Pasta and antipasto planners
In a simple pasta, salad or sharing dish, the packing oil and the size of the tuna pieces can affect what reaches the plate. Olive-oil tuna is worth considering when the oil will be served with the fish.
Who is choosing tuna?
Group cooks
For several portions or a pasta bake, count the tins and check the drained quantity. A larger pack does not necessarily contain the same amount of usable tuna as another pack of similar total weight.
Low-fuss or sourcing-focused shoppers
A no-drain format addresses handling at the worktop; an MSC-labelled product addresses certified fishery sourcing. Check the exact tin for whichever condition matters to you.
What matters when buying?
Decide first whether the packing liquid will become part of the dish, then match the amount of tuna and the preparation format to the meal.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Check the number of tins and the drained weight; total pack weight also includes packing liquid. | If I am cooking for a group, I need enough fish for the planned portions, not simply a large pack on the shelf. About 40% of consumers put comparable usable quantity first. |
| Oil and texture | Check for olive oil, chunks or larger pieces, and added flavourings such as lemon. | For a lightly dressed pasta or antipasto plate, I want the tuna and its oil to contribute to the finished dish. Olive-oil flavour and visible pieces are the primary concern for about 30% of consumers. |
| Easy preparation | Look for a no-drain format or a packing liquid that lets you add your own oil. | When I am assembling the meal quickly, I would rather avoid draining or choose how much oil goes into the recipe. That preparation need comes first for about 20% of consumers. |
| Certified sourcing | Look for the MSC ecolabel on the exact product; assess its oil and portion size separately. | If certified fishery sourcing is my condition for choosing a tin, I need to check the product itself rather than rely on the brand name. It is the primary concern for about 10% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Equating pack weight with the tuna you will serve
A tin’s stated weight can include oil or water. That matters when estimating how many portions a pack will provide.
Check the drained weight where it is stated and use the same weight basis when comparing packs.
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Choosing the packing liquid without considering the recipe
Sunflower oil or spring water gives a different starting point from olive oil when the liquid is going into a simply dressed dish.
Decide whether you will drain the tuna, mix its liquid into a sauce or serve the oil with the fish.
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Applying one leftover-storage instruction to every tin
Instructions differ by product. Sainsbury’s specifies use within one day for its olive-oil chunks after transferring unused contents to a non-metallic container and refrigerating them; the researched Rio Mare and M&S products specify use within two days.
Follow the storage and use-by-opening instructions on the exact pack, including any direction to transfer the contents to another container.
Brands to consider for these tuna formats
Sainsbury’s
Its 4 × 145 g skipjack chunks in olive oil are presented for pasta, rice dishes and salads.
- The listed ingredients are skipjack tuna, olive oil, water and salt; Sainsbury’s describes the product as MSC-certified and pole-and-line caught.
- Check the drained quantity if comparing it with a pack whose displayed weight includes a different amount of liquid.
Tesco
Its researched range includes sunflower-oil chunks in a 4 × 145 g pack and a 400 g tin, alongside steak formats.
- The different pack formats give group cooks a choice of tin sizes.
- Check the packing liquid on the chosen product; a sunflower-oil tin will not supply olive oil for a simple dish.
ASDA
Its 4 × 145 g skipjack chunks in sunflower oil are a multipack option for dishes with their own sauce or dressing.
- The stated ingredients are skipjack tuna, sunflower oil and salt.
- Add olive oil separately if that is the flavour wanted in the finished dish.
John West
Its No Drain chunks in spring water address preparation without a separate draining step.
- John West lists tuna, spring water and salt for the researched product.
- Spring water does not contribute an olive-oil finish; choose the dressing separately if the recipe needs one.
Princes
Its Ocean Select yellowfin tuna steak in olive oil includes lemon flavouring.
- The olive oil and lemon provide a defined flavour for a lemon-led pasta or salad.
- Choose an unflavoured product if you want to control the seasoning yourself.
M&S
Its 200 g skipjack tuna steak in olive oil is a larger-piece option for serving the tuna visibly.
- M&S lists skipjack tuna, olive oil and salt, and describes the fish as pole-and-line caught.
- Check the exact pack size and drained quantity against the portions you intend to serve.
Joybuy tuna selections
These selections cover olive-oil tuna for simple dishes, spring-water and sunflower-oil multipacks for mixed dishes, and a no-drain option. Check the drained quantity on the chosen pack when planning portions.
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Fish4ever Tuna Steaks in Organic Olive Oil 160g
Consider this single tin when the tuna and its olive oil will be served in a simple pasta or salad. The steak format offers a different serving choice from chunks; check the drained quantity for your planned portions.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, 6 × 145g
Six tins give cooks separate portions for a group dish or several meals. The spring-water packing does not supply olive-oil flavour, so it suits pasta with another sauce or dressing.
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Rio Mare Tuna Fillets in Olive Oil, 180g Glass Jar
The jarred fillets are an option when olive oil and visible pieces are part of a pasta or salad. Check the exact label if MSC certification is a condition of your choice.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 3 × 100g
The no-drain format reduces handling when assembling pasta or salad, while three smaller tins allow separate portions. Add your own olive oil if the dish calls for that flavour.
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Princes Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 4 × 145g
This four-tin pack suits a pasta dish in which a sauce provides the main flavour. Its sunflower-oil packing is a different choice from olive-oil tuna when the oil itself will be served.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose tuna in olive oil for pasta?
Choose it when the oil and fish will be tasted directly in a lightly dressed pasta. If the tuna is going into a strongly flavoured sauce or bake, spring-water or sunflower-oil chunks can also fit the recipe; compare drained quantities for the portions you need.
Does a larger stated pack weight mean more tuna?
Not necessarily: the stated weight can include the packing liquid. Check the drained weight and number of tins when working out how much fish you can serve.
How should I keep tuna left over from an opened tin?
Follow the instructions on that product’s label. Sainsbury’s tells shoppers to transfer its researched olive-oil chunks to a non-metallic container, refrigerate and use within one day; the researched Rio Mare and M&S products specify use within two days after opening.
Do these tuna products contain fish?
Yes. The researched tuna products list fish in their ingredients or allergy information. Check the exact tin and any added flavourings or recipe ingredients if an allergy affects the meal.