For a picnic, choose peeled tomatoes according to how much you’ll need for your recipe. A smaller tin helps you avoid leftovers, while a larger one is better for a dish to share. Then check the recipe, the label and the instructions for use after opening. An unopened tin can be stored as indicated on its packaging, but a prepared dish that needs to stay chilled must be transported appropriately.
If you only need a small amount of tomatoes, compare the tins’ net drained weight. Carrefour, for example, lists one product with a net drained weight of 240 g. This may be worth considering if you won’t be able to store any leftovers once the tin is open.
If you’re making a sauce or topping before you set off, the quantity you need, the texture you want and how you’ll store any leftovers are just as important as the brand you choose.
If these details influence your purchase, check the specific tin’s label. You can’t assume its origin, ingredient list or organic certification from the retailer’s name alone.
Start with the amount your recipe needs, then check the form of the tomatoes and the details on your chosen product. For the finished dish, also follow storage instructions that are appropriate for its ingredients.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare the net drained weight with the amount you need, and read the instructions for use after opening. | For a small dish, I want to avoid taking home an opened tin if I can’t store what’s left; around 30% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Recipe and texture | Check whether your recipe calls for whole tomatoes, a sauce or a cooked dish. | When I’m making a topping to share before setting off, I look for a tomato format that suits the dish I’m planning; around 40% of consumers would prioritise this use. |
| Origin and ingredients | Read the ingredients and origin details for the specific product, and check for certification if you’re looking for organic produce. | If origin or ingredients guide my choice, I want to be able to check them on the tin I buy; around 30% of consumers would make this their main criterion. |
As of 5 October 2026, RappelConso had announced a recall affecting a specific batch of SIMPL Carrefour whole peeled tomatoes in juice, in an 800 g tin, due to the possible presence of Datura seeds. The recall does not apply to all Carrefour peeled tomatoes.
If you have this product, check the GTIN 3560070479467, batch L25252 and best-before date of 31 December 2028 against the details on your tin. If they match, do not eat the product and follow RappelConso’s instructions.
A tin intended for several people may leave you with tomatoes after preparing your dish. For the Auchan product listed by the retailer with a net drained weight of 480 g, the instructions after opening are to transfer any leftovers to an airtight container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days.
Compare the amount you need with smaller pack sizes, and read the instructions on the tin you’re buying before deciding how to store any leftovers.
Auchan notes that ingredients and origin may vary depending on its online grocery service and the date of purchase. A retailer’s product listing therefore may not describe every tin sold under its name.
Check the label on the product you choose, especially the ingredients, origin and any organic details that matter to you.
Storage instructions for an unopened tin don’t determine how to store a dish made with its contents. Anses recommends keeping sensitive foods and dishes that need refrigeration chilled, including during transport.
If your dish needs to stay chilled, use an insulated bag and limit its exposure to heat during the journey and while serving.
The pack sizes and ingredients below relate to specific products. Compare their labels based on how much you need and the recipe you have in mind, without assuming that a feature applies to every product from a brand.
Mutti offers its Pelati peeled tomatoes in 400 g and 800 g tins, as well as in a multipack of two 400 g tins.
Cirio offers whole peeled tomatoes in 400 g and 800 g tins, and recommends this product for sauces and recipes that need to cook for a long time.
Carrefour lists SIMPL and Carrefour Bio products with a net drained weight of 240 g.
The Notre Jardin product listed by E.Leclerc contains 480 g net drained weight of whole peeled tomatoes in juice.
Auchan lists whole peeled tomatoes in juice with a net drained weight of 480 g.
In a document dated 8 July 2024, Lidl France listed a 480 g product of whole peeled tomatoes.
This cherry tomato product may be worth comparing for a recipe you’ll prepare before your picnic. If your recipe specifically calls for whole peeled tomatoes, check how the product is described on its packaging before choosing it.
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Worth considering for a dish made with cherry tomatoes before you set off, if this type of tomato suits your recipe.
The product name states 400 g and ‘100% Italian’. Check the net drained weight, how the tomatoes are presented and the instructions for use after opening on the tin.
Yes, as long as you follow the storage instructions on the packaging. The Auchan product listing featured here says to protect the unopened tin from heat and moisture. Once you’ve prepared a dish, its ingredients and storage instructions will determine whether it needs to be kept chilled during transport.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. For its product with a net drained weight of 480 g, Auchan says to put any leftover tomatoes in an airtight container in the fridge and eat them within two days. Don’t assume the same time limit applies to other tins.
The Mutti and Cirio products featured here are mainly described as ingredients for recipes. If you’re making a sauce or topping before you set off, allow time to prepare it and use a suitable container. For a dish that needs to stay chilled, Anses recommends keeping it cold during transport.
As of 5 October 2026, RappelConso had announced a recall affecting SIMPL Carrefour whole peeled tomatoes in juice in an 800 g tin, for batch L25252 with GTIN 3560070479467 and a best-before date of 31 December 2028. The reported risk is the presence of Datura seeds. If the details on your tin match, do not eat it and follow the official recall instructions; other batches should not be treated as part of this recall.