For a quick individual lunch, a multipack of small tins means you only need to open one at a time. With a larger format, you’ll need to plan several portions and follow the instructions for storage after opening. Dried pulses take more forward planning, while a ready meal is no substitute for plain pulses that you season yourself. In every case, compare the ingredients and allergens; for pulses in liquid, check the drained weight too.
If you add pulses to a salad or hot dish at lunchtime, look for a product that’s already cooked and ready to use. Auchan’s listing for Bonduelle chickpeas, 2 × 130 g, says they’re ready to cook with as soon as you open the tin.
If you prepare lunch regularly, work out how many portions you need before choosing between small tins and a larger container. Notre Jardin 3 × 130 g and Auchan 3 × 125 g come in separate tins, so you can open just one for a meal.
If ingredients, salt or specific allergens affect your choice, check the label on each product rather than relying on the range name. For pulses in liquid, compare the drained weight too.
First decide whether you need a lunch that’s ready to assemble or have time to soak and cook dried pulses. Then choose a container to suit the number of meals you’re planning, bearing in mind that a prepared dish isn’t the same as plain tinned pulses.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation time | Check whether the pulses are already cooked and ready to use, or need soaking and cooking. | If lunch needs to be put together without a long cooking time, a ready-to-use tin fits the bill; around 36% of consumers put speed first. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information, particularly the salt content per 100 g. | When choosing between plain pulses and a prepared recipe, the ingredients guide my purchase; this is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portions and leftovers | Compare the number of tins, the drained weight if there’s liquid, and the storage instructions after opening. | If I’m having lunch on my own, I’d rather open a small tin than have to use up a large leftover portion; around 21% of consumers prioritise portion size. |
| Planning your cupboard | For dried pulses, allow for soaking and cooking; for tinned pulses, check the format and the date on the packaging. | When planning several meals, I’m happy to cook dried pulses in advance; around 14% of consumers put flexible meal planning first. |
A tin’s weight may include liquid. So two tins with the same total weight won’t necessarily contain the same amount of pulses to use.
If there’s liquid in the tin, compare the drained weight shown on the packaging.
Once opened, storage depends on the instructions for that particular product. Auchan’s listing for its 3 × 125 g chickpeas says to transfer the contents to an airtight container, refrigerate and use within two days of opening.
For the occasional solo lunch, check whether separate tins would suit your meals better. If you choose a larger container, plan when you’ll use the contents.
Bjorg’s 250 g quinoa and chickpea dish contains quinoa, wheat bulgur, rice, oil and salt, among other ingredients. It isn’t the same as a tin of chickpeas to add to a dish of your own.
Choose according to whether you want to season the pulses yourself or eat a complete prepared dish. Check the ingredients and allergens for the product you choose.
Anses distinguishes between a best-before date, shown as “best before”, and a use-by date, which has a different meaning.
Check the exact wording on the packaging and follow the storage instructions, particularly after opening.
These products illustrate a range of options: small tins, larger formats and a complete prepared dish. The details below apply to the specific products listed, not to each brand’s entire range.
Notre Jardin chickpeas, 3 × 130 g, are an example of small tins for portioned meals.
Auchan chickpeas, 3 × 125 g, let you choose separate portions.
Auchan describes Bonduelle chickpeas, 2 × 130 g, as ready to cook with as soon as you open the tin.
ALDI offers individual tins of ALL SEASONS chickpeas (265 g) and red kidney beans (250 g), among other products.
Bjorg’s 250 g quinoa and chickpea dish is a prepared meal to heat up, not a tin of plain pulses.
These lentils and chickpeas give you a chance to compare formats for a lunch you put together yourself. If you’re specifically looking for a multipack of small tins, check the number of units and type of container on the product listing.
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If you’re planning a lentil-based lunch, compare this format with the portions you intend to prepare. If you’re looking for a multipack of tins, check the number of units, the drained weight and the storage instructions after opening.
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If you’re planning several chickpea-based meals, make sure you can use up the contents after opening. Check the drained weight and storage instructions, and if you need to avoid lupin, look for it in the allergen information on the label.
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When putting together one or more chickpea lunches, choose a container to suit the portions you have planned. If you’re looking for separate tins, check the packaging. Also compare the drained weight shown on the label.
Compare the number of tins, the ingredients and the amount of pulses you can use. If a tin contains liquid, the drained weight helps you distinguish the amount of pulses from the total weight. Also check the allergens and nutritional information for each product.
No. As the DGCCRF explains, displaying it is voluntary. If it appears on a product, read it alongside the ingredients and nutritional information; don’t assume on its own that the product is right for your lunch.
Follow the storage time given for the product you’ve bought. For its 3 × 125 g chickpeas, Auchan says to refrigerate in an airtight container and use within two days. This instruction doesn’t set the storage time for all tinned chickpeas.
No. According to Anses, a best-before date isn’t the same as a use-by date, which must be followed. First check the exact wording on the packaging, then consider the condition of the product and how it has been stored.
Read the ingredients list and check which allergens are highlighted on the label of the dish you choose. A pulse-based dish may contain other ingredients too: the Bjorg quinoa and chickpea dish featured here includes wheat bulgur, among other things.