Who is this choice for?

People who bake sweet treats

If you’re making biscuits, cakes or sweet tarts, distinguish between the ingredients your recipe calls for and stock cubes designed to season savoury dishes.

Households that often cook savoury dishes

If you regularly make soups, vegetables, pasta or rice, a pack containing several cubes could suit your needs, provided you’ll use them all and have checked the ingredients.

People who need to check allergens

If certain ingredients need to be avoided in your household, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product, as these can vary between stocks.

What should you look for?

Start with how you plan to use it: stock cubes don’t meet the same needs as ingredients for sweet baking. For savoury meals, consider the pack size and ingredients.

Criterion What to check Who it matters to
Use in sweet baking The ingredients your recipe calls for, rather than simply whether you have stock cubes in the cupboard. When I’m making biscuits or a sweet cake, I look for ingredients that suit the recipe, not seasoning for savoury dishes; around 50% of consumers put this compatibility first.
Pack size for savoury meals The number of cubes or stock tablets and the recommended amount for the specific product. When I often make soups or vegetables, I want a quantity my household will actually use; this is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens The ingredients list and any allergen or ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact pack. If I need to check certain ingredients, the composition of each product matters more than the pack size; around 20% of consumers make this their main concern.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Buying stock for sweet baking

    The MAGGI Bio and Knorr Fait Tout products are intended for savoury dishes, and their ingredients include salt.

    For a sweet recipe, buy the ingredients it calls for. Keep any stock cubes for the savoury dishes you plan to cook.

    Without those savoury meals, some of the pack could go unused.

  • Choosing the biggest pack without considering how you’ll use it

    A box of 32 cubes and a box of 12 stock tablets won’t necessarily make the same number of dishes: the recommended amount depends on the product.

    Compare the number of units and the recommended amount with the dishes you usually make.

  • Assuming ‘organic’ or ‘plant-based’ means allergen-free

    The ingredients list Carrefour France publishes for MAGGI Bio 32 cubes includes wheat and celery, as well as warnings that traces may be present. Check the ingredients for each product individually.

    Read the label on the product you choose, then check the pack you receive, paying particular attention to the ingredients and allergen warnings.

Brands to know for savoury cooking

MAGGI

Carrefour France features, among other products, MAGGI Bio stock in a box of 32 cubes.

  • The number of cubes and the ingredients list for this product make it easy to check the pack size and ingredients.
  • This product contains wheat and celery and may contain traces of other allergens. It’s intended to season savoury dishes, not for sweet baking.

Knorr

Knorr France offers several stock ranges; Carrefour France describes the Fait Tout product as a box of 12 stock tablets.

  • The range includes different products to consider for your savoury cooking needs.
  • The Fait Tout product contains salt and celery, among other ingredients; check the ingredients and allergen warnings before buying.

Carrefour

The range featured by Carrefour France includes its own-brand stock as well as products from other brands.

  • The pack sizes shown make it easy to spot chicken or vegetable stock products.
  • Check the details and ingredients of the specific product rather than assuming they’re the same across the whole range.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use a stock cube in a sweet cake?

Don’t choose it as a basic ingredient for a sweet cake. The MAGGI Bio and Knorr Fait Tout products featured by Carrefour France are for seasoning savoury dishes and contain salt; follow the ingredients specified in your recipe.

How do you choose the right size pack of stock?

Compare the number of units and the recommended amount with the savoury meals you usually make. Carrefour France features, among other products, MAGGI Bio in a box of 32 cubes and Knorr Fait Tout in a box of 12 stock tablets; the number of units alone doesn’t tell you how many dishes you’ll make.

What should you check on the label if allergens are a concern?

Read the ingredients and any allergen or ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product. The MAGGI Bio 32-cube stock featured by Carrefour France contains wheat and celery, among other ingredients; don’t assume another product has the same ingredients.

What does the date on a pack of stock mean?

First check whether the pack shows a best-before date (DDM) or a use-by date (DLC), then follow the storage instructions. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between a DLC, which is a strict deadline, and a DDM, which indicates how long the product retains its specific properties when stored as instructed.