Bakers managing filling moisture
If your biscuit-topped bake has a sauce, you want to drain the tuna before adding it rather than tip an uncertain amount of packing liquid into the filling.
Who this is for
Small-batch cooks
You want one tin rather than a multipack, and need to know how much fish remains after draining so it fits the quantity in your recipe.
Cooks choosing a particular texture
You are deciding between chunks dispersed through the filling and the larger pieces associated with tuna steak, even if the steak tin holds more fish.
What to check when buying
For a bake that already contains sauce, compare the packing medium and usable fish quantity before deciding whether chunks or larger pieces suit the filling.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Filling moisture | Look for spring-water packing and drain the tuna before mixing it into the sauce. | If my filling already contains sauce, I want to decide how much liquid goes in. About 50% of consumers put moisture control first. |
| Usable quantity | Compare drained weight with the amount your recipe calls for; net weight includes packing liquid. | When I am making a small bake, I need one tin that supplies the right amount of fish without relying on its net weight. Matching usable quantity comes first for about 30% of consumers. |
| Texture and packing medium | Check whether the tin contains chunks or steak, and whether it is packed in water or oil. | I may prefer larger pieces or want to account for oil alongside the other ingredients in the filling. Texture or richness is the primary concern for about 20% of consumers. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating net weight as the amount of fish
Net weight includes packing liquid. Ocado lists the M&S Tuna Steak in Spring Water tin at 200g net and 150g drained, a distinction that matters when a recipe specifies a tuna quantity.
Use the drained weight where it is stated, then check whether that amount fits your bake.
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Adding oil-packed tuna without considering the filling
Oil is a different packing medium from spring water. Ocado lists 9.0g fat per 100g drained for M&S Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil; that figure describes this product, not every oil-packed tin.
Decide whether to drain the oil and consider the other ingredients before mixing the tuna into a creamy filling.
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Assuming all single tins are interchangeable
The listed formats include 145g chunk tins and a 200g tuna-steak tin. Their fish quantities and forms need not suit the same recipe.
Check the product form, net weight and any stated drained weight before substituting one tin for another.
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Relying on a product listing instead of the tin
Ingredients and storage instructions can differ between products and may change. A listing also does not tell you what is printed on the particular tin you receive.
Read its label for ingredients, allergens, drained weight and after-opening instructions.
Brands with relevant tuna formats
Princes
Princes lists Tuna Chunks in Spring Water as a 145g tin as well as in multipacks.
- Its product page lists tuna and spring water as ingredients for this line.
- Check the drained weight on the tin against the amount your bake needs.
Asda
Asda lists an own-label 145g tin of tuna chunks in spring water.
- The product listing identifies tuna and spring water as ingredients.
- Read the current tin label before relying on its ingredients or storage instructions.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 145g own-label tin of tuna chunks in spring water.
- Its product page describes the fish as skipjack and makes a fishery-certification claim for this product.
- Check the current label and stock if that particular tin matters to your recipe.
Tesco
Tesco's own-label listings include separate 145g chunk tins in spring water, sunflower oil and brine.
- The listed packing media give cooks distinct formats to compare.
- Check the selected tin's ingredients and drained weight rather than assuming the three versions are equivalent.
John West
John West has conventional spring-water chunks and a separate no-drain spring-water line.
- The no-drain format may appeal when reducing preparation steps matters more than draining the packing liquid yourself.
- The identified no-drain product is a multipack, so check the pack format if you need one tin.
M&S
M&S has a larger spring-water tuna-steak tin and a separate sunflower-oil chunk tin.
- Ocado lists the spring-water steak at 200g net and 150g drained, giving a usable quantity to compare with a recipe.
- Steak and oil-packed chunks differ in both form and packing medium; neither should be substituted solely by net weight.
Single-tin options on Joybuy
These single tins cover spring-water chunks for a filling you can drain before mixing, plus brine- and oil-packed chunks if those formats suit your recipe. Compare each tin's packing medium and usable fish quantity before choosing.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Spring Water 145g
A spring-water chunk tin to consider when you want to drain the tuna before adding it to a sauced filling. The stated 145g is net weight; check the drained weight against your recipe.
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Topical Sun Tuna Chunks in Springwater 160g
A spring-water chunk option if your recipe can use a 160g net-weight tin. Check its drained weight for the usable amount. The product title says Topical Sun while its description says Tropical Sun, so confirm the name on the pack before buying.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Brine 145g
A single chunk-style tin if brine suits the filling you are making. It is not the spring-water version: consider the brine when seasoning your sauce, and check the drained weight rather than using the 145g net weight as the fish quantity.
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Morrisons Fad Free Tuna Chunks in Sunflower Oil 145g
An oil-packed chunk tin to consider when that packing medium suits your bake. Decide whether to drain the oil before mixing, account for the other ingredients in the filling, and check the drained fish weight against your recipe.
Questions about using tuna in a bake
Should I start with tuna in spring water?
For a biscuit-topped bake that already has sauce, spring-water chunks are a practical starting point because you can drain the packing water before mixing. Check how much drained tuna your recipe requires; a tin's net weight is not the amount of fish it supplies.
Can I use oil-packed tuna instead?
Yes, if oil-packed tuna suits the filling you want to make. Decide whether to drain the oil and consider any other oil, butter, cheese or cream in the recipe rather than substituting it for spring-water tuna without adjustment.
How should I store tuna left over from an opened tin?
Follow the after-opening instructions on the particular tin, including its container, refrigeration and use-by directions. Do not assume another brand's instructions apply to it.
Do I need to check allergens when making a tuna bake?
Yes. The listed tuna products identify fish as an allergen. Check the label of the tin you use and the labels of the bake's other ingredients, including any sauce or biscuit topping.