People keeping an eye on salt when cooking
You make soups, vegetables, rice or casseroles and want to compare how much salt the stock adds, without confusing ‘reduced salt’ with ‘no salt’.
Who is this choice for?
People putting together a sweet breakfast
You’re looking for a product suited to this meal. A stock cube serves a different purpose: the products reviewed are intended for savoury dishes.
People who pay attention to ingredients
You compare the ingredients and allergen information for each product, particularly if celery or possible traces of other allergens matter to your choice.
What should you look for before buying?
First decide whether you’re looking for food for a sweet breakfast or stock for a savoury recipe. If it’s the latter, compare the salt content and ingredients of the specific product.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Salt in a savoury recipe | Compare the ‘salt’ line using the same serving size, and distinguish a comparative reduction from a ‘no salt’ claim. | If I’m making soup or rice, I want to know how much salt the stock adds to my dish; around 42% of consumers put this first. |
| Use at breakfast | Check whether the product is intended for a sweet dish or for seasoning a savoury one. | For my sweet breakfast, I’m looking for food suited to the meal rather than a cooking stock cube; around 33% of consumers prioritise this suitability. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and ‘may contain’ statements for the product and pack size you’ve chosen. | When certain ingredients matter to my choice, I want to check the exact recipe; around 25% of consumers prioritise this check. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Confusing ‘reduced salt’ with ‘no salt’
According to Knorr France product information, Reduced-Salt Vegetable Stock contains 1,4 g of salt per serving, compared with 0,02 g per serving for No-Salt Vegetable Stock. So a relative reduction doesn’t mean there’s no salt.
Compare the ‘salt’ line and the stated serving size for each product before choosing.
-
Choosing a stock cube for a sweet breakfast
The stock products reviewed are recommended for soups, vegetables, starchy foods and other savoury dishes, so they’re not suited to the sweet part of a meal.
Start by choosing food intended for breakfast; save comparing stock cubes for a separate savoury dish.
-
Overlooking allergens in vegetable stock
A vegetable recipe may contain celery and carry ‘may contain’ statements for other allergens. The product name alone doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact product.
Stock brands to consider
Knorr
Knorr offers ‘no salt’ and ‘reduced salt’ vegetable stock for savoury dishes.
- These two claims make it easier to find products that match the level of salt reduction you’re looking for.
- The reduced-salt vegetable version contains celeriac and may contain cereals containing gluten, milk, mustard, egg and soya. Check the product you’re considering.
MAGGI
The range includes reduced-salt vegetable stock for soups, stir-fries and casseroles, among other dishes.
- According to Carrefour France product information, this MAGGI product contains no ingredients of animal origin.
- It contains celery and may contain egg, cereals containing gluten and milk. It is intended for savoury dishes.
Carrefour
Carrefour France’s range includes Carrefour Original reduced-salt chicken stock.
- This product offers a supermarket own-brand option for a savoury dish.
- To compare it with the vegetable stocks mentioned here, check its salt content and ingredients list on the product listing before buying.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reduced-salt stock cube the same as a no-salt one?
No. ‘Reduced salt’ describes a comparative reduction, while the stated salt content of a ‘no salt’ product may be different. Knorr France product information lists 1,4 g of salt per serving for Reduced-Salt Vegetable Stock and 0,02 g per serving for No-Salt Vegetable Stock. Compare the information for the products you’re considering.
Is a stock cube suitable for a sweet breakfast?
That isn’t the intended use of the stock products reviewed: their product information recommends them for savoury dishes such as soups, vegetables and rice. For the sweet part of breakfast, choose a product suited to that purpose rather than a stock cube.
Which allergens should you check in these vegetable stocks?
In particular, check for celery and any ‘may contain’ statements on the exact product. Knorr’s product information for reduced-salt vegetable stock lists celeriac and possible traces of cereals containing gluten, milk, mustard, egg and soya. Carrefour France’s product information for MAGGI reduced-salt vegetable stock lists celery and possible traces of egg, cereals containing gluten and milk.