Who the pack formats suit

Planners buying for several servings

If tuna is part of a filling, topping or side for more than one person, check the drained quantity and can count against what you plan to make. Tesco Groceries lists both four-can multipacks and a larger single tin, giving you a choice between sealed portions and opening one can.

Cooks who want less preparation

A no-drain pack is relevant when tipping away liquid would be awkward or messy. The John West no-drain product listed by Tesco Groceries comes as three 100 g cans; check whether that quantity covers your meal.

Shoppers checking ingredients and sourcing

If the packing medium or a stated sourcing approach matters to you, choose by the exact can rather than the brand alone. Princes and M&S describe different tuna formats and make their own sourcing statements; the current label is the place to check ingredients and fish allergen information.

What matters when buying

Work out how much drained tuna the meal needs, then decide whether separate cans, one larger tin or a no-drain format fits the way you will prepare it.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Enough tuna for the meal Check drained weight per can and the number of cans against the amount your recipe needs. If I am making several servings, I want enough usable tuna without opening more cans than necessary. About 42% of consumers put meal quantity first.
Packing medium and ingredients Read the exact variant’s ingredients and nutrition panel, including its salt figure per 100 g. When I am adding my own sauce or seasoning, I want to know whether the tuna is packed in water, brine or oil. For about 25% of consumers, control over the packing medium and label comes first.
Less draining Confirm that the pack says no-drain and that its stated quantity covers the intended portions. If I am assembling a topping or filling quickly, avoiding a draining step matters more to me than choosing a larger can. Roughly 17% of consumers prioritise no-drain preparation.
Stated sourcing Look for the sourcing statement or certification on the specific pack, rather than assuming it applies across a range. Before choosing a tin, I want to read what its maker says about sourcing or traceability. Around 16% of consumers put that information first.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming all tuna variants have the same ingredients

    Spring-water, brine and oil packs need not have identical ingredient lists. Princes lists tuna and spring water for its spring-water chunks, while the John West no-drain spring-water product listed by Tesco Groceries also contains salt.

    Read the ingredients and nutrition panel for the exact variant and pack size you intend to serve.

  • Opening a large tin without a plan for the remainder

    A single larger tin may suit a shared recipe, but unused tuna needs to be stored according to that product’s instructions. For its spring-water chunks, M&S says to transfer unused contents to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days.

    If you expect to use only part of a large tin, consider whether sealed cans in a multipack would better match your meals.

    Otherwise, unused tuna may be wasted if it cannot be stored and used within the label’s stated period.

  • Applying a brand-wide sourcing statement to every can

    Princes and M&S make sourcing and traceability statements, but the details shown for an individual product can differ across a range.

    Check the chosen can or its current product page for the particular statement or certification you want.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Tesco

Tesco Groceries lists own-label tuna chunks in formats including 4 x 145 g multipacks and a 400 g spring-water tin.

  • Separate cans and a larger single tin offer different ways to portion tuna across a meal.
  • Check the drained quantity and packing medium of the particular product you choose.

Princes

Princes lists spring-water tuna chunks in sizes from a 145 g can to an 8 x 145 g multipack, alongside other tuna lines.

  • Its spring-water chunks page lists tuna and spring water as ingredients.
  • Princes says its tuna is traceable to the original boat and describes its fishing methods as dolphin-friendly; check the statement relevant to the pack you select.

John West

John West has a no-drain option for shoppers who prefer smaller, ready-to-use cans.

  • Tesco Groceries lists a 3 x 100 g no-drain spring-water chunks pack described as easy-open.
  • Check the exact variant’s packing medium, ingredients and total quantity; no-drain is not a description of every John West tuna pack.

M&S

M&S lists tinned tuna chunks and steaks, including larger-format chunks in its range.

  • Its spring-water chunks product lists skipjack tuna and spring water as ingredients.
  • M&S describes its tinned fish as responsibly sourced and traceable; check the chosen product for its specific sourcing details and storage instructions.

Joybuy tinned tuna multipacks

These packs offer separate cans for a fish-and-chips-night filling, topping or side, including standard chunks multipacks and a smaller no-drain format. Check the quantity and packing medium of each variant against your recipe.

Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine, 4 x 145 g

Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine 4 x 145 g

Four separate cans suit a meal using several portions or meals planned across different days. This is the brine-packed variant; check its drained weight and label instructions when deciding how much to open.

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Princes Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 4 x 145 g

Princes Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil 4 x 145 g

Choose this four-can format if your planned dish calls for oil-packed tuna. Sunflower oil is part of this variant’s ingredient profile, so check the label if you intend to add other ingredients or seasoning.

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John West Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 4 x 125 g

John West Tuna Chunks in Springwater 4 x 125 g

The four 125 g cans offer separate portions when one large tin would be inconvenient. Check the can’s preparation instructions before use: the accompanying product wording refers both to draining and to a no-drain range, so the title alone does not establish whether this variant needs draining.

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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 3 x 100 g

John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater 3 x 100 g

The no-drain format suits a smaller topping or filling when avoiding a draining step matters. The product title says Springwater, but its accompanying information describes sunflower oil; check the actual pack before choosing it for either packing medium. Three 100 g cans also provide a smaller stated pack quantity than the four-can multipacks above.

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Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine, 4 x 145 g x 12 Packs

Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine 4 x 145 g x 12 Packs

This listing is aimed at cupboard-stock planning rather than opening one tin for one meal. Its title specifies 4 x 145 g x 12 packs, while the accompanying quantity information gives 145 g without clarifying the complete bundle; confirm the total can count and drained quantity before planning portions.

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Questions about buying and storing tuna

How do I choose between a multipack and one larger tin?

Choose by the amount of drained tuna your meal needs and whether you expect to use it all at once. Separate cans let you leave unused portions sealed; if you open a larger tin, follow its instructions for storing the remainder.

Should I buy tuna in spring water, brine or sunflower oil?

Choose the packing medium that fits the ingredients you plan to add. Princes lists tuna and spring water for its spring-water chunks, while the John West no-drain spring-water product listed by Tesco Groceries includes salt; read the exact can’s ingredients and nutrition panel rather than assuming variants match.

What should I do with tuna left in an opened tin?

Follow that product’s label for storage and use. For its spring-water tuna chunks, M&S instructs shoppers to move unused contents to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and eat them within two days.

Do I need to check the fish allergen label each time?

Yes, especially when serving someone with a fish allergy. Fish is identified in the checked Princes, John West and M&S tuna products; read the current physical label for the particular pack before serving it.

What tuna guidance applies during pregnancy or when trying for a baby?

The Food Standards Agency relays NHS guidance that people who are pregnant or trying for a baby should have no more than four cans of tuna a week, based on a medium can containing around 140 g drained tuna, or no more than two tuna steaks a week. Check the drained quantity on a multipack when relating its cans to that guidance.