Who are these tins for?

People organising a barbecue

Tinned peas can be added to a salad, served cold as a side or warmed through. To choose the right size, start with the number of guests and how much you plan to serve.

People looking to cut down on leftovers

A multipack of small tins lets you open only what you need for a dish, rather than opening a large tin all at once.

People who pay attention to ingredients and origin

Compare ingredients, salt content and any details about origin or growing methods on the specific product, rather than relying on the brand name alone.

What should you look for before buying?

When planning a side for your barbecue, start with how much you’ll need, then check the recipe and the information on the tin you’ve chosen.

What to consider What to check Who is this useful for?
How much to serve Compare the drained net weight and the number of tins you’ll need to open. Carrefour, for example, stocks tins with drained net weights of 140 g and 560 g. For a gathering, I want enough peas without opening far more than I need. Around 33% of consumers would put quantity first.
Leftovers after opening Choose a size you can use in line with the storage instructions for after opening shown on the packaging. If I’m only making one side, I’d rather open a small tin than deal with leftovers. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise cutting down on leftovers.
Type of recipe Choose between plain peas and a peas-and-carrots mix; check the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific product. For a salad, I want to choose the seasoning myself; for a ready-made side, I might prefer a mix. Ease of preparation would come first for around 20% of consumers.
Origin and growing methods Check the exact product for details of origin, organic certification, HVE certification or pesticide residues. If growing methods matter to me, I want to see that information on the tin I’m buying. It would be the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Comparing sizes without checking the drained net weight

    The number of tins or their total weight alone doesn’t tell you how many peas you’ll be serving. Carrefour, for example, stocks tins with drained net weights of 140 g and 560 g.

    Compare the drained net weight with the amount you’ll need for your meal, then decide how many tins to open.

  • Assuming peas and carrots are the same as plain peas

    A mix includes carrots and may contain other ingredients too. Cassegrain’s ‘tender and tasty peas’ recipe, for example, includes sugar, pearl onions, salt and natural flavouring.

    If you want to season the dish yourself, check the ingredients list and nutritional information for the product you choose.

  • Checking the date but not the tin

    According to Anses and DGCCRF, a swollen or misshapen tin, or one showing signs of rust, may indicate spoilage. A suspicious smell when you open it is also a reason not to eat the contents.

    Discard a tin showing any of these signs, even if the date on it hasn’t passed.

  • Assuming a claim applies to an entire brand

    Claims about being grown in France, HVE certification, organic status or being ‘free from pesticide residues’ apply to specific products offered by Bonduelle or d'aucy.

    Check the label on the size and recipe you’re choosing to make sure the claim applies.

Brands to know

These brands offer recipes and sizes to compare for a barbecue side. A feature listed for one product won’t necessarily apply to the entire range.

Bonduelle

Bonduelle offers tinned peas, including a ‘tender and meltingly soft’ variety described as grown in France.

  • The brand offers a product labelled ‘free from pesticide residues’.
  • Check the claim on the recipe and size you’re buying: it doesn’t describe the whole range.

Carrefour Classic'

This supermarket own brand offers extra-fine peas in smaller multipacks and larger tins.

  • Carrefour stocks a pack of three tins with a drained net weight of 140 g each, as well as a tin with a drained net weight of 560 g.
  • Compare how much you’ll need to open with the amount you’ll actually use.

Auchan

The Auchan range includes peas under the Auchan, Auchan Bio and POUCE brands, in a variety of preparations and sizes.

  • The products on offer include peas cooked by steaming and gentle simmering.
  • Check the preparation method and details for the specific product instead of assuming all recipes are the same.

d'aucy

d'aucy offers extra-fine peas as well as peas-and-carrots mixes.

  • The brand offers a variety of peas from farms committed to the HVE scheme.
  • The growing-method and origin claims made by d'aucy apply to the relevant products, not the entire brand.

Cassegrain

Cassegrain offers peas and peas-and-carrots mixes with different recipes.

  • The ingredients list for its ‘tender and tasty peas’ lets you check what’s included, such as pearl onions and seasoning.
  • If you want to season the dish yourself, compare the ingredients and salt content with a plain variety.

Peas and carrots on Joybuy

This option is a peas-and-carrots mix for serving alongside your barbecue, rather than plain peas to season yourself.

Bonduelle peas and carrots in brine, 530 g

Bonduelle peas and carrots in brine, 530 g

For a ready-made side, this tin combines peas and carrots. It weighs 530 g; check the drained net weight on the packaging to work out how much to serve. If you’d rather adjust the seasoning yourself, compare its ingredients list with one for plain peas.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How should I store peas after opening?

Follow the storage instructions and use-by period after opening shown on the product you’ve bought. DGCCRF points out that once the packaging has been opened, the printed date is no longer enough to guide you on whether to eat the contents.

Can you eat a tin that’s swollen, rusty or misshapen?

No: discard any tin showing these signs. Anses also advises against eating food from a tin that gives off a suspicious smell when opened. DGCCRF notes that rust, dents or swelling may indicate spoilage.

Plain peas or peas and carrots for a barbecue?

Choose plain peas if you want to make your own salad or seasoning; a peas-and-carrots mix is a good option if you’d like to serve both vegetables together. Either way, compare the drained net weight and check the ingredients for the product you choose.

Does a claim about origin or growing methods apply to an entire brand?

No: check the specific product for claims such as ‘grown in France’, HVE certification, organic status or ‘free from pesticide residues’. Bonduelle and d'aucy list these features for some products, but they don’t automatically apply to their other recipes or sizes.