes will need to be stored according to the product instructions.
If you’re only planning to use some of the contents, compare this size with a pack of 2 × 400 g, where you can open the tins separately.
Auchan says the ingredients in its 480 g whole peeled tomatoes in juice may vary depending on the online store and purchase date.
If the ingredients or country of manufacture matter to you, check the details on the tin you choose.
According to Mutti, its Pelati peeled tomatoes are available in 400 g and 800 g tins, as well as packs of 2 × 400 g.
Carrefour stocks Cirio peeled tomatoes in 400 g and 800 g tins bearing the claim ‘100% from Puglia’.
Carrefour lists a tin of whole peeled tomatoes in juice with a drained net weight of 480 g.
Auchan lists a 480 g tin of whole peeled tomatoes in juice.
A Lidl France document dated 8 July 2024 lists 476 g tins of Notre Jardin whole peeled tomatoes at E.Leclerc Drive.
The same Lidl France document, dated 8 July 2024, mentions a 480 g tin of whole peeled tomatoes.
Choose according to how much you plan to cook in one go. Mutti offers both sizes for its Pelati: the large tin is a good choice if you expect to use most of it, while the multipack lets you open just one 400 g tin if that’s enough.
Follow the instructions on the product you buy. Auchan’s product listings say to refrigerate Jardin BiO étic 800 g for three days, compared with two days for Auchan 480 g and Jardin BiO étic 240 g with no added salt. The Ministry of the Economy advises following the manufacturer’s recommendations after opening.
Drained net weight tells you how much tomato remains once the juice has been drained away, while net weight refers to the total contents. Carrefour gives a drained net weight of 480 g for its Classic’ whole peeled tomatoes. Don’t compare this directly with the total weight shown on another tin.
Yes. A best-before date is not the same as a use-by date. The Ministry of the Economy explains that a product can be used after its best-before date if the packaging is intact, although its taste may change. Check the exact wording on the label, the condition of the tin and its storage instructions.