Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
15.5 g of protein in 1 cup (185 g) of canned lentils, or 5 g for every 100 kcal it supplies.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Protein per 100 kcal | 5 g |
|---|---|
| Protein per 100 g | 8.36 g |
| Protein per serving | 15.5 g in 1 cup (185 g) |
| Calories from protein | 20% |
| Protein to fat | 1.2 g per 1 g fat |
| Rank in legumes, per 100 kcal | 42nd of 54 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 498th of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 31% per serving |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
One 1 cup, 15.5 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of canned lentils brings 5 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 42nd of the 54 legumes in this database and 470th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 8.36 g per 100 g ranks 27th in its group.
Around 20% of the calories in canned lentils come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Weight for weight, canned lentils has 1.2 g of protein for each gram of fat (8.36 g against 6.84 g per 100 g).
Set against canned black beans, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (canned black beans has 16 g per 1 cup).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving quoted here is measured by volume at 185 g, and it covers about 31% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 8.36 g | 166 kcal |
| 1 cup (serving used here) | 185 g | 15.5 g | 307 kcal |
The USDA record lists no other household measure for this food; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Related
Highest-protein legumes per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Quick answers
8.36 g. The 1 cup serving used on this page weighs 185 g and so carries 15.5 g.
5 g. That figure divides its 8.36 g of protein per 100 g by its 166 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
No. On its own, the protein in canned lentils is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
About 31%. One 1 cup serving has 15.5 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #2707426 (Lentils, from canned), FNDDS survey data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.