Cooks making several savoury pancakes
If you need tuna for multiple fillings, the number of tins and the drained quantity tell you more about usable tuna than the tin size alone.
Who is this for?
Hosts assembling fillings quickly
If you are filling pancakes as they are cooked, a no-drain format can remove a preparation step. John West describes its No Drain chunks as ready to use.
Shoppers checking ingredients and labels
Packing liquid, salt, fish allergen information and possible-bones warnings may affect your choice. NHS tuna guidance is also relevant if you are trying for a baby or are pregnant.
What matters when choosing tuna?
Decide how much drained tuna the filling needs, then whether you have time to drain it; use the exact pack label for ingredient and storage checks.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Compare tin count and stated drained weight, rather than relying on the size printed on the front of the pack. | When I am making several fillings, I want to know how much tuna will be left after draining. About 50% of consumers put usable quantity first. |
| Quick assembly | Look for explicit no-drain wording; otherwise allow time to drain standard tins. | If pancakes are being filled as they come off the pan, I would rather avoid draining tuna between batches. Quick assembly is the primary need for about 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and suitability | Read the packing liquid, salt figure, fish declaration, bones warning and after-opening instructions on the exact pack. | I need to check what is in the filling before serving it, particularly where an allergen or another dietary consideration applies. About 20% of consumers make these label checks their first priority. |
What should you watch for?
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Judging the amount by tin count alone
Tin size and usable tuna are not the same thing when a product needs draining.
Check the stated drained weight when comparing packs for multiple pancake fillings.
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Assuming spring-water tuna is salt-free
Spring-water products can contain salt. For example, the cited Asda own-label tuna lists 0.90g salt per 100g drained, while Princes lists 0.85g per 100g drained for its cited spring-water product.
Read the nutrition panel on the exact tin if salt is a deciding factor.
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Choosing a standard tin for a filling needed immediately
Standard tins need draining, while John West describes its cited No Drain chunks as ready to use.
Choose the format with the preparation step you can accommodate while the pancakes are being made.
Leaving too much packing liquid in a standard tin can also make the filling wetter.
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Overlooking the serving information on the can
The cited products declare fish, and some carry possible-bones warnings. NHS guidance also sets a weekly tuna limit for people trying for a baby or who are pregnant.
Check the physical can for allergen and bones information, and follow the applicable NHS tuna guidance.
Brands to consider
Tesco
Tesco lists own-label tuna chunks in spring water alongside other tinned-tuna formats.
- Its cited spring-water multipack contains 4 x 145g tins.
- Check the drained quantity and packing liquid of the particular pack you choose.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists own-label tuna chunks in spring water and brine.
- Its cited spring-water and brine multipacks each contain 4 x 145g tins.
- Check which formats are offered for your shop before planning the filling.
Asda
Asda lists a 4 x 145g own-label spring-water tuna multipack.
- The cited product lists 0.90g salt per 100g drained and carries an MSC certification statement.
- Asda says product information can change, so check the physical label before serving.
Princes
Princes offers tuna chunks in spring water as well as other packing and texture formats.
- Princes lists tuna and spring water as ingredients in its cited spring-water chunks, with 0.85g salt per 100g drained.
- Its sandwich tuna mixes chunks and flakes; check the format if you want a particular filling texture.
John West
John West offers No Drain tuna chunks for fillings assembled without a draining step.
- The cited spring-water No Drain product lists 90% tuna and is described by John West as ready to use.
- Check the packing liquid: the No Drain spring-water and sunflower-oil variants are distinct products.
M&S
M&S lists spring-water tuna in a 160g tin and a 640g four-pack.
- M&S states that its cited 160g product is pole-and-line caught under its Forever Fish policy.
- Its cited four-pack warns that bones may be present; check the pack when preparing the filling.
Joybuy tuna selections
These tuna chunks cover no-drain fillings for quick assembly and standard brine or spring-water multipacks for servings you can prepare and drain.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Springwater, 3 x 100g
For a filling assembled without draining. This spring-water variant contains three 100g tins; check the fish declaration on the pack before serving.
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John West No Drain Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil, 3 x 100g
For quick assembly when sunflower oil suits the intended filling. The pack contains three 100g tins; its fish declaration and possible-bones warning are worth checking before serving.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Brine, 6 x 145g
For several savoury servings when brine is your preferred packing liquid. The six 145g tins need draining before the tuna is mixed into a filling; the product information also warns that bones may remain.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water, 6 x 145g
For making several fillings with spring-water tuna. The pack contains six 145g tins; drain the tuna before mixing it with other filling ingredients.
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Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine, 4 x 145g x 12 packs
For a larger quantity of brine-packed tuna across multiple meals. Check that the stated 4 x 145g x 12-pack bundle suits your storage space; drain the tuna before use and check the possible-bones warning.
Questions about tinned tuna
How do I compare multipacks for several savoury pancakes?
Check the number of tins and the stated drained weight to judge how much tuna you can use in the filling. A no-drain pack and a standard tin involve different preparation steps, so check the format as well as the quantity.
Should I choose spring water, brine or oil?
Choose the packing liquid to suit the other ingredients in your savoury filling: spring water gives you a base to season, while brine and oil bring their own flavour. Check the exact product’s ingredients and nutrition panel rather than assuming tins with different liquids have the same composition.
How should I store tuna left after opening a tin?
Follow the instructions on the can. For its cited spring-water tuna, Asda says to transfer unused contents to a suitable non-metallic container, cover and refrigerate them, and use them within two days; the cited M&S product also says to refrigerate and eat within two days.
What does the NHS say about tuna during pregnancy?
The NHS says people who are trying for a baby or are pregnant should have no more than four cans of tuna a week or two tuna steaks a week, because tuna contains higher levels of mercury than other fish.
Which allergen and bones checks matter?
Tuna is fish, and the cited product labels declare fish as an allergen. Check the exact pack before serving: some of the cited tins also warn that bones may remain.