Campers without a cool box
If you need to finish each tin at one meal, multipacks of smaller tins let you open one at a time. Carrefour and Auchan, for example, offer multipacks of three small tins.
Who are these sizes for?
Groups sharing meals
A larger tin could be a good choice if several people will eat its contents at the same meal. Auchan, for example, offers a multipack of Bonduelle chickpeas in tins with a drained weight of 265 g.
Campers putting together a quick plant-based meal
Ready-cooked pulses in tins can be used as the base for a salad or served alongside a meal, with no need to soak them on site. Check the instructions for your chosen product before planning to serve it cold.
What should you look for?
For meals while camping at a festival, start by working out how many people will finish each tin once it’s open, then check how much preparation is needed. Where it’s shown on the label, the drained weight helps you compare how much of the pulses you can actually use.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Leftovers after opening | The drained weight per tin and the storage instructions once opened. | Without a way to refrigerate leftovers, I want to be able to finish the tin at one meal; around 36% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Shared meals | The amount in each tin and how many people will finish it that day. | If we’re eating together, I want each tin we open to have enough for everyone; around 29% of consumers put this need first. |
| Quick preparation | Whether it says ‘ready cooked’ and the serving or heating instructions. | For a quick plant-based meal, I prefer a ready-prepared base; around 21% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Cooking equipment | Whether soaking, cooking and water are needed. | When water or cooking equipment is limited, I want to avoid preparing dried pulses from a packet; around 14% of consumers put this first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Comparing multipacks by tin count alone
Three tins with a drained weight of 125 g each won’t give you the same amount per tin as three tins weighing 265 g drained each. Auchan lists the 125 g size, and also offers a Bonduelle multipack with 265 g per tin.
Compare the drained net weight per tin with the number of people eating the meal.
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Choosing a large tin when you can’t finish it
For its chickpea multipack, Auchan says to put any leftovers in an airtight container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days of opening.
If you can’t rely on refrigeration, open a small tin or share a large one and finish it at the same meal.
Any opened food you can’t store safely could go to waste.
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Confusing dried pulses with ready-cooked tinned pulses
Dried pulses in packets need to be prepared, and the method depends on the variety. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of soaking and thoroughly cooking some pulses.
If you can’t prepare them properly at the campsite, choose a tin whose label confirms that the pulses are already cooked.
Dried pulses also mean bringing water, allowing time and having cooking equipment to hand.
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Overlooking the condition of tins and their labels
L’Anses advises against eating food from a tin that is swollen or misshapen, or that has an unusual smell when opened. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product you’re taking with you.
Check your tins before you set off, and read the labels again before sharing their contents.
Brands to consider
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour offers multipacks of three tins of chickpeas weighing 200 g and lentils with a drained weight of 130 g per tin, making it easy to open portions separately.
- Carrefour’s chickpea product information lists three ingredients: chickpeas, water and salt.
- Check the drained weight of the product you choose: the 200 g weight shown for the chickpeas doesn’t, on its own, tell you the drained weight.
Auchan
Auchan offers a multipack of three tins of chickpeas, each with a drained weight of 125 g. It’s worth considering if you can finish a small tin at one meal.
- Auchan’s product information gives nutritional values per 100 g, including fibre and protein.
- After opening, its product information says to transfer the contents to an airtight container, keep refrigerated and eat within two days.
Bonduelle
Auchan offers a Bonduelle multipack of three tins of chickpeas, each with a drained weight of 265 g. This size is worth considering for a shared meal.
- Auchan’s product information says these chickpeas are already cooked and can be served once drained.
- Without refrigeration once opened, plan to finish the tin at the same meal.
Tins to consider on Joybuy
These are individual tins of pulses or pulse-based dishes, rather than multipacks of small tins. If you’re planning several festival meals, choose each tin based on its size, how it’s served and whether you can finish it once opened.
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Cassegrain Lentils with Carrots and Onions, 265 g
For a meal with no need to soak, these lentils are described as cooked and ready to serve.
This is an individual 265 g tin. Check the drained weight if you’re comparing portion sizes. If you expect to have leftovers, the product instructions say to transfer them to a non-metallic container and refrigerate after opening.
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Bonduelle Chickpeas in Couscous Sauce, 400 g
This tin is a good option for a chickpea-based meal if you have a way to heat it.
The individual 400 g tin contains a prepared dish, not chickpeas on their own. The instructions say to heat for three minutes in a suitable container. Once opened, the product must be refrigerated and eaten within two days. Check the label for possible traces of soya and cereals containing gluten.
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Royal Bourbon Plain Lentils, 400 g
These lentils are described as already cooked, so you can serve them alongside a meal without soaking them on site.
The individual 400 g tin contains lentils, water and salt. Check the drained weight and the instructions for after opening before planning to store any leftovers.
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Royal Bourbon Plain Red Kidney Beans, 1/2 Size, 400 g
These beans are described as already cooked, so you can add them to a dish without soaking them first.
The individual 400 g tin contains red kidney beans, water and salt. Check the drained weight and storage instructions after opening if you might not finish the tin at one meal.
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Royal Bourbon Plain Cape Peas, 400 g
These Cape peas are described as already cooked, so there’s no need to soak dried peas at the campsite.
The individual 400 g tin contains Cape peas, water and salt. The instructions say to heat them or add them to a dish. Check the drained weight and instructions for after opening before planning to keep any leftovers.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take tins camping if you don’t have a cool box?
Yes, as long as unopened tins are stored according to their labels and you can finish their contents at one meal. For its chickpea multipack, Auchan says to refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container and eat them within two days. Check the entry rules for your festival too.
Do tinned chickpeas need to be cooked on site?
The Bonduelle chickpeas in the multipack offered by Auchan are already cooked. The product information says to drain and serve them. Check the instructions for the exact product you’ve bought, as a prepared dish in a tin may need to be heated.
Do you need to rinse tinned chickpeas?
Auchan’s product information for the Bonduelle multipack says to drain the chickpeas before serving, but doesn’t say to rinse them. Follow the instructions on the tin you buy and the requirements of your recipe.
Can you use a swollen tin?
No. L’Anses advises against eating food from a tin that is swollen or misshapen, or that has an unusual smell when opened.