For an Italian recipe that you want to season yourself, choose plain frozen chickpeas rather than falafels, which are already prepared and serve a different purpose. If you’re cooking at the last minute, Auchan Déjà cuit chickpeas can be reheated without defrosting first. Remember to check how much you need and whether they’re available at your local store.
If you’re preparing several portions, compare the net weight of the bags with the amount your recipe needs. E.Leclerc lists a 600 g bag of NOTRE JARDIN cooked frozen chickpeas; check availability with the store or its Drive service.
If you want to skip the defrosting step, the 600 g Auchan Déjà cuit option can be reheated straight from frozen in a saucepan or microwave. Follow the instructions for the amount you’re using.
If you’re looking for something already seasoned rather than a base for a homemade recipe, frozen falafels serve a different purpose. The Findus recipe listed by Carrefour includes durum wheat semolina, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients and allergen information before adding it to your menu.
First decide whether the chickpeas will go into a homemade recipe or be served ready-prepared. Then check the quantity, reheating method and ingredients of the product you choose.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for your guests | Compare the net weight and stated portions with the amount your recipe calls for. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want to make sure I have enough chickpeas without choosing the wrong pack size. Around 42% of consumers put quantity first. |
| Quick preparation | Check whether the product can be reheated without defrosting, and follow the instructions for the amount you’re using. | If I’m preparing a meal on the day, I want to keep the steps before serving to a minimum. Speed comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and intended use | Read the ingredients and allergen information, and distinguish plain chickpeas from falafels that are already seasoned. | If I want to season a recipe myself or take account of what I’m serving at the table, I need to know what’s in the product. Nearly 25% of consumers prioritise ingredients and intended use. |
The Findus falafels listed by Carrefour contain 61% chickpeas, as well as durum wheat semolina, oil and herbs and spices. They’re not a substitute for plain chickpeas in a recipe you want to season yourself.
For a salad or a homemade tomato-based dish, choose plain chickpeas. Save the falafels for a meal where their seasoning suits the menu, and check the ingredients and allergen information first.
The Carrefour listings we checked showed CARREFOUR CLASSIC' chickpeas and Findus falafels as unavailable. So spotting a product on a listing alone isn’t enough to plan your shopping.
Check that it’s available at your chosen store before finalising the menu. If you’re considering tinned or dried chickpeas instead, remember that they need to be prepared differently.
ANSES highlights the importance of maintaining the cold chain. The instructions for the frozen products we checked also say not to refreeze a product once it has thawed.
Pick up frozen food last, put it in the freezer as soon as you get home, and follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging.
E.Leclerc lists a 600 g bag of cooked frozen chickpeas under this brand, to use as a plain base for a recipe.
The Déjà cuit option is a 600 g bag of frozen chickpeas for hot or cold dishes.
Carrefour lists a 450 g bag of plain frozen chickpeas.
Carrefour lists a 450 g box of frozen Findus falafels made with chickpeas. Think of them as ready-prepared bites rather than plain chickpeas.
Choose plain frozen chickpeas if you want to decide on the seasoning yourself and add them to a salad or tomato-based dish. The Findus falafels listed by Carrefour are already prepared and include durum wheat semolina, among other ingredients.
Yes, for the Auchan Déjà cuit option: its instructions say to reheat the chickpeas in a saucepan or microwave without defrosting first. Check the directions for the amount you’re using; they may not apply to other products.
Check the product name, ingredients, allergen information, net quantity and nutritional information. The DGCCRF lists ingredients, nutritional information and net quantity among the details required on prepacked food labels in France. Here, the ingredients help you tell plain chickpeas apart from prepared falafels.
Follow the product’s storage instructions, and don’t refreeze it if the packaging says not to after thawing. ANSES recommends keeping the cold chain intact. For the Auchan option we checked, the packaging says not to refreeze after thawing.