Choose an individual tin of chickpeas or beans if your recipe uses the whole contents. For a smaller amount, a multipack of small tins means you only need to open as many as you need. A pre-cooked mix in a pouch is a better choice if you want a side dish that’s ready to heat, although you’ll have less freedom to choose the ingredients and seasoning yourself.
For a hot dish, a side or a salad without any soaking beforehand, tinned chickpeas and beans can be used as soon as they’re opened and drained. Auchan’s product page also recommends rinsing its chickpeas before serving them cold.
A tin of chickpeas with a net drained weight of 265 g and small tins of 125 to 130 g serve different needs. Choose according to the amount your recipe calls for and how many tins you want to open.
If the ingredients or allergens matter to anyone at the table, check the label on the tin you’ve bought. Auchan says that the ingredient information for some products may vary depending on the online grocery service and the date of purchase.
First, work out how many pulses your recipe needs, then choose between plain tinned pulses to season yourself and a pre-cooked mix. When comparing tins, check the net drained weight rather than relying on the total weight shown on the tin.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and format | Compare the net drained weight with the amount your recipe calls for, and check how many tins are in the multipack. | If I’m only making one dish, I want to open roughly the amount I need without having to store leftovers. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise choosing a format that suits the quantity they need. |
| Preparation time | Check that the pulses are ready to use and read the instructions for serving them hot or cold. | When I decide what to cook on the day, I want to add pulses without soaking them or cooking them for a long time. Quick preparation would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the product you’ve bought, especially for a cooked mix. | Before I serve my guests, I want to know what’s in the product I’m using. For around 25% of consumers, the ingredients and any potential allergens would come first. |
The liquid in the tin doesn’t count towards the drained pulses you’ll add to your dish. For example, Carrefour lists a net drained weight of 265 g for its tin of chickpeas.
Use the net drained weight shown on the packaging to work out how much your recipe needs.
Auchan says that the ingredients in some products may vary depending on the online grocery service and the date of purchase. So a product page you looked at previously is no substitute for checking the label on the tin you’re serving.
If anyone at the table needs to avoid an ingredient or allergen, check the information on the tin you’ve actually bought.
Once you’ve opened a tin, you’ll need to decide what to do with the leftovers. For its chickpeas, Auchan advises transferring them to a suitable airtight container, refrigerating them and eating them within two days.
If your recipe only needs a small amount, consider smaller tins in a multipack. Otherwise, follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought.
Carrefour lists a tin of chickpeas with a net drained weight of 265 g, which you can compare with the amount your recipe needs.
E.Leclerc lists chickpeas with a net drained weight of 265 g, as well as a Notre Jardin multipack of 3 × 130 g.
Auchan lists, among other products, 265 g tins of chickpeas and small 125 g tins of red kidney beans.
ALDI France lists 265 g tins of ALL SEASONS® chickpeas.
Bjorg offers a 250 g quinoa and chickpea mix in a pouch. It’s already cooked, unlike plain tinned pulses.
For a salad or a hot side dish made on the day, this tin of red kidney beans is a good individual-tin option. If your recipe calls for a precise amount of beans, check the net drained weight.
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These tinned red kidney beans are suitable for a salad or a hot side dish. The stated pack size is 250 g. Check the net drained weight to see how many beans you’ll have, and check the allergen information on the tin you’ve bought.
It is if your recipe uses all 265 g net drained weight. If you need less, compare the smaller tins in a multipack to avoid opening more than you need.
For cold dishes, Auchan’s chickpea product page recommends draining and rinsing them. For a hot dish, it says to drain them and warm them gently for a few minutes without boiling. Follow the instructions for the product you’re using.
For its product, Auchan advises transferring the leftovers to a suitable airtight container, storing them in the fridge and eating them within two days. Check the instructions on your own tin.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging you’re going to serve. France’s Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be clearly highlighted. Auchan also says that the ingredients in some products may vary depending on the online grocery service and the date of purchase.