If you’re preparing several meals to distribute, compare the drained weight of plain lentils with the amount you actually need. A multipack of small tins lets you open portions separately; a ready meal makes serving easier, provided its recipe suits each recipient. In either case, plan what you’ll do with any leftovers after opening.
If you’re dividing lentils between several recipients, start with the amount to serve and the preparation involved. Carrefour, for example, lists a 530 g tin of plain lentils with a drained weight of 530 g; a 820 g Raynal et Roquelaure ready meal is stated to serve four.
If you need to account for dietary restrictions, plain lentils leave you free to choose the other ingredients. Still, check the label for each product: the Auvergne-style dish listed by Auchan contains pork, wheat and celery, among other ingredients.
When the number of meals to deliver varies, you can open 130 g portions separately rather than opening a large tin. Carrefour and Auchan list multipacks of 3 x 130 g.
For meal delivery, first work out how much you need to distribute, then choose between plain lentils to use as a base and a recipe that’s already cooked. Also consider recipients’ dietary requirements and what you’ll do with any leftovers after opening.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount to distribute | Compare the drained weight of plain lentils, or the stated number of servings for a ready meal, with the number of meals planned. | If I’m preparing several meals at once, having enough in one container makes it easier to divide up. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this ability to serve several people. |
| Recipe to put together | Check whether the tin contains plain lentils or an already prepared recipe, and plan the other parts of the meal. | When I want to tailor the side dishes and seasoning, I’d rather start with plain lentils than have a set recipe. This freedom would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Dietary requirements | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the specific product being distributed. | If a recipient avoids certain ingredients, I need to check the recipe before planning their meal. Dietary suitability would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Leftovers after opening | Compare the portions you’ll need to open with the amounts to be delivered, and check the product’s storage instructions. | When the amounts vary from one delivery to the next, I’d rather open only the smaller portions I need. Reducing leftovers would be the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
A ready-to-serve recipe may contain ingredients that don’t suit a recipient’s menu. The Raynal et Roquelaure Auvergne-style lentils listed by Auchan include pork rind, lard, wheat flour and celery, among other ingredients.
If you want to put the meal together yourself, look for a plain product. For a ready meal, check the full ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re delivering.
Once a tin is open, its best-before date no longer replaces the storage instructions for after opening. For its cooked lentils in very little juice, Bonduelle advises storing them at a maximum of 4 °C and consuming them within 48 h; these instructions apply to this product.
Choose an amount that suits the meals you’re preparing and follow the instructions on the tin you buy. If your needs vary, portions that can be opened separately may make planning easier.
According to the DGCCRF, bulging, rust marks or dents may indicate that a tin has deteriorated.
Set aside any tin showing these signs, and don’t eat its contents if you’re in any doubt.
Bonduelle offers cooked lentils, including a product in very little juice that can be used as the base for a recipe.
Carrefour offers plain lentils in a 530 g tin with a drained weight of 530 g, and in a multipack of 3 x 130 g.
Auchan offers plain lentils in 530 g and 3 x 130 g formats, as well as 400 g prepared lentils with carrots and onions.
The brand offers Auvergne-style cooked lentils in an 820 g tin, stated to serve four.
Choose based on how much you need to distribute and whether you want to put the recipe together yourself or serve a ready meal. Carrefour offers plain lentils with a drained weight of 530 g; Raynal et Roquelaure states that its 820 g ready meal serves four. These figures don’t mean that every menu has the same portion size.
Follow the storage conditions and time limit given for the product you’ve bought. For its cooked lentils in very little juice, Bonduelle advises storing them at a maximum of 4 °C and consuming them within 48 h of opening. The DGCCRF points out that the date on a sealed pack is no longer enough once it has been opened.
Not without checking the recipe. The Raynal et Roquelaure Auvergne-style lentils listed by Auchan contain pork rind, lard, wheat flour and celery, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients list and allergen information for every product you distribute.
Even if the best-before date has passed, always check the condition of the tin. According to the DGCCRF, bulging, rust or dents may indicate that it has deteriorated; don’t eat the contents if you’re in any doubt. Also follow the instructions specific to the product.