For Christmas dinner, choose a salt-free stock cube if you want to control how much salt goes into your dish. Choose a reduced-salt cube if its recipe suits the dish and you’re keeping track of the salt it still adds. Either way, compare the salt content for the amount prepared, then check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product you’re serving.
A sauce, stuffing and soup could all contain stock, as well as other salty ingredients in the meal. Manger Bouger recommends that adults consume no more than 5 g of salt a day and lists stock cubes among the seasonings to take into account.
Whether to choose vegetable or chicken stock depends on the dish and which ingredients your guests can eat. Knorr and Maggi product information shows that ingredients and allergens vary by recipe, so always check the exact product you plan to use.
The number of cubes and the amount used in each dish matter more than a ‘reduced salt’ claim on its own. Before using the same stock in several dishes, check the pack size, whether it’s vegetable or chicken stock, and the salt content once prepared.
When cooking for a group, first decide between salt-free stock and a relative reduction in salt. Then choose a recipe that suits each dish and guest.
Worth considering: when you want to season a sauce, stuffing or soup gradually without adding salt from the stock cube.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to build flavour with the other ingredients in the dish, and still check the stock’s ingredients.
Worth considering: when you want a pre-seasoned stock and a relative reduction in salt meets your needs.
Bear in mind: add the salt in the cube to the salt in your other ingredients; ‘-25%’ does not mean ‘salt-free’.
| What to check | Look for | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Salt in the meal | The ‘salt’ value for the amount prepared and the amount of stock cube added, taking other salty ingredients into account. | If several dishes contain stock, I want to be able to control their seasoning without losing sight of the salt in the menu. Around 36% of consumers would make managing salt a priority. |
| Stock recipe | Whether it’s vegetable or chicken stock, and whether the chosen product contains ingredients of animal origin. | For a side dish everyone can share, I need a recipe that suits both the dish and the people eating it. Around 29% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I can’t rely on the words ‘vegetable’ or ‘reduced salt’ alone. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this check. |
| Pack size | The number of cubes, net weight and recommended amount for the dishes you’re making. | If I’m cooking several dishes, I look for a pack size that matches the quantities I need. Around 14% of consumers would put this first. |
This claim describes a reduction compared with a reference product, not the total amount of salt added to your sauce or stuffing. For example, Knorr’s product information for its reduced-salt vegetable stock gives a salt content of 1.4 g per serving.
Compare products using the same preparation amounts and take account of how much stock cube you’ll actually use. If you want to decide how much salt to add yourself, also look for recipes specifically labelled salt-free.
A recipe with no ingredients of animal origin can still contain an allergen. Maggi and Knorr product information for reduced-salt vegetable stock, for example, lists celery; other ingredients or traces depend on the exact product.
When cooking for a group, check the ingredients and allergen information on the product you buy, even if you already know the brand or flavour.
Some reduced-salt recipes, including Maggi products listed by Carrefour and Auchan, contain potassium chloride. Anses warns that potassium-based salt substitutes may pose risks for some people.
If a guest has medical guidance about salt or potassium, check the ingredients with them and ask their healthcare professional for advice before choosing this recipe.
Knorr offers reduced-salt vegetable stock and salt-free chicken stock. It’s worth distinguishing between the two claims before choosing a flavour for your dish.
Maggi offers vegetable and chicken stock cubes labelled ‘-25% salt’, with ingredients that vary depending on the recipe.
Carrefour’s Original range includes reduced-salt chicken stock in a pack of 12 cubes.
This option is for dishes where you’re looking for a vegetable stock cube with a relative reduction in salt. Check separately that it’s suitable for the ingredients in your Christmas meal and the people you’re serving.
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A good option for a dish where vegetable stock is suitable and a relative reduction in salt is enough. Joybuy’s product information for this item gives a salt content of 0.67 g per 100 ml when prepared. Adjust the amount you use to suit your recipe, and check the ingredients and allergens before serving.
No. ‘-25% salt’ describes a relative reduction, but a reduced-salt stock cube still contains salt. For example, Knorr gives a salt content of 1.4 g per serving for its reduced-salt vegetable stock. Check the ‘salt’ value for the amount you’ll prepare rather than relying on the claim on the front of the pack.
First, take account of the amount of stock cube and the other salty ingredients in the recipe, then taste before adding salt. Manger Bouger lists stock cubes among the seasonings that contribute to salt intake. The salt content shown on the product can help you work out how much you’re adding to your dish.
Yes. Some reduced-salt Maggi recipes list potassium chloride in their ingredients. Anses warns that potassium-based salt substitutes may pose risks for some people. If a guest has medical guidance about salt or potassium, ask their healthcare professional for advice before choosing this product.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the exact product you bought, as well as the recommended preparation amount. The European Commission says that the ingredients list, allergen information and nutrition declaration are all mandatory on prepacked foods. The flavour name is no substitute for checking them.