For a small Christmas Eve gathering, look first for a tin described as a single portion, such as the 140 g Cassegrain product listed by Auchan. A pack of three small tins is a different purchase. If you’re serving several guests, compare the 280 g or 560 g drained-weight sizes with the amount you plan to serve. If you have any left over, follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought: Bonduelle advises keeping its product at no more than 4 °C and eating it within 48 hours of opening.
The number of guests isn’t the only thing that determines how much you need: other side dishes and what you plan to do with any leftovers also matter.
You’re preparing peas for one or two people and want to avoid leaving a tin open. Auchan lists a 140 g Cassegrain product described as a single portion; Carrefour also lists packs of tins with a drained weight of 140 g each.
If the peas are being served alongside other sides, choose an amount that suits your recipe. Check the product name and ingredients too: a tin of plain peas and a peas-and-carrots mix won’t make the same side dish.
A 280 g size or larger may be suitable if you have another use planned for the leftovers. Check the storage instructions on the tin you choose before keeping the product once opened. For the product we checked, Bonduelle advises storing it at no more than 4 °C and eating it within 48 hours.
When choosing peas for Christmas Eve, start with the amount you want to serve, then check the packaging, preparation instructions and ingredients for the specific product.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Check the drained weight of each tin and the number of tins in any multipack. | For one or two guests, I want an amount I can serve without opening more than I need; around 36% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Preparation for serving | Read the reheating instructions and decide whether your recipe calls for drained peas or peas served with their liquid. | When several dishes need to be ready at the same time, I want something simple to finish just before serving; this would be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Check the product name, ingredients list and allergen information for the product you choose. | If my recipe calls for plain peas, I don’t want to substitute a peas-and-carrots mix; around 21% of consumers would put the ingredients ahead of other criteria. |
| Size available from the retailer | Check the packaging of the product available at your chosen shop or online grocery service. | I want to find a suitable size where I plan to shop, without confusing a single tin with a multipack; around 14% of consumers would make this their top criterion. |
A 3 × 140 g multipack contains separate tins, but you have to buy all three. Carrefour lists this type of pack for its extra-fine peas, for example.
Check the number of tins and the drained weight of each one before choosing. For a single meal, consider whether you’ll use the remaining tins.
Carrots change the ingredients and appearance of the side dish. The Joybuy product details for Bonduelle’s 530 g mix list peas, carrots, sugar, salt and vegetable stock, among other ingredients. Carrefour’s listing for Jardin Bio Etic gives peas, water and sea salt as the ingredients.
If your recipe calls for peas on their own, check the product name and ingredients on the tin you choose rather than relying on the picture alone.
An amount that suits several guests may be more than you need for a small gathering. For the product we checked, Bonduelle advises storing it at no more than 4 °C and eating it within 48 hours of opening.
Choose an amount that suits your meal, or plan another use that follows the storage instructions on the tin.
The French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control warns that dents or other deformation, rust or bulging may indicate that a metal tin has deteriorated.
Set aside any tin showing these signs and, if you’re unsure about its condition, don’t eat the contents.
The sizes below apply to the products listed by each brand or retailer. Always check the packaging and ingredients of the product you choose.
Bonduelle’s product details for one of its tinned pea products give a drained weight of 560 g.
Carrefour’s range includes peas in 280 g tins by drained weight, as well as multipacks of 3 × 140 g by drained weight.
Auchan lists a 140 g Cassegrain tin described as a single portion, as well as an Auchan multipack of 3 × 140 g.
A tin described as a single portion is a good starting point if the peas are just a side dish. Auchan lists a 140 g Cassegrain product with this description. Adjust your choice to suit the other sides, and check that you’re buying a single tin rather than a multipack.
Yes. The Bonduelle and Cassegrain products described by the brands can be reheated before serving. Bonduelle gives a reheating time of two minutes for its product, while Cassegrain recommends warming its peas gently in their liquid. Follow the instructions on the tin you’ve bought, especially if you plan to drain the peas.
For the product we checked, Bonduelle advises storing it at no more than 4 °C and eating it within 48 hours of opening. Check the instructions on your tin: the date printed for the unopened product doesn’t replace the storage instructions for after opening.
No, not necessarily. The French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that a product with a best-before date may still be eaten after that date if its packaging is intact, although its flavour and other qualities may change. For a metal tin, also check that it isn’t dented or otherwise deformed, rusty or bulging. If you’re unsure about its condition, don’t eat the contents.