For a barbecue, choose the drained weight according to the number of guests and the other side dishes. Smaller tins let you open only what you need, while a larger size means fewer containers. Then decide between plain peas and peas with carrots, depending on the dish you have in mind, and check the ingredients and storage instructions for after opening.
If peas are planned as a side dish for the whole table, check the drained weight rather than judging by the size of the tin. Bonduelle lists a drained weight of 420 g for a 600 g product; Carrefour also offers a tin with a drained weight of 560 g. Adjust the quantity to suit the other dishes you’re serving.
For a meal for two or a barbecue with several side dishes, a pack of small tins lets you open only the portions you need. Notre Jardin at E.Leclerc and Auchan each offer packs of three 140 g tins. Follow the storage instructions for any opened tin.
If you want to season the peas yourself, compare the ingredients for each product. Bonduelle’s “no added flavouring” tin contains sugar, salt and vegetable stock, among other ingredients. The Notre Jardin extra-fine peas listed by E.Leclerc contain sugar, salt and natural flavouring.
When choosing a side dish for a barbecue, first decide how much you want to open and what type of vegetables you’d like. Then check the recipe and storage instructions.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Size and leftovers | Compare the drained weight and the number of tins you’ll need to open for the meal. | I’m planning several side dishes and don’t want to open more peas than I need; around 29% of consumers may put quantity and leftovers at the top of their list of criteria. |
| Type of side dish | Choose between plain peas and a peas-and-carrots mix, depending on what you’d like to serve. | I prefer to season the peas myself, or serve a ready-made vegetable mix; this could be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Recipe and origin | Check the ingredients, the “salt” value per 100 g and the country of origin, if listed. | I want to know exactly what’s in the tin before adding it to the menu; around 21% of consumers may put ingredients or origin first. |
| Storage | Check the date shown and the storage conditions before and after opening. | I keep vegetables in the cupboard to use for a barbecue, while making a plan for any opened tin; this could be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
A tin also contains liquid, so its total weight doesn’t tell you how many vegetables you’ll have to serve once drained. The DGCCRF states that the drained weight must be shown for food sold in a covering liquid.
To work out portions, compare the drained weights of the products you’re considering.
This claim doesn’t describe the whole recipe. The ingredients listed by Bonduelle for its “no added flavouring” product include sugar, salt and vegetable stock; other products contain natural flavouring.
Read the full ingredients list and check the “salt” value per 100 g for the tin you choose.
Storage conditions change once a tin has been opened. For its small tins of extra-fine peas, Auchan recommends storing them in the fridge in an airtight container and eating them within two days.
Choose a quantity that suits the meal or plan how to use any leftovers, following the instructions for your specific product.
These products show how sizes and recipes can differ. Check the label of the product you choose rather than assuming the features of one product apply to the whole range.
Bonduelle offers several tinned pea products, including a 600 g “no added flavouring” product with a drained weight of 420 g.
Carrefour offers extra-fine peas in tins with drained weights of 280 g and 560 g, as well as peas-and-carrots mixes.
E.Leclerc offers lightly steamed extra-fine peas in a pack of three tins, each with a drained weight of 140 g.
Auchan offers a pack of three 140 g mini tins of extra-fine peas.
Aldi offers a 390 g tin of “Peas with carrots” under this brand.
If you’re serving a peas-and-carrots mix with your barbecue, here’s a tin to consider. Check its drained weight and recipe before you buy.
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Worth considering if you’d like to serve a mix of two vegetables as a side dish. To find out how much you’ll have after draining, check the drained weight on the packaging rather than relying on the 530 g shown in the product name.
Before planning for leftovers, also check the ingredients and storage instructions for after opening.
Compare the drained weight if you’re serving the vegetables without their liquid. The DGCCRF says this weight must appear on the label of a product sold in a covering liquid. Also consider how many tins you’ll need for your table.
No. This claim doesn’t describe all the ingredients. The Bonduelle “no added flavouring” product contains sugar and salt, among other ingredients; check the ingredients list on the tin you’re buying.
Follow the storage conditions and use-by period shown on the packaging. As guidance for its specific product, Auchan says to keep its extra-fine peas in the fridge in an airtight container and eat them within two days.
No. The DGCCRF distinguishes between the minimum durability date (DDM), which relates to how long the product retains its qualities, and the use-by date (DLC), which must not be exceeded. Check the exact wording on your tin and follow its storage and after-opening instructions separately.