For family meals that mix tuna with other ingredients, spring-water chunks in a multi-pack are a flexible cupboard option; check the drained quantity and number of cans against the portions you need. A no-drain format reduces preparation, while tuna steaks suit meals where you want more distinct pieces. Choose the packing liquid for the recipe and check the exact can’s ingredients and storage instructions.
Spring-water chunks can be mixed into pasta bakes, jacket-potato fillings or sandwiches. A multi-pack gives you several cans to draw on, but check the drained quantity in each one against the portions you plan to make.
A clearly labelled no-drain product may be convenient when adding tuna straight to a filling or salad. Check the exact pack size and label rather than assuming every spring-water product can be used without draining.
Packing liquid, ingredients, nutrition and sourcing statements belong to the specific product. Compare the cans you are considering, especially when switching between chunks, steaks or different liquids.
Start with the dish and the number of portions, then compare can labels for the format and preparation that suit it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Check the number of cans, the weight of each can and its drained weight. Work out how many cans the planned dish will use. | For a family pasta bake, I want enough tuna for the portions I am making without opening more cans than necessary. |
| Packing liquid | Read whether the tuna is packed in spring water, oil or brine. Compare nutrition figures on the same per-100g drained basis where labels provide them, and check the salt value. | If my recipe supplies its own sauce, I may prefer spring-water chunks. For a dish using oil-packed tuna, I want the oil to suit its flavour. |
| Preparation and texture | Check whether draining is required and whether the product contains chunks or steaks. John West labels a separate spring-water chunks product No Drain; M&S describes its spring-water tuna steak as already drained. | On a quick jacket-potato night, avoiding a draining step matters to me. If the tuna will remain visible in the dish, I may choose pieces labelled as steaks. |
| Sourcing information | Look for a sourcing statement or ecolabel on the exact can. Do not extend a claim from one product to every item made by the brand. | I want to know which sourcing statement applies to the tuna I am putting in the cupboard, not just to the brand generally. |
| Household checks | Read the fish allergen declaration, any bone warning and the opened-can storage instructions. Check current NHS pregnancy food guidance if it applies to someone eating the meal. | When sharing tuna with children or preparing food for someone with a fish allergy, I need the exact can’s warnings and ingredients to hand. |
The stated can weight can include packing liquid, so it may not tell you how much tuna remains after draining.
Check the drained weight on the pack and compare it with the amount your recipe calls for.
Princes lists 180kcal and 9.5g fat per 100g drained for its Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil. Those figures describe that product, not every tuna tin.
Choose the liquid for the dish, and read the nutrition panel on each variant you compare.
Ingredients, sourcing statements and storage directions can differ between products and pack formats.
Read the label on the exact can, particularly when changing brand, packing liquid or format.
The NHS warns that tuna can contain pollutants, including mercury, that may be harmful to a baby if too much is eaten during pregnancy.
If pregnancy guidance is relevant to the household, check the NHS’s current advice while planning meals that include tuna.
These examples show why the exact product line matters; a brand name alone does not establish a can’s format or label details.
A reference for shoppers considering a no-drain spring-water format alongside conventional chunks.
A reference for comparing chunk pack sizes and packing liquids.
An own-label reference for a conventional spring-water chunks multi-pack.
A reference for comparing spring-water chunks with a tuna-steak format.
These cans cover spring-water chunks in single and multi-packs, a labelled no-drain format and sunflower-oil chunks. Choose by the meal, can count and instructions on the exact pack.
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The six cans offer a cupboard supply for meals such as pasta or sandwiches. Each is labelled 145g; check the drained weight when planning how many cans the dish needs, and follow the can’s instructions after opening.
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Spring-water chunks can be mixed into pasta bakes or sandwich fillings across several meals. This pack contains four 125g cans; check the exact label if whether it needs draining affects your choice.
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The labelled no-drain format suits a quick sandwich or jacket-potato filling when you want to skip draining. The pack contains three 100g cans; check how many your planned meal will require.
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Choose this oil-packed option when sunflower oil suits the dish you are preparing. It contains four 125g cans; check its own nutrition panel rather than applying figures from a spring-water product, and look for bones when preparing portions for children.
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A single can may suit a smaller tuna filling or a meal that uses tuna alongside other ingredients. The can is labelled 145g; check its drained weight if the recipe requires a specific amount of tuna.
Choose by the recipe and compare the labels on the exact products. Spring-water chunks provide a base when you plan to add sauce or dressing; sunflower-oil chunks bring oil into the dish. Princes lists 180kcal and 9.5g fat per 100g drained for its sunflower-oil chunks, so do not apply another variant’s nutrition figures to them.
Follow the instructions on your can. For its 160g Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, M&S says to transfer unused contents to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days; instructions for another product may differ.
Check the exact can’s fish allergen declaration and any warning about bones before preparing the meal. Take care when flaking tuna into a filling or mixed dish, where small pieces may be less noticeable.
Yes. The NHS warns that tuna can contain pollutants, including mercury, that may be harmful to a baby if too much is eaten. If this applies to your household, consult the NHS’s current pregnancy food guidance when planning meals across the week.
Look for the sourcing statement or ecolabel on the exact can or its current product information. A claim attached to one tuna line does not automatically describe another format or packing liquid from the same brand.