Students stocking their first kitchen cupboard
You want one pack to add flavour to rice, pasta, soups or sauces on a regular basis. When comparing pack sizes, check both the net weight and the number of cubes or tablets.
Who is this guide for?
Beginner cooks making small portions
Clear dilution instructions make it easier to choose a pack that works for the amount you cook. The instructions for a Knorr tablet and a Maggi KUB DUO cube refer to different volumes of water, so check the directions for the recipe you’re buying.
Shoppers who check ingredients
If certain ingredients or allergens matter to you, check the label for each product. Retailer listings for the recipes covered here mention ingredients such as celery and soya, as well as possible traces of other allergens.
What should you look for?
If you’re choosing just one pack, start with a recipe and dosage that suit the dishes you usually make. Then compare pack sizes and check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Budget for your first kitchen cupboard | Compare pack sizes using the net weight and the price per kilo shown by your retailer. | I want to stock my cupboard without buying several packs, and the amount I get matters as much as the upfront cost. Around 36% of the consumers concerned would put this first. |
| Uses and dosage | Check the suggested dishes and the volume of water required per cube or tablet. | If I mostly make small pans of rice, soup or sauce, I want instructions that are easy to follow for the portions I cook. This would be the top priority for around 36% of the consumers concerned. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details for the exact recipe. | Before choosing a pack for my everyday meals, I need to know whether its ingredients suit my dietary requirements. Around 21% of the consumers concerned would check this first. |
| Recipe style | Check the type of stock and look for any information about ingredients of animal origin. | I’m mainly looking for a vegetable and herb flavour or a recipe described as plant-based, rather than a general-purpose stock. This would be the top priority for around 7% of the consumers concerned. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based only on the price shown on the pack
Pack sizes can vary, and a price listed by a retailer may depend on the store or collection option.
Compare the price per kilo shown where you plan to shop, then check the net weight and dosage.
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Assuming every cube makes the same amount of stock
The Knorr vegetable stock listed by Carrefour recommends one tablet for 500 ml of water, while the instructions for Maggi KUB DUO specify one cube for 2 L. The number of pieces in the pack doesn’t tell you everything about how to use them.
Check the dilution instructions for the exact product and compare them with the amounts you usually cook.
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Assuming vegetable stock is allergen-free or vegan
Ingredients vary from one recipe to another. The Auchan vegetable stock listing mentions celery and soya, as well as possible traces of other allergens. A plant-based claim on one pack doesn’t apply to a brand’s entire range.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack instead of relying on the name alone.
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Leaving an open pack somewhere warm or damp
The storage instructions for the Auchan products checked advise protecting the tablets from heat and moisture.
Follow the directions on your pack. If it doesn’t close securely once opened, keep the tablets in a clean, dry, airtight container.
Stock cube brands to consider
These brands offer recipes and pack sizes worth comparing product by product. Their inclusion here doesn’t guarantee that another pack has the same ingredients or that a particular retailer stocks it.
Maggi
Vegetable and vegetable-and-herb recipes may suit you if you’re looking for a particular flavour in a single pack.
- Maggi describes its KUB DUO Légumes + Herbes as 100% plant-based. The instructions for this product specify one cube for 2 L of water.
- This description doesn’t apply to other Maggi recipes. KUB DUO may contain gluten, eggs and milk, so check the label if these ingredients matter to you.
Knorr
The Knorr vegetable stock pack listed by Carrefour contains 15 tablets and recommends one tablet for 500 ml of simmering water.
- These instructions make it easier to compare the dosage with the quantities in your recipes.
- The ingredients include celery, salt, vegetable fats and flavour enhancers. Check the ingredients for the pack you choose.
Carrefour Original
Carrefour lists a dehydrated vegetable stock in a pack of 12 cubes, weighing 10 g each.
- The net weight and number of cubes make it easier to compare this size with other packs you’re considering for your first kitchen cupboard.
- Before buying, check the dosage, ingredients and terms offered by your retailer for the exact product.
Auchan
Auchan lists a vegetable-flavour stock in a pack of 12 cubes, weighing 10 g each, for use in a range of savoury dishes.
- Suggested uses include pasta, rice, vegetables, soups and sauces.
- This product lists celery and soya, as well as possible traces of other allergens. Check the label for the recipe you buy.
Marque Repère / Rustica E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc lists a Rustica cooking stock pack containing 12 tablets, weighing 120 g in total.
- Compare this size with other packs by checking its net weight and preparation instructions.
- To work out how much you’ll use per meal, follow the dilution instructions and nutritional information on the pack rather than estimating portions from the pack’s weight alone.
Stock cube packs available on Joybuy
These stock tablet and cube packs offer different recipe options for your first kitchen cupboard. Compare their sizes and the instructions for each product before choosing one that suits your dishes.
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Knorr Stock with Herbs and Olive Oil, 15 tablets, 150 g
A pack to consider if you’re looking for a herby stock for a range of simple dishes. Check the dilution instructions for your recipe and read the ingredients list.
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MAGGI KUB 25% Less Salt Vegetable Stock, 120 g
A vegetable recipe to consider if you’re looking for cubes to add flavour to simple meals. Before comparing this pack with another, check the number of cubes, dilution instructions, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
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Maggi Kub Or Stock Cubes, 128 g
A pack to consider for adding flavour to rice, soups or sauces. To check whether it suits the quantities you cook and your dietary requirements, read the number of cubes, dilution instructions and ingredients list on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
How should I compare two packs of stock cubes when moving in?
Compare the net weight and number of cubes, then check the dilution instructions for each recipe. A tablet for 500 ml of water and a cube for 2 L make different amounts of stock. Also check the terms shown by the retailer where you plan to shop.
Is vegetable stock always vegan or allergen-free?
No: the recipe name alone doesn’t tell you this. Maggi describes its KUB DUO Légumes + Herbes as plant-based, while also stating that it may contain gluten, eggs and milk. The Auchan vegetable stock listing mentions celery and soya. Check the label on the exact pack.
How should I store stock cubes after opening?
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve bought. The Auchan stock products covered here should be protected from heat and moisture, and their instructions recommend storing them in an airtight container after opening.
What should I check on the label before choosing a recipe?
Read the ingredients list, allergen information, nutritional values, net quantity, dilution instructions and storage guidance. In France, the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods.