Busy families in the evening
If dinner needs to be ready without soaking or a long cooking time, chickpeas and other pulses that are already cooked can simply be drained and added to your dish.
Who are these formats for?
Households stocking up the cupboard
If you’re planning several meals, compare the drained weight of tinned pulses, the number of containers and their best-before dates, rather than looking at the multipack’s overall size alone.
Shoppers who check the labels
To choose a specific product, check its ingredients, salt content per 100 g and any allergen information. These details can vary between products.
How do the formats compare?
Multipack of small tins
Choose this if: you want pulses that are already cooked and to open only the tins you need for dinner.
Bear in mind: the number of tins alone doesn’t tell you how much pulse you’ll actually be serving.
Large container, already cooked
Choose this if: you’re making a sharing dish and expect to use most of the contents in one go.
Bear in mind: if you don’t use it all, follow the storage instructions for after opening on the packaging.
Dried pulses to cook
Choose this if: you can plan ahead for your meal.
Bear in mind: preparation time varies depending on the pulse. For example, E.Leclerc recommends soaking its dried chickpeas overnight, then cooking them.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Speed and portions | Check that the pulses are already cooked, then look at the number of containers and the drained weight. | When dinner needs to be ready quickly, I want to avoid soaking and open only what I need. Around 46% of consumers would put this flexibility first. |
| Usable quantity and cupboard storage | Compare the drained net weight of tinned pulses and plan how you’ll use any leftovers after opening. | If I’m preparing several meals, I need to know how much each format will actually give me to serve. Around 36% of consumers would put this first. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Check the ingredients, the “salt” line per 100 g and any allergen information for the exact product. | If I need to take the meal’s ingredients into account, I want to be able to read the label of the product I choose. Around 18% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the container’s weight is the amount you’ll serve
For tins with liquid, the drained net weight helps you work out how many pulses you’ll have for your dish. For example, Auchan lists a drained net weight of 0.795 kg for the Bonduelle multipack of three 265 g containers.
Before choosing between a multipack and a larger format, compare the drained net weight with the amount your recipe needs.
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Counting on a specific format without checking where to buy it
A product appearing in a catalogue doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to get it for the dinner you have planned.
Check that your chosen format is available at your shop or through your preferred collection option before deciding how much you need for the meal.
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Assuming all tinned chickpeas have the same label
Carrefour lists chickpeas, water and salt for its Classic’ product, while the Bonduelle multipack listing we checked mentions that it may contain soya and cereals containing gluten.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and salt content for the exact product you’re considering.
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Using a damaged tin just because its date hasn’t passed
The DGCCRF says that a swollen, rusty or dented tin may indicate damage, regardless of the date printed on it.
Discard any tin that looks damaged and don’t eat its contents.
Retailers to know
Carrefour
Carrefour offers Classic’ chickpeas in a multipack of three 200 g tins, as well as larger tins.
- The Classic’ multipack listing gives the ingredients as chickpeas, water and salt.
- When planning a meal, check the drained weight and availability of your chosen product.
E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc offers Eco+ tinned chickpeas and dried chickpeas. These two formats need different preparation.
- The 265 g Eco+ product listing gives details of the ingredients and nutritional information.
- Check with your local E.Leclerc store how to get the product you want.
Auchan
Auchan offers lentils and chickpeas in several formats, including multipacks of small tins.
- The listing for the Bonduelle multipack of three 265 g containers gives a drained net weight of 0.795 kg and six servings per pack.
- The number of servings stated for this multipack doesn’t replace working out how much your recipe needs.
ALDI
The ALDI France catalogue lists All Seasons tinned chickpeas, as well as other tinned pulses.
- The listed chickpea format is 265 g.
- If you’re looking for several containers for a family dinner, check the pack size of the product you choose.
Joybuy products to help you choose
These products give you the option of a large container of pulses described as already cooked, or dried lentils if you can plan ahead for cooking. When putting dinner together, be sure to distinguish the weight shown on the container from the drained weight.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 540 g
This jar of pre-cooked chickpeas is suitable for a family meal if the quantity you need matches your recipe.
The container is listed as 540 g; check the drained weight to work out how much you’ll serve. Also check the ingredients list and allergen information on the label, including the mention of sodium metabisulphite.
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Valle Del Sole Kidney Beans 900 g
These kidney beans are described as already cooked, so you can prepare a sharing dish without cooking dried beans.
The product name gives a weight of 900 g. Check the drained net weight on the container before working out how much to serve.
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GÜNES VADIS Chickpeas 820 g
This larger format of chickpeas, described as cooked, may suit a dish that needs a generous amount of one type of pulse.
The container is listed as 820 g; check the drained weight to plan your portions. Also check the label for lupin.
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ETHIQUABLE Organic Green Lentils 500 g
These dried lentils are suitable for a dinner you can prepare in advance, rather than a meal that needs pulses that are already cooked.
The pack is listed as 500 g, with a stated cooking time of around 20 to 25 minutes. The product listing mentions that traces of gluten may be present; check the label on the product you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a multipack will be enough for a family dinner?
Compare its drained net weight and stated number of servings with the quantity your recipe needs. Auchan lists a drained net weight of 0.795 kg and six servings for the Bonduelle multipack of three 265 g containers. However, the number of people you’re feeding alone isn’t enough to work out how much your dish needs.
Can you use a tin after its best-before date?
A best-before date isn’t a use-by date: the Ministry of Agriculture explains that tinned food may lose some of its flavour or texture after this date. This guidance assumes the tin is intact and has been stored correctly. Discard it if it looks damaged.
How should you store pulses after opening?
Follow the storage conditions and use-by period after opening shown on the packaging of the product you bought. The DGCCRF notes that the date given for an unopened product doesn’t replace these instructions once the container has been opened.
Is the label on another tin of chickpeas enough to check for allergens?
No: check the exact product. The Carrefour Classic’ listing gives the ingredients as chickpeas, water and salt, while the Bonduelle multipack listing we checked mentions that it may contain soya and cereals containing gluten. Don’t assume that this information applies to another product.
What should you do with a swollen, rusty or dented tin?
Don’t eat its contents if the tin looks damaged. According to the DGCCRF, swelling, rust and dents may indicate that the product has been damaged.