Who is this guide for?

For a small recipe

If you’re making a sauce, pizza or side dish in a small quantity, the drained weight can help you choose a tin you’ll use up. Carrefour Classic' offers an option with a drained weight of 240 g.

For a Christmas dish to share

For a sauce or a slow-cooked dish, compare the quantity required by your recipe with the single tins available. Mutti and Cirio offer 400 g options, while Carrefour Classic' also has options with a drained weight of 480 g.

To choose based on the ingredients

If organic ingredients, added salt, acidity regulators or the stated country of origin matter more to you than the size of the tin, check the details for the specific product and then read its label. The ingredients listed for Mutti, Cirio and Carrefour Classic' products differ.

What should you look for?

First, work out how many tomatoes your recipe needs, then compare the ingredients. Don’t confuse the tin’s net weight with its drained weight, which tells you how many tomatoes are left once the packing liquid has been removed.

What matters What to check Who is this for?
Keeping leftovers to a minimum The drained weight, particularly 240 g, and the number of tins in the pack. For a small sauce, I’d rather open one tin and use what’s inside; around 36% of consumers would prioritise reducing leftovers.
Making an everyday recipe The 400 g single-tin size and its drained weight, compared with the amount your recipe calls for. If I’m making a sauce or pizza, I want a tin that suits my recipe without having to buy a multipack; around 29% of consumers would prioritise this versatile size.
Choosing the ingredients The ingredients list, stated country of origin and any organic or no-added-salt claims that matter to you. I want to know exactly what’s in the tin before choosing, even if two tins are the same size; around 21% of consumers would put this first.
Cooking for several people The drained weight, particularly 480 g, and the amount of tomatoes needed for the dish. For a slow-cooked dish served to several people, I want enough in one tin; around 14% of consumers would prioritise this need.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Mistaking a multipack for a single tin

    Mutti offers its Pelati in 400 g and 800 g tins, as well as in a pack of 2 × 400 g tins, so the stated weight alone won’t tell you whether it’s a single tin.

    Check how many tins there are and the weight of each one before you choose.

  • Comparing only the total weight

    For tomatoes packed in liquid, the drained weight lets you compare the amount of tomatoes. The DGCCRF states that this information must appear on the labels of relevant food products.

    Compare the drained weight with the amount your recipe calls for.

  • Assuming the ingredients are always the same

    The Carrefour Classic' product details reviewed list different ingredients for different sizes. Auchan also notes that ingredients and the country of manufacture may vary depending on the online store and the date of purchase.

    Check the ingredients list and country of origin on the tin you receive.

  • Forgetting about leftovers after opening

    A large tin can leave you with unused tomatoes if your recipe only needs a small amount. The Auchan Bio product details reviewed say to keep the tomatoes in the fridge and use them within two days of opening.

    Choose an amount that suits your recipe or plan another dish, and follow the instructions for the tin you’ve bought.

Brands to know

Mutti

The Pelati range includes a single 400 g tin, separate from the pack of 2 × 400 g tins. Mutti also offers organic peeled tomatoes in a 400 g tin.

  • According to Mutti, its Pelati combines whole peeled tomatoes with tomato juice.
  • Check the exact size if you want a single tin rather than a multipack.

Cirio

Carrefour lists a 400 g Cirio option labelled “100% from Puglia”.

  • The product details say the peeled tomatoes are packed in tomato purée.
  • Citric acid is also on the ingredients list, so check it if the ingredients are important to your choice.

Carrefour Classic'

The range listed by Carrefour includes tins with drained weights of 240 g and 480 g.

  • These two drained weights make it easier to match the size to the amount your dish needs.
  • The ingredients listed for the 480 g size include salt and calcium chloride, unlike those listed for the 240 g size.

Auchan et Auchan Bio

Auchan lists peeled tomato options in a 240 g organic tin and a 480 g standard tin.

  • The product details for the 240 g organic option say to keep it in the fridge and use it within two days of opening.
  • For the 480 g standard option, Auchan says the ingredients and country of manufacture may vary depending on the online store and the date of purchase.

E.Leclerc : Eco+ et Bio Village

E.Leclerc lists an Eco+ option with a drained weight of 240 g and a 400 g organic Bio Village option.

  • The product details distinguish between the two sizes and list their respective ingredients.
  • Check the exact product and its availability at your local E.Leclerc store.

An option to consider on Joybuy

This 400 g tin of Pomodorini cherry tomatoes could be an option if you’re looking for a single tin for a Christmas recipe. However, if you specifically want whole peeled tomatoes, check that this variety and the usable quantity suit your dish.

LA MOLISANA Pomodorini cherry tomato tin 400 g

LA MOLISANA Pomodorini, cherry tomatoes 400 g

Worth considering for a recipe that uses cherry tomatoes from a single tin. The product name states 400 g and Italian origin; check the label for the drained weight, how the tomatoes are prepared and the instructions for use after opening before adapting it to your recipe.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Which tin should I choose for a small Christmas sauce?

A tin with a drained weight of 240 g is worth considering if your recipe uses only a few tomatoes and you want to keep leftovers to a minimum. Carrefour Classic' offers an option this size. Compare its drained weight with the amount your recipe calls for, rather than comparing only the total weight with that of another tin.

Does the weight on the tin tell me how many tomatoes are inside?

Not necessarily: the drained weight separates the tomatoes from the packing liquid. The DGCCRF says this weight must be shown for foods packed in liquid of this kind. Use it to compare the amount of tomatoes available to use.

What should I check on the ingredients list?

Check the ingredients for the specific product and size you’ve chosen, including whether it contains salt, citric acid or a firming agent. The product details for Mutti, Cirio and Carrefour Classic' list different ingredients, so the words “peeled tomatoes” alone aren’t enough to tell them apart.

How should I store the tomatoes after opening?

Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought. The Auchan Bio product details reviewed say to keep the tomatoes in the fridge and use them within two days of opening. Don’t automatically apply this timeframe to other products.

Can the ingredients in the same product vary?

Yes. For Auchan’s 480 g whole peeled tomatoes, the retailer says that details may vary depending on the online store and the date of purchase. If the ingredients or country of manufacture affect your choice, check the label on the tin you receive.