When choosing peeled tomatoes for lunch, compare the price per kilo and the drained weight, then check the ingredients and choose a quantity that suits your recipe. A budget tin may be fine for everyday use if you’re happy with its ingredients. For a chunky sauce, also check how the tomatoes are presented, while organic or no added salt labels relate to different preferences. Always check the exact product you’re buying, as ingredients can vary between products offered by the same shop.
For soup, pasta sauce or eggs with tomatoes, compare the amount of drained tomatoes with what your recipe needs. A small tin means you won’t have to open more than necessary; a larger size may suit you if you have a plan for the leftovers.
If you want the tomatoes to remain visible in a sauce or stew, check that the tin contains whole peeled tomatoes. A brand’s guidance on texture and uses can help you choose, but it’s no substitute for checking the ingredients.
If either of these matters to you, look for the relevant label on the exact product and check the nutrition information. An organic label alone doesn’t tell you how much salt the product contains.
Start with the quantity your recipe actually needs, then compare tins based on their ingredients and your preferences for texture, organic status or origin.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Price and quantity | Compare the price per kilo and the drained weight, then choose a quantity that suits the number of portions you’re planning. | If I’m cooking just one portion, I want to keep costs under control without opening a tin and leaving some unused; around 36% of consumers are said to prioritise value for money. |
| Ingredients and salt | Check the ingredients list and the salt content per 100 g on the exact product. | To tailor my meal to my preferences, I want to know what’s in the tin and how much salt it contains; this is said to be the main criterion for around 29% of consumers. |
| Texture | Check that they’re whole peeled tomatoes if you want to keep some chunks or crush them yourself. | For a slow-cooked sauce, I prefer to choose the size of the chunks myself rather than start with tomato pulp; around 21% of consumers are said to prioritise this texture. |
| Organic status and origin | Check the organic label and stated origin on the product you choose; don’t assume them based on the brand name alone. | If the production method or stated origin guides my purchase, I check these details before comparing sizes; around 14% of consumers are said to put them first. |
Tins of different sizes won’t necessarily give you the same quantity of tomatoes. The DGCCRF states that the drained weight must be shown for food sold in a covering liquid.
Compare the price per kilo with the drained weight, then consider how much you’ll actually use for lunch.
Auchan says the ingredients in its whole peeled tomato product may vary depending on the delivery service and the date of purchase.
Check the ingredients and origin on the tin you choose if these details affect your decision.
If it appears on a tin, the Nutri-Score doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients, salt content or size.
Also check the nutrition information per 100 g and choose a quantity that suits your recipe.
The product information for Jardin BiO étic peeled tomatoes sold at Auchan says to refrigerate them after opening and use them within two days.
Check the instructions on your tin before buying. A small size may be more convenient for a single meal, while planning a second recipe can help you use up the contents of a larger tin.
These products show a range of sizes and ingredients to compare; the brand name alone isn’t enough to decide between tins.
Mutti offers whole peeled tomatoes for sauces, soups and other tomato-based dishes, including 400 g, 800 g and 2 × 400 g sizes.
Cirio presents its whole peeled tomatoes as an option for sauces and slow-cooked recipes, in 400 g and 800 g tins.
The Simpl product described by Carrefour is a tin of whole peeled tomatoes in juice, with a drained weight of 240 g.
E.Leclerc offers an Eco+ product of whole peeled tomatoes in juice, with a drained weight of 480 g.
Auchan offers, among other products, a 480 g tin of whole peeled tomatoes in juice.
Compare the price per kilo, taking the drained weight into account, especially if the tins are different sizes. Also check how much you need: the tin with the lowest unit price won’t necessarily be the best fit for your meal.
No. It doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and nutrition information, particularly the salt content per 100 g. The size and how you plan to use the tin also matter when choosing tomatoes for lunch.
Choose whole peeled tomatoes if you want to keep some chunks or crush them yourself in a sauce or stew. Tomato pulp has a different texture to begin with, so check the product description on the tin rather than comparing the two products as if they were the same.
Follow the instructions on the tin you buy. As an example for this specific product, Auchan’s product information for Jardin BiO étic says to refrigerate the tomatoes and use them within two days of opening.
Yes. Auchan’s product information for its whole peeled tomatoes says the ingredients may vary depending on the delivery service and the date of purchase. If the ingredients or origin influence your choice, check the details for the product on offer.