Anyone making a small batch
If you’re adding peas to dough, a fougasse or a filling, the drained weight helps you choose the right amount. Also check whether the smaller tins are sold individually or in multipacks.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone who wants to season their food themselves
If your bread already contains salty or strongly flavoured ingredients, check the peas’ ingredients list for added salt, sugar, flavouring or stock.
Anyone particular about pea size
If you want the peas to stand out in a filling or a slice of bread, compare the size descriptions and drain the peas before adding them. The finished result also depends on the recipe.
What should you check before buying?
For an individual tin to use in a bread recipe, start by checking how much drained peas you need, then look at the ingredients and the size you’re after.
| What to check | What to look for | Who might find this useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and pack size | Compare the drained weight with the amount your recipe needs, and check whether the smaller tins are sold individually or in a multipack. | For a small batch, I want to open a tin that’s close to the amount I’ll use, without confusing the peas with their liquid. Around 33% of consumers would put quantity and leftovers first. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients and salt content per 100 g; a size description won’t tell you what else has been added. | If my filling already contains salty ingredients, I’d rather season it myself. Around 42% of consumers would make checking the ingredients their priority. |
| Pea size and how to use them | Look for ‘extra-fine’ if that’s the size you want, and remember to drain the peas before adding them. | For bread where I want the peas to remain visible, I choose the size to suit the finish I’m after, without expecting a guaranteed texture after baking. Around 25% of consumers would put this criterion first. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Using the tin’s total weight to measure the peas
The total weight includes the liquid the peas are packed in, so it doesn’t tell you how many peas you’ll be adding. The DGCCRF states that the drained net weight must be shown for prepacked food sold in liquid.
Use the drained weight to choose the right pack size and adjust your recipe.
-
Assuming all tinned peas have the same ingredients
Ingredient lists published by Bonduelle and Carrefour show that some products contain sugar, salt, natural flavouring or vegetable stock. These additions matter if you’ve already decided how to season your bread.
Check the ingredients for the product you’ve chosen before adjusting the salt and other ingredients in your recipe.
-
Confusing plain peas with a peas-and-carrots mix
A mix changes what goes into your bread: Joybuy’s listing for Bonduelle ‘Natural Peas and Carrots 530g’ is not for a tin of peas on their own.
If your recipe calls for peas only, check the product name before you buy.
-
Using a damaged tin or overlooking storage after opening
Anses advises against eating tinned food if the tin is dented, bulging or gives off an unusual smell. After opening, storage times and temperatures depend on the manufacturer’s instructions, as the DGCCRF reminds consumers.
Discard tins showing these signs and follow the storage instructions on the tin you open.
Brands to compare
These products show how pack sizes and ingredients can differ; their features don’t necessarily apply to every product from each brand.
Bonduelle
One Bonduelle peas product lists a net weight of 600 g, including 420 g drained.
- Bonduelle’s product details specify the drained weight and ingredients: peas, water, sugar, salt and vegetable stock.
- The ‘no added flavouring’ claim doesn’t mean the recipe contains only peas and water.
Carrefour Classic'
The tinned extra-fine peas product lists a drained weight of 560 g.
- Carrefour’s product details state the ‘extra-fine’ size and drained weight.
- The ingredients list also includes sugar, salt and natural flavouring, which is worth bearing in mind if your recipe is already seasoned.
Carrefour Bio
This peas product has a drained weight of 420 g and comes in a jar.
- Carrefour’s product details list three ingredients: organic peas, water and sea salt.
- A jar won’t suit you if you’re specifically looking for an individual metal tin.
Notre Jardin
The brand offers extra-fine peas in a pack of 3 × 140 g, as well as a 280 g product labelled ‘no added sugar or salt’.
- The multipack lets you open one 140 g tin at a time; the other product’s label helps you identify the additions you want to control.
- The multipack isn’t a tin sold on its own. For the 280 g product, check the full ingredients list on the packaging before choosing.
Joybuy products
Matching products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
What weight should I use to measure peas for bread?
Use the drained weight: the total net weight also includes the liquid the peas are packed in. For example, Bonduelle and Carrefour product details list 420 g drained for some products and 560 g for Carrefour Classic' extra-fine peas.
Do I need to cook tinned peas before adding them to the dough?
You don’t always need to cook them first: check the instructions for your product and follow the method in your recipe. Bonduelle describes its peas as ready to eat. To add them to dough, drain them and adjust the other liquids as needed, rather than assuming the same result will work for every type of bread.
How long can I keep peas after opening?
Follow the storage temperature and time stated on the packaging for the product you’ve bought. The DGCCRF recommends following the manufacturer’s storage instructions after opening; the guidance given for a different product, such as a vegetable mix, doesn’t automatically apply to your tin.
Can I use a dented or bulging tin?
No. Anses advises against eating tinned food if the tin is dented or bulging, or if it gives off an unusual smell when opened. Don’t add it to your bread dough.