When shopping for Christmas, choose a tin of chickpeas based on the amount your recipe calls for, and check the drained net weight rather than relying on the weight shown on the front. A smaller tin can help you avoid leftovers for a starter, while a larger one may suit a dish to share. Either way, check the label and the storage instructions once opened.
If you’re making a starter, salad or side for a small gathering, start with the amount your recipe calls for. Auchan lists 265 g drained for one of its products. Monoprix also offers a tin labelled 265 g, but check the drained weight on the label.
A buffet, hummus or several recipes may call for a larger tin. Carrefour offers products labelled 420 g and 530 g, while E.Leclerc has a 530 g Notre Jardin product. Compare their drained weight with the amount you need.
Before serving guests, check the ingredients, salt content, allergen information and, if it matters to you, the origin stated on the tin you buy. The Monoprix 265 g product page warns that the product may contain traces of gluten and soya. E.Leclerc says the origin of its Notre Jardin 530 g chickpeas may vary depending on supply.
First, work out how many chickpeas you need, then check the pack size and label. One large tin and several smaller tins won’t necessarily suit the same purpose.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount for a small recipe | Drained net weight and the amount specified in the recipe. | For a starter or side, I prefer to open a tin that’s close to the amount I’ll use, so there’s less left over. Around 40% of consumers concerned would make this their priority. |
| Amount for several people | Drained net weight and how many tins the dish requires. | If I’m making a dish to share, I need enough chickpeas without opening more tins than necessary. Having the right amount available would be the priority for around 30% of consumers concerned. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients, salt in the nutritional information per 100 g, and allergen information. | When I’m cooking for guests whose dietary requirements I need to consider, I check the label of the product I’ve bought. This would come first for around 20% of consumers concerned. |
| Separate portions | Whether it’s a single tin or a multipack, the amount per tin and the storage instructions once opened. | If I’m preparing food at different times, I may prefer to open just one small tin at a time. Around 10% of consumers concerned would prioritise having portions split this way. |
The total weight includes the liquid, but recipes call for a quantity of chickpeas after draining. The Auchan product page for one tin labelled 265 g specifies its drained net weight.
Look for the drained net weight, then work out how many tins you need to get the amount your recipe calls for.
Auchan’s 3 × 125 g pack and Bonduelle’s 2 × 130 g pack divide the portions into separate tins. They may not be a suitable substitute for one tin intended for a dish you’re making all at once.
Before choosing a multipack for use over several occasions, check how many tins it contains and the amount in each one.
The Monoprix 265 g product page warns that the product may contain traces of gluten and soya. A product’s ingredients may also vary according to the information provided by the retailer.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you actually buy.
If a large tin leaves you with leftovers, storage becomes an important factor. For its 3 × 125 g pack, Auchan says to transfer any opened contents to a suitable airtight container, refrigerate and consume within two days.
Follow the instructions on the tin you choose and plan when you’ll use the leftovers.
Carrefour stocks Carrefour Classic’, Carrefour Bio and national brands of chickpeas, including products labelled 265 g, 420 g and 530 g.
E.Leclerc offers Notre Jardin chickpeas in a tin labelled 530 g, as well as products in 265 g sizes.
Auchan offers a chickpea product with 265 g drained and a 3 × 125 g multipack. Its range also includes a Bonduelle 2 × 130 g pack.
ALDI offers All Seasons chickpeas in a tin labelled 265 g.
Monoprix offers its own-brand chickpeas in tins labelled 265 g and 530 g.
This 820 g tin may suit a Christmas dish that calls for a large amount of chickpeas. For a small recipe, first check its drained net weight and how much you actually need.
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For a dish to share or several recipes, compare this 820 g size with the amount your recipes call for. Check the drained net weight on the packaging before working out how many portions it will make.
Compare the drained net weight with the amount your recipe calls for. It tells you how many chickpeas you’ll have once the liquid has been removed. For example, Auchan lists 265 g drained for one product and a total drained weight of 0.39 kg for its 3 × 125 g pack.
For its 265 g product, Auchan says to drain and rinse the chickpeas before serving them cold. Check the instructions on the tin you’ve chosen before making your salad.
Follow the storage instructions and use-by period on the tin. For its 3 × 125 g pack, Auchan says to keep the chickpeas in a suitable airtight container in the fridge and consume them within two days of opening.
The minimum durability date, or DDM, is an indicative date and is different from a use-by date. France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control lists tinned goods among the products that may carry a DDM. Check the date printed on your tin and follow its storage instructions.