Who are these sizes for?

Parents planning several portions

You’re looking for a base for several meals and want to choose a quantity your household can use, including after opening.

Parents short on time

You want ready-cooked lentils to quickly add to a salad, serve as a side or use in a simple meal.

Households mindful of ingredients

You need to tell plain lentils apart from seasoned recipes and check the ingredients and allergens in the product you buy.

What should you look for?

First, work out how many portions you’ll actually use. Then choose between lentils you can season yourself and a ready-made recipe.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Amount you can use The drained net weight and the number of portions you have planned, especially for a 530 g tin. If I’m making several meals, I want to use the contents within the stated storage period after opening. Around 46% of consumers put making use of all the portions first.
Preparation time Whether the lentils are already cooked and whether you can serve them cold or heat them up. When time is short, I’m looking for a base I can quickly add to a meal. For around 36% of consumers, quick preparation comes before other criteria.
Ingredients The ingredients list and allergens for the exact product, particularly for a seasoned recipe. If my household avoids certain ingredients, I need to know exactly what’s in the tin. Around 18% of consumers prioritise finding a product with the ingredients they’re looking for.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing based on tin size alone

    A large tin is only practical if you can use its portions within the storage instructions given for after opening.

    Compare the drained net weight and plan which meals you’ll use the lentils in before choosing a size.

  • Opening a large tin without planning for leftovers

    For its 530 g lentils, Auchan advises transferring the leftovers to a suitable airtight container, keeping them in the fridge and eating them within two days.

    Check the instructions on your own tin and plan a second use if needed.

  • Assuming all tinned lentils are plain

    A vegetable or pre-seasoned recipe may contain other ingredients and allergens. Carrefour, for example, warns that traces of celery may be present in one Jardin Bio étic product with small vegetables.

    Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product, rather than relying on the category name alone.

  • Using a damaged tin because the date seems fine

    The DGCCRF advises that dents, rust or a bulging tin may be signs that the contents have spoiled.

    Do not use a tin showing these signs. If in doubt, don’t eat the contents.

Brands and retailers to know

Bonduelle

Bonduelle offers, among other options, 530 g tins of lentils in plain juice and a product described as having “very little juice”.

  • Bonduelle describes its lentils in plain juice as ready-cooked. For the 530 g product, the brand recommends heating them in their juice for two minutes.
  • Check the size and ingredients of each product: “very little juice” and “plain juice” don’t refer to the same product.

Carrefour

The retailer offers Carrefour Classic' lentils in a 530 g tin, as well as smaller sizes and other ranges.

  • The range of sizes makes it easier to choose based on the portions you have planned.
  • Check the drained net weight and recipe: a smaller pack or a ready-made dish may not suit the same purpose as a large tin of plain lentils.

E.Leclerc / Marque Repère Notre Jardin

E.Leclerc’s 530 g Notre Jardin product contains soaked lentils, water, salt and calcium chloride as a firming agent.

  • The product information distinguishes the lentils’ origin, listed as Canada, from the place of manufacture, listed as Portugal.
  • If origin matters to you, check the details for the product you’re buying rather than assuming based on the retailer.

Auchan

Auchan offers, among other options, a 530 g tin of lentils, with information about its ingredients and storage.

  • The product information explains how to store this product after opening, helping you plan how to use the leftovers.
  • Auchan notes that ingredients may vary depending on the online shop and purchase date. Check the product information you’ve selected and the label on the item you receive.

ALDI / Fleurs des Champs

ALDI France offers Fleurs des Champs prepared lentils in a 530 g tin.

  • ALDI describes them as ready to eat.
  • Check locally whether this product is available in store.

Tinned lentils on Joybuy

Matching products will be available here soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose between a large tin and a smaller size?

Choose based on the portions you’ll actually use. A large tin works well for several planned meals; a smaller size means fewer leftovers if you only need a small portion. In either case, check the drained net weight and the storage instructions for after opening.

How long can you keep lentils after opening?

Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. For its 530 g lentils, Auchan advises transferring the leftovers to a suitable airtight container, keeping them in the fridge and eating them within two days.

Should you eat a bulging or rusty tin?

No. Do not use a tin that is bulging or showing signs of rust. The DGCCRF advises that these signs, along with certain dents, may indicate that the product has spoiled.

How can you check the ingredients when shopping online?

Check the information for the exact product before placing your order, then read the label on the item you receive. The DGCCRF advises that the legally required information for prepacked food sold online must be provided before the sale is completed. Auchan also notes that ingredients may vary depending on the online shop and purchase date.

Is a tin of lentils bought for the household automatically suitable for a baby?

No. The fact that a tin is suitable for household meals doesn’t mean it’s suitable for a baby. For weaning, consult the Manger Bouger guidance for this stage of life and check the ingredients of the product in question.