Anyone preparing several dishes
If sauces, side dishes or slow-cooked meals are on your Easter menu, work out how many tins each recipe needs before choosing a multipack. Mutti, for example, offers Pelati peeled tomatoes in a 2 × 400 g multipack.
Who are these formats suitable for?
Cooks who care about texture
If you want to keep some chunks, chop the tomatoes or crush them yourself, distinguish whole peeled tomatoes from chopped tomatoes, which are already broken down. This difference may matter more than the number of tins.
Anyone looking for organic produce or a specific origin
If these details influence your purchase, check the exact product: E.Leclerc says its Bio Village tomatoes are organically grown, while Carrefour’s listing for a Cirio product gives its origin as Puglia.
What should guide your choice?
Start with your planned recipes to work out how much you need, then choose the type of tomatoes. Finally, check the organic or origin information on your chosen tin if these are priorities for you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| How much you need | Count the tins and compare their net weight with the amount your recipes call for. Mutti lists Pelati in 2 × 400 g multipacks and 800 g tins. | If I’m making several dishes, I want to open tins as I go without running short of tomatoes; around 43% of consumers put quantity at the top of their list. |
| Type of tomatoes | Check the product description: whole peeled tomatoes and chopped tomatoes are different products. Choose according to whether your recipe calls for tomatoes to chop or crush, or a base that’s already chopped. | If I want to keep chunks in my dish, I choose the type of tomatoes before considering the packaging; texture comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Organic status or origin | Check the organic label or origin on the exact product and format you’re buying. Don’t assume the same information applies to other products from the brand. | When I’m looking for an organic label or a specific origin, I want to see it on the tin I buy; around 28% of consumers make this their priority. |
Mistakes to avoid before buying
-
Choosing a multipack of chopped tomatoes instead of whole peeled tomatoes
At Auchan, the 3 × 400 g chopped tomato multipack is a different product from tins of whole peeled tomatoes. Chopped tomatoes won’t let you keep or slice whole tomatoes in your recipe.
Read the full product description before choosing a multipack, particularly if your dish calls for whole peeled tomatoes.
-
Assuming a multipack listed online is in stock without checking
Carrefour’s listing for a multipack of three 400 g tins said the product was unavailable. So spotting a format online isn’t enough to plan the ingredients for your meal.
Check availability with the store or for your chosen collection slot before finalising your menu.
-
Overlooking the condition of the tin and the date on it
According to the DGCCRF, going past a best-before date (DDM) does not in itself mean that food in intact packaging is no longer safe to eat. Its taste may, however, have changed.
Check that the tin is intact, identify the type of date shown and follow the storage instructions on the packaging, particularly once opened.
Brands to compare by product
Mutti
Mutti offers its Pelati peeled tomatoes in 2 × 400 g multipacks, 400 g tins and 800 g tins: three formats to compare with the number of dishes you’re planning.
- The 2 × 400 g format lets you open the tins separately.
- Check that the product you choose is in your preferred format.
Cirio
Carrefour lists a 400 g tin of Cirio peeled tomatoes with Puglia as the stated origin.
- The listing for this product gives details of its ingredients and stated origin.
- Don’t confuse this 400 g tin with a multipack of whole peeled tomatoes.
Bio Village
E.Leclerc lists a 400 g tin of Bio Village whole peeled tomatoes from organic farming, with Italy stated as the tomato origin.
- The product listing details the ingredients, including peeled tomatoes and tomato juice.
- Ask your E.Leclerc store about how to buy this product.
Eco+
E.Leclerc lists a single 480 g tin of Eco+ whole peeled tomatoes in juice, with Italy stated as the tomato origin.
- This single-tin format can be matched to the amount your recipe needs.
- This isn’t a multipack, so check how many tins you need.
Auchan
Auchan offers whole peeled tomatoes in juice in 240 g and 480 g formats, as well as a 3 × 400 g multipack of chopped tomatoes.
- The single-tin formats give you two quantities to consider for your recipe.
- The chopped tomato multipack is a different product from whole peeled tomatoes.
Peeled tomatoes on Joybuy
If your recipe calls for whole peeled cherry tomatoes, this single tin lets you adjust the quantity without buying a multipack. Check that this type of tomato is right for your recipe.
Image unavailable
LA MOLISANA Pomodorini, Italian cherry tomatoes 400 g
Worth considering if your recipe calls for whole peeled cherry tomatoes rather than another type of peeled tomato. This is a single 400 g tin, so adjust the number of tins to suit the dishes you’re making.
Frequently asked questions
How many tins of peeled tomatoes should I get for Easter lunch?
Choose the number of tins based on how much your recipes need. A multipack is useful if you’re making several dishes with tomatoes; for a single dish, one tin makes it easier to get the amount right. Check the net weight of each tin and whether your chosen format is available.
Can I use whole peeled tomatoes instead of chopped tomatoes?
Yes, if you can chop or crush the tomatoes to get the texture you want, but the two types aren’t used in exactly the same way. Chopped tomatoes are already broken down, so check what your recipe calls for before swapping one for the other.
Is a multipack of peeled tomatoes listed online always available for collection?
No. Carrefour’s listing for a multipack of three 400 g tins showed it as unavailable. Check availability at your store and for your collection slot before relying on that format.
What does the best-before date mean on a tin of tomatoes?
The best-before date relates to how long the product keeps its quality. According to the DGCCRF, going past this date does not in itself make food unsafe to eat if the packaging is intact, although its taste may deteriorate. Check the condition of the tin and follow the storage instructions once it’s opened.