Which size is right for you?

If you want to avoid leftovers

If you open a tin for just one breakfast, a multipack of small tins means you can leave the others sealed for future mornings. Check that ‘2 × 130 g’ or ‘3 × 130 g’ means separate tins.

If you’re planning two meals

A tin with 265 g drained weight may suit you if you use some of it in the morning and save the rest for another meal. Storage instructions after opening vary by product, so check the instructions on the tin you buy.

If you pay close attention to ingredients

If salt, ingredients or allergens influence your choice, compare the information for specific products rather than brands in general. Check the label on the tin you buy or receive.

What should you look for?

First, decide whether you’ll use the whole tin once it’s open. Then compare drained weights and label information across sizes that meet your needs.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Leftovers and time available Number of separate tins in the multipack and the quantity in each one. I want to open an amount close to what I’ll eat this morning, without having to plan a second meal. Around 40% of consumers would put avoiding leftovers and ease of preparation first.
Amount you’ll use Drained weight and the number of portions you actually plan to prepare. If I’m sharing the tin or using the rest soon, I could consider a larger size. The amount you can use would come first for around 30% of consumers.
Salt and ingredients Salt per 100 g, ingredients list and allergen information for the product you choose. I prefer to compare labels before deciding which tin to open for breakfast. This would be the priority for around 20% of consumers.
Origin or certification The origin of the chickpeas and any certification stated for the specific product. I’m looking for a stated origin or a particular certification, even if the pack size is less suited to opening just one tin. Around 10% of consumers would put this first.

What mistakes should you avoid?

  • Confusing net weight with drained weight

    The liquid in the tin is included in the net weight. Bonduelle lists a net weight of 310 g and a drained weight of 265 g for one of its tins. These figures don’t represent the same amount of chickpeas.

    To work out how much to open for breakfast, compare the drained weights of products that list them.

  • Opening a large tin without planning what to do with the rest

    A tin with 265 g drained weight contains more than a 130 g individual tin. For its product, Auchan advises storing any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and eating them within two days of opening.

    If you only have one use in mind, choose a small tin. Otherwise, plan how you’ll use the rest before opening it and follow the storage instructions.

  • Assuming all recipes are the same

    Salt information applies to each specific product: d'aucy lists 0.01 g per 100 g drained weight for its Bio Engagé chickpeas with no added salt, while Bonduelle lists 0.60 g per 100 g for its tin with 265 g drained weight.

    Compare the nutritional information and check the ingredients list and allergen information for the product you choose.

  • Relying on just one detail on the packaging

    A Nutri-Score, if shown on a tin, won’t tell you how much drained chickpeas you get each time you open one or what ingredients you may want to check.

    Also read the drained weight, ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g.

Brands to compare by size

Carrefour Classic'

Carrefour offers Carrefour Classic' chickpeas in a 265 g tin.

  • Worth considering if you plan to use more than one small tin at a time.
  • The stated weight alone doesn’t tell you the drained weight, so check this on the product you choose.

Notre Jardin

E.Leclerc offers Notre Jardin chickpeas in a pack of 3 × 130 g tins.

  • Three small tins let you open a fresh one on different mornings. E.Leclerc’s product information states that the chickpeas are of French origin.
  • Check the drained weight per tin if the amount of chickpeas you eat each time you open one is your main consideration.

Bonduelle

Bonduelle offers chickpeas cooked in very little juice in a pack of 2 × 130 g drained-weight tins and in a tin with 265 g drained weight.

  • The multipack gives you two separate openings; the tin with 265 g drained weight may suit you if you’ll use its contents over more than one meal.
  • For the tin with 265 g drained weight, Bonduelle lists 0.60 g of salt per 100 g. Check the label on the size you actually choose.

d'aucy

Carrefour offers d'aucy steam-cooked chickpeas in a pack of 2 × 130 g tins. The brand also offers a 340 g Bio Engagé product with no added salt.

  • The multipack of small tins is a good option if you want to open them separately.
  • The 340 g Bio Engagé product lists 0.01 g of salt per 100 g drained weight, but it isn’t the same as a small individual tin.

Auchan

Auchan offers a 265 g tin of chickpeas.

  • This size may suit you if you plan to use the contents more than once after opening.
  • For its product, Auchan advises storing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and eating them within two days of opening.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a tin with 265 g drained weight suitable for one person?

Yes, if you plan to use the contents over more than one meal; it won’t necessarily be a single portion. Bonduelle lists a 130 g portion for its tin with 265 g drained weight. If you want to eat it all once opened, look for smaller tins instead.

Should you rinse chickpeas before eating them cold?

For its product intended to be eaten cold, Auchan advises draining and rinsing the chickpeas before use. Check the preparation instructions on the tin you’ve chosen too.

What should you do with leftover chickpeas after opening?

Transfer them to another container and follow the storage instructions on your tin. For its product, Auchan advises using an airtight container in the fridge and eating the chickpeas within two days of opening.

What should you check on the label when comparing two tins?

First compare the drained weight, then the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that the drained net weight must be stated when a food is packed in a liquid, and allergenic ingredients must be highlighted.