Who are these tips for?

People keeping an eye on salt content

If you want to compare tins before preparing your meal, start with the ‘salt’ value per 100 g rather than a label such as ‘natural’. Anses recommends reading food labels to find out what foods contain.

Busy Pancake Day cooks

You’re looking for ready-cooked lentils to use in a savoury filling or as a side dish, served hot or cold. The drained weight helps you choose the right amount for your recipe.

People checking ingredients and possible traces

You need to be able to check the ingredients in the tin you choose. Product information for some Bonduelle and Carrefour products warns that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten; Bonduelle also mentions soya for its Lentilles Jus Nature.

What should you check before buying?

For a Pancake Day filling or side dish, first compare the salt content on the same 100 g basis, then check the ingredients and the amount of lentils shown by the drained weight.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Salt content Compare the ‘salt’ value per 100 g for lentils in the same category. Check separately for any claim that the salt content has been reduced. If I want to limit salt, a clear value on each tin matters more to me than a ‘natural’ label; around 50% of consumers prioritise this comparison.
Ingredients and possible traces Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the tin you choose, particularly if the product’s formulation may vary. If certain ingredients or traces matter to my household, I want to check the ingredients in the product I buy; around 30% of consumers put this need first.
Size and preparation Check the net drained weight and the instructions for serving the lentils hot or cold. To prepare a filling quickly without ending up with too many leftovers, I look for an amount of ready-cooked lentils that suits the meal; around 20% of consumers prioritise this first.

Common misconceptions to avoid

  • Assuming ‘very little juice’ means ‘less salt’

    This phrase describes the packing liquid, not the salt content. Bonduelle lists 0.52 g of salt per 100 g for its Lentilles Jus Nature.

    To compare tins, read the ‘salt’ value in the nutrition table and check for any reduced-salt claim on the exact product.

  • Using the total tin weight to work out portions

    The liquid is included in the total weight. The net drained weight tells you how many lentils are available for your filling; the products mentioned here include formats with drained weights of 265 g and 530 g.

    Choose a size based on how many lentils you need, and check the storage instructions if you’re planning to keep any leftovers.

  • Comparing plain tinned lentils with a prepared lentil dish

    Depending on the product, a prepared recipe may contain added tomatoes, oil, herbs or meat. Its ingredients therefore won’t be the same as those of a tin of plain lentils.

    If you want to make your own Pancake Day filling, choose a tin whose ingredients you’ve checked before adding your own seasoning.

  • Overlooking possible traces and changes to ingredients

    The Bonduelle and Carrefour product information mentioned here warns of possible traces, while Auchan says that the ingredients may vary depending on the store and purchase date.

    If certain ingredients or traces need to be avoided, check the label on the tin you actually buy.

Tinned lentil brands to consider

Bonduelle

The range includes ready-to-use lentils, including Lentilles Jus Nature in a tin with a drained weight of 530 g.

  • Bonduelle lists 0.52 g of salt per 100 g for Lentilles Jus Nature and says the lentils are already cooked.
  • ‘Very little juice’ does not mean reduced salt. The product information for Jus Nature warns of possible traces of wheat containing gluten and soya.

Carrefour Classic'

Carrefour offers tinned lentils in formats with drained weights of 265 g and 530 g.

  • The product information for the 265 g format lists water, dried lentils and salt, among other ingredients.
  • This product information warns of possible traces of cereals containing gluten. To compare salt content, check the nutrition information on the tin you choose.

Auchan

Auchan offers lentils in a format with a drained weight of 530 g, suitable for serving hot or cold.

  • Auchan lists 0.58 g of salt per 100 g and advises draining and rinsing the lentils before serving them cold.
  • Auchan says the ingredients may vary depending on the store and purchase date, so check the tin you choose.

d'aucy

The prepared lentils, with a drained weight of 530 g, are described as suitable for serving hot or cold.

  • d’aucy lists 0.62 g of salt per 100 g.
  • This figure alone is not enough to describe the product as ‘reduced salt’. Once opened, the product information says to keep the lentils in a suitable airtight container in the fridge and eat them within two days.

Fleurs des Champs

ALDI offers prepared Fleurs des Champs lentils in a 530 g format, ready to eat.

  • This format may be worth considering if you’re looking for lentils that are already prepared.
  • To choose based on salt content, check the nutrition table on the tin.

Tinned lentils on Joybuy

Products on this topic will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are lentils ‘in natural juice’ necessarily lower in salt?

No: ‘in natural juice’ doesn’t prove that the salt content has been reduced. Bonduelle lists 0.52 g of salt per 100 g for its Lentilles Jus Nature and includes salt in the ingredients; compare the ‘salt’ value per 100 g for the products you’re interested in.

Should you rinse tinned lentils before serving them cold?

For the Auchan product mentioned here, the instructions say to drain and rinse the lentils before serving them cold. Follow the instructions on the tin you buy, as these may vary by product.

How should you store tinned lentils after opening?

The Auchan and d’aucy product information mentioned here says to transfer the lentils to a suitable airtight container, keep them in the fridge and eat them within two days. Check the instructions on your tin.