Multipack planners
If you expect to use tuna across several meals, compare the amount in each drained tin as well as the number of tins. Separate cans can help you open only what you need.
Who these choices suit
Salt-conscious cooks
If tuna will be mixed with gravy, stuffing or condiments, the salt figure on the exact tin may matter more to your choice than whether it is packed in spring water or brine.
Low-mess meal preppers
If you are handling several parts of a roast at once, a product expressly labelled no-drain or pre-drained removes a preparation step. Check its usable quantity alongside a conventional tin.
What to check when choosing
For roast-prep days, start with the amount of tuna you expect to use, then check the exact tin for salt, preparation instructions and any sourcing claim that matters to you.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Compare stated drained weights, not just can count or net weight. Tesco Groceries lists 4 × 102g drained contents for its 4 × 145g spring-water pack. | If I plan to use tuna over several meals, I need to know how much each opened tin will provide. About 36% of consumers put usable quantity first. |
| Salt and packing liquid | Read salt per 100g on the exact product and check whether that figure is for drained tuna. Labelled spring-water examples from Tesco Groceries and Sainsbury's differ: 0.90g and 0.12g salt per 100g drained, respectively. | When tuna is going into a meal with gravy or condiments, I want to check its salt figure rather than rely on the words “spring water”. Roughly 29% of consumers make the salt and packing-liquid profile their main concern. |
| Preparation mess | Check whether the exact pack is labelled no-drain or pre-drained; compare its stated usable quantity with ordinary chunks. | With several dishes underway, I would rather add tuna without draining a tin. Avoiding that step is the primary need for about 21% of consumers. |
| Sourcing claim | Look for a certification or catch-method statement on the selected variant, rather than assuming it applies across a brand. | If a stated catch method influences my choice, I need to see it on the tin I am buying. A specific sourcing claim comes first for approximately 14% of consumers. |
Common buying mistakes
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Judging quantity by can count alone
Net weight includes the packing liquid, while drained weight gives a clearer indication of the tuna available after draining.
Check the drained weight of each tin and the total across the pack before choosing a size for several meals.
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Assuming spring-water tuna has less salt
Product labels differ. Tesco Groceries lists 0.90g salt per 100g drained for one spring-water multipack, while Sainsbury's lists 0.12g per 100g drained for a spring-water single tin.
Use the salt figure and its measurement basis on the exact product, particularly when adding tuna to a meal with salty accompaniments.
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Leaving unused tuna in an opened can
If you open more than the meal needs, the remaining tuna needs storing for later use.
Transfer leftovers to a covered, non-metallic container, refrigerate them and follow the timing on that product's label.
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Applying a sourcing claim to every tin from a brand
Certification and catch-method statements apply to particular products and may differ between variants.
Check the statement on the selected can or its product page before making it part of your decision.
Brands to consider
Tesco
An own-label option with a stated drained weight for its 4 × 145g spring-water pack.
- Tesco Groceries lists 4 × 102g drained contents, making the usable quantity clear for this pack.
- The same pack lists 0.90g salt per 100g drained; check that figure against the meal you are preparing.
Sainsbury's
Own-label spring-water and brine examples show why the precise variant matters.
- Sainsbury's lists 0.12g salt per 100g drained for its cited 145g spring-water tin.
- Its cited brine multipack lists 0.42g salt per 100g drained; do not transfer either figure to another Sainsbury's tin.
Princes
A branded range that includes conventional multipacks and a separate drained-tuna range.
- The cited spring-water 4 × 145g listing gives a drained weight of 4 × 102g.
- Princes describes its drained range as ready to use; check which format the particular pack contains rather than assuming all its tuna is pre-drained.
John West
A route to consider when avoiding the draining step is a priority.
- John West describes its cited No Drain spring-water product as ready to use without draining.
- Check the usable quantity and nutrition of the selected No Drain variant against a conventional tin.
M&S
An own-label spring-water tin with a stated catch-method claim.
- Marks & Spencer describes its cited tuna chunks in spring water as pole-and-line caught under its Forever Fish policy.
- Check that the claim appears on the exact M&S variant you select.
Joybuy tuna packs for roast-prep meals
These packs offer separate tins for meals across a busy roast-prep day, including no-drain options and four-can packs in spring water, brine or sunflower oil. Check each pack's drained contents and label when deciding which format suits you.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 3 × 100g
For adding tuna while other parts of the meal are underway, this labelled no-drain option avoids a draining step. The pack contains three 100g cans; check the label for the quantity and nutrition basis relevant to your comparison.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 3 × 100g
Choose this labelled no-drain format when skipping the draining step matters and sunflower oil suits the dish. It contains three 100g cans; it is not the spring-water variant, so compare the exact labels if packing liquid or salt affects your choice.
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Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine, 4 × 145g
Four separate tins suit plans to use tuna across several meals rather than opening the whole pack at once. This is a brine-packed 4 × 145g pack; check its drained contents and salt figure for the portions you have in mind.
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John West Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 4 × 125g
This four-can spring-water pack offers separate tins for meals on different days. Each can is labelled 125g; check the exact pack's draining instructions and drained contents rather than treating it as a No Drain product.
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Princes Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 4 × 145g
For meals where sunflower-oil-packed tuna suits the recipe, this pack provides four separate 145g cans. Check the drained contents and the nutrition label's measurement basis before comparing it with a spring-water or brine pack.
Questions about choosing and using tinned tuna
Why check drained weight on a tuna multipack?
Drained weight shows how much tuna remains after the packing liquid is removed, whereas net weight includes that liquid. Compare the stated drained contents of the tins you expect to use, especially when pack sizes differ.
Is spring-water tuna always lower in salt than brine-packed tuna?
No. The exact label matters: Tesco Groceries lists 0.90g salt per 100g drained for its cited spring-water multipack, while Sainsbury's lists 0.42g per 100g drained for its cited brine multipack. Compare figures on the same measurement basis for the products you are considering.
How should I keep tuna left over from an opened tin?
Move unused tuna to a covered, non-metallic container and refrigerate it. Follow the storage and use-by instructions on the exact tin, as product instructions can differ.
Does a brand's sourcing claim cover every tuna product it sells?
A claim on one product does not establish the catch method or certification of another variant. Check the selected tin or its product page for the specific statement you want.
What allergen information should I check?
Tuna is fish. Read the exact product's ingredient and allergen information, particularly if you are considering a flavoured or multi-ingredient version.