To choose a tin of peas for dinner with friends, start by checking the drained weight and the number of servings listed, then consider how prominent the peas will be in the meal. A tin marked as serving two may be enough as a side for two, but might not stretch to more guests. Then compare products by their recipe, stated texture and label rather than by brand alone.
If you’re serving peas as a side for several guests, compare the drained weight with the number of servings stated. For example, the 400 g Bonduelle tin sold by Auchan is listed as serving two and contains 280 g of drained peas.
Tinned peas can make preparing a side easier, as long as you choose the right recipe. Plain peas play a different part on the plate from a preparation containing other vegetables or herbs. Follow the reheating instructions on the tin you buy.
If ingredients, salt or origin matter to you, read the label on the specific product. The recipes mentioned by Bonduelle, d'aucy and Cassegrain do not all have the same ingredients or nutritional information; details for one product do not necessarily apply to the whole brand.
For dinner with friends, first work out how much you’ll need to serve, then choose a recipe that goes well with the main dish and suits your guests’ preferences.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving quantity | Drained weight and stated number of servings, taking into account how prominent the peas will be in the meal. | If I’m planning to serve peas to all my guests, I want to avoid one small tin leaving some plates without a side. Quantity would be the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Texture and recipe | Texture descriptions and the list of vegetables or herbs included; preparation instructions. | With a dish that’s already seasoned, I’d rather know whether the tin contains plain peas or a more flavoursome recipe. Texture and how well it goes with the main dish would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and origin | Ingredients list, salt per 100 g and origin information for the specific product. | Before choosing, I want to read the ingredients and nutritional information for the tin I’m going to serve. Ingredients or origin would be the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
The 400 g Bonduelle tin sold by Auchan contains 280 g of drained peas. Basing your calculations on the 400 g alone could therefore leave you short at the table.
Compare the drained weight and stated servings with the number of guests. If peas will be a substantial part of the meal, consider buying several tins or a larger size.
The 400 g Bonduelle product listed by Auchan contains peas, water, sugar and salt. Cassegrain’s tender and flavoursome peas recipe includes, among other things, pearl onions and natural flavouring.
Read the full ingredients list if you want a subtle base for a dish that’s already seasoned, or if any ingredients may not suit your guests.
Two tins of peas may differ in their recipe and nutritional values. For some of its products, d'aucy lists 0.45 g of salt per 100 g of drained peas.
Compare the ingredients and salt per 100 g on the specific products you’re considering, rather than assuming that the details for one tin apply to the whole range.
For the relevant products, Bonduelle and Cassegrain recommend storing the contents at a maximum of 4 °C after opening and consuming them within 48 hours.
If you’re likely to have some left, check the instructions printed on the product you buy and plan how to use the leftovers before opening it.
A tin that’s too large can lead to waste if the opened peas aren’t eaten within the stated time.
The sizes and recipes below relate to specific products. Check the one you’re planning to serve rather than assuming that every product in a range has the same features.
The 400 g product sold by Auchan is listed as serving two and contains 280 g of drained peas.
The Carrefour range includes a 280 g drained tin of extra-fine peas.
d'aucy offers extra-fine peas and a “tender and soft” range, with different tin sizes listed for different products.
The brand’s description of its tender and flavoursome peas recipe lists pearl onions and natural flavouring among its ingredients.
The retailer offers, among other products, 265 g tins of steamed peas and braised peas in several sizes.
This tin combines peas and carrots, so consider it if the mix suits your menu rather than if you’re looking for plain peas. To work out how many servings you’ll get, check the drained weight on the label.
Image unavailable
Worth considering as a side if carrots will work with your meal, but not for a recipe calling for plain peas.
Stated net weight: 530 g. To work out how many guests it will serve, check the drained weight and number of servings on the tin.
Not necessarily. Compare the stated servings and drained weight with the number of people you’re serving and how much of the plate the peas will fill. The 400 g Bonduelle tin sold by Auchan is listed as serving two and contains 280 g of drained peas.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought to avoid reheating it for longer than necessary. For the relevant product, Bonduelle recommends heating the peas in their liquid for two minutes in a saucepan or in a suitable microwave-safe container. This advice may not apply to other tins.
Follow the storage instructions on the product you’ve bought. For the relevant products, Bonduelle and Cassegrain recommend storing the contents at a maximum of 4 °C after opening and consuming them within 48 hours.
According to the French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, a best-before date may pass as long as the packaging is intact, although the product’s flavour may change over time. Check the date on the tin and make sure its packaging is undamaged. Don’t confuse this with a use-by date.