Households stocking up
You’re planning to serve several bowls at the same meal and want enough for everyone without opening multiple containers.
Who are these formats for?
People living alone and smaller households
You’d rather open a smaller amount at a time, so you can enjoy different recipes and keep leftovers to a minimum.
Shoppers who check ingredients carefully
You check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each recipe before ordering several units.
What should you check before ordering?
For a multipack of tinned soups, first check exactly what’s included and the net quantity in each tin. If you’re also comparing cartons or sachets, consider the ready-to-eat or prepared volume, as well as how many meals you’ll have after opening them.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for your stock cupboard | Number of units and total net quantity in the multipack; type of packaging. | When I’m planning to serve several bowls at one meal, I want to know how many units to order for the cupboard. Around 40% of shoppers put having a useful quantity top of their list. |
| Portions and leftovers | Contents of each unit or prepared volume per sachet; storage instructions after opening. | If I’m serving one person at a time, I’d rather open or prepare only what I need. This flexibility is a priority for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients, allergens and salt in the nutritional information, based on the serving unit shown on the packaging. | Before ordering several of the same recipe, I want to check its ingredients and spot any allergens that affect me. For around 30% of shoppers, this is the top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a sachet’s weight is the same as the volume of liquid soup
Dehydrated soup is made up with water, so the weight of the dry product doesn’t tell you how much soup you’ll get.
To compare serving quantities, check the prepared volume and number of portions shown on the box.
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Opening a large container without planning when you’ll use the rest
The product listing for the 75 cl Liebig bottle featured by Courses U says to refrigerate it and use it within two days of opening. This instruction applies to this particular product, not all soups.
Choose a size you can use in line with the instructions on the product you buy.
If you open more than you need, some may go to waste if you haven’t planned when to have it next.
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Relying on the name of a vegetable recipe alone
The Royco recipe described in the information gathered contains milk, gluten and celery; the Liebig product mentioned warns that it may contain traces of celery, wheat and egg. Ingredients vary by specific product.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information for each variety before ordering a multipack.
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Ignoring the ‘salt’ entry
Anses lists soups and broths among the food categories that contribute to salt intake in France. The format or recipe name alone won’t tell you how much salt it contains.
Check the salt value per 100 ml or per 100 g, according to the information shown on the products you’re comparing.
Brands and retailers to know when comparing formats
Carrefour
Its click-and-collect range includes liquid soups under the Carrefour brand, as well as well-known national brands.
- The 1 L and 2 × 30 cl sizes let you choose according to the portions you’re planning to serve.
- The range may vary depending on the store and whether you choose collection or delivery.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
The Regal Soupe range includes soups in cartons and dehydrated soup mixes.
- The carton sizes make it easier to plan how many portions to serve.
- For dehydrated soup, check the volume you’ll get after preparation rather than looking at the weight of the powder alone.
Royco
The brand offers dehydrated soups in sachets, including options you can prepare one portion at a time.
- The box of four sachets listed by Carrefour makes 800 ml when prepared.
- The recipe mentioned contains milk, gluten and celery, so check the information for the variety you’re ordering.
Liebig
The product listed by Courses U is a 75 cl bottle of vegetable soup that needs reheating.
- Its size could work well for sharing at a meal.
- For this product, the listing says to refrigerate it and use it within two days of opening. It also warns that it may contain traces of celery, wheat and egg.
Joybuy products
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a multipack of liquid soups with dehydrated sachets?
Compare the total ready-to-eat volume of the liquid soup multipack with the volume you’ll get after preparing the sachets. Don’t treat the weight of the powder as the amount of soup you’ll serve. Also check the number of portions shown on each pack.
How long can you keep soup after opening?
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. The listing for the 75 cl Liebig bottle featured by Courses U says to refrigerate it and use it within two days of opening; this guidance doesn’t automatically apply to other soups.
What should I check on the label before ordering several soups?
Check the ingredients, allergens, net quantity and nutritional information for the exact recipe. DGCCRF says that allergens must be clearly highlighted and that nutritional information includes details such as sugars, fat and salt.
Are cupboard soups always low in salt?
No. The fact that a soup can be stored in the cupboard doesn’t tell you how much salt it contains. Anses lists soups and broths among the food categories that contribute to salt intake in France, so check the value shown for each recipe and compare products using the same unit.