People who cook small quantities
For a small sauce, soup or meal for one or two, a 240 g tin can help you avoid opening more tomatoes than you need. Carrefour and E.Leclerc list peeled tomatoes in this size.
Who is this for?
People cooking several portions
For a sauce or slow-cooked dish to serve over several meals, compare single 400 g and around 480 g tins to see which best matches the amount your recipe calls for.
People who check the ingredients
If the ingredient list, salt content or stated origin matters to you, check the label on the exact product you’re considering. These details can vary from one tin to another.
What to look for
When shopping in retirement, start with the amount you plan to cook, then check how the tomatoes are presented and what the tin says. A tin sold on its own isn’t necessarily a single serving.
| What to check | Look for | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount you’ll use | The net weight, which may be 240 g, 400 g or around 480 g depending on the product, and the storage instructions once opened. | If I’m making a small recipe, I’d rather open an amount close to what I need. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise minimising leftovers. |
| Single tin or multipack | The number of tins and the weight of each one: 2 × 400 g means two tins, not one 400 g tin. | When I’m shopping for a particular recipe, I want to know how many tins I’m actually taking home. For around 25% of consumers, buying just one tin would be the main requirement. |
| How the tomatoes are prepared | Look for “whole peeled tomatoes” rather than “tomato pulp” or “chopped tomatoes” if your recipe calls for whole tomatoes. | For my slow-cooked dish, I want to be able to chop or crush the tomatoes myself. Having control over the size of the pieces would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | The ingredient list, the salt content per 100 g, and any stated origin or labels. | If I’m comparing two peeled tomato products, I want to check what’s in each tin before choosing. Around 17% of consumers would put this information first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing a multipack with a single tin
A pack of 2 × 400 g contains two tins. It may be handy for stocking the cupboard, but it isn’t the same as buying one tin for a recipe.
Check both the number of tins and the weight of each one.
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Choosing tomato pulp instead of whole peeled tomatoes
Tomato pulp is already chopped, so you have less control over the size of the pieces than you do with whole tomatoes.
If you want to chop or crush the tomatoes yourself, look for “whole peeled tomatoes” on the tin.
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Relying on the date on the tin after opening
The best-before date applies to an unopened tin; it doesn’t replace the storage instructions to follow once it’s open.
Check the label on the product you buy for storage instructions after opening. For a small recipe, also think about how much will be left over.
Brands to know
ECO+
E.Leclerc lists ECO+ whole peeled tomatoes in juice in a single 240 g tin.
- This size could suit a small recipe.
- Check availability at your local E.Leclerc store.
Carrefour Classic’ et Carrefour Bio
Carrefour offers peeled tomatoes in several sizes, including 240 g products.
- The different sizes make it easier to compare how much to buy for a small recipe or several portions.
- Check the product name and ingredients on the exact tin you choose.
Mutti
Mutti lists its Pelati peeled tomatoes in 400 g and 800 g tins, as well as in a 2 × 400 g multipack.
- The single 400 g tin is clearly different from the two-tin multipack.
- Check the format and ingredients of the product you buy; Mutti’s statements about its ingredients come from the brand itself.
Cirio
Carrefour lists a 400 g tin of Cirio peeled tomatoes labelled “100% from Puglia”.
- You can compare the 400 g size with other single tins of the same weight.
- Check that the stated origin and quantity meet your requirements on the product you choose.
Bio Village
E.Leclerc lists a 400 g tin of Bio Village organic whole peeled tomatoes in juice.
- The listed ingredients are organic peeled tomatoes, organic tomato juice and citric acid.
- Check availability of this product at your local E.Leclerc store.
A product on Joybuy
This selection features a 400 g tin of La Molisana cherry tomatoes. If your recipe calls for peeled tomatoes, check that cherry tomatoes in this format and quantity are suitable.
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La Molisana Pomodorini, cherry tomatoes 400 g
For a recipe using cherry tomatoes, check that the 400 g tin is the right amount, particularly if you’re cooking just one small portion.
The product name says “100% Italian”; check the product listing and packaging for any other details you need.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 400 g tin a single tin?
Yes, if it’s sold on its own. Here, “single” describes the unit you’re buying, not a portion for one person. Mutti, for example, distinguishes its 400 g tin from its 2 × 400 g multipack.
How can I tell whole peeled tomatoes from tomato pulp?
Read the product name on the tin: “whole peeled tomatoes” are tomatoes you can chop or crush yourself, while tomato pulp is already chopped. Also check the ingredients on the product you choose.
What should I look for on a tin of tomatoes?
Start with the product name, net quantity and ingredient list, then check the nutritional information and the date shown. In France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that these are among the details to check on prepacked food.
Can you use tinned tomatoes after the best-before date?
According to the DGCCRF, a best-before date may pass while the packaging remains intact, although some of the product’s qualities may have changed. This date doesn’t cover storage after opening, so follow the instructions on the tin.
What should you do with leftover peeled tomatoes once the tin is open?
Follow the storage instructions and use-by period given for the product you bought. If you often make small recipes, choosing a tin you can use almost all of in one go can help reduce leftovers.