Fans of savoury loaf cakes, quiches and pastries
A stock cube can season a filling, sauce or another savoury preparation. Choose a flavour that suits the ingredients, and take account of any salt already in the recipe.
Who are these stock cubes for?
Home cooks who use stock regularly
If you often make savoury dishes, compare the number of cubes and the weight of each pack. A larger pack is only useful if you’re likely to use it.
People keeping an eye on salt or allergens
Salt content and ingredients vary between products, even within the same brand. Check the packaging of the stock cube you choose before adding it to a recipe for a group of guests.
What should you check?
For home baking, first decide whether the recipe is savoury and whether a stock flavour will work in it. Then check the ingredients and choose a pack size to suit how you’ll use it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| How well it suits the recipe | Choose a flavour to complement the filling, and check the instructions before adding a stock cube to pastry or a sauce. | For a quiche, I want to season the filling without making the whole dish taste like stock. Around 38% of consumers would put how well it pairs with a savoury recipe first. |
| Salt and ingredients | Read the ingredients, allergen information and salt content for the exact product; take account of other salty ingredients in the recipe. | If I’m cooking for people who need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what’s in the stock cube. Nearly 37% of consumers would prioritise checking this and the salt content. |
| Pack size | Compare the number of cubes, their weight and the best-before date with how often you’ll use them. | When I often make savoury dishes, I prefer a pack of cubes I’ll actually use. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise a pack size that suits their needs. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Using a stock cube in a dessert
The stock cubes covered here are intended for savoury dishes, including sauces, vegetables and soups. Their salt and flavourings generally aren’t suited to sweet baking.
Save them for savoury recipes where the flavour works; for desserts, follow the ingredients specified in the recipe.
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Choosing a large pack without considering how you’ll use it
The packs we looked at don’t all contain the same number of cubes. A large pack could go unused if you rarely cook with stock.
Check the number of cubes, their weight and the best-before date before choosing a pack size.
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Adding your usual amount of salt after using a stock cube
A stock cube may already add salt to a filling containing cheese, charcuterie or olives. Auchan’s product information for its vegetable-flavour stock cube states that it contains 48 g of salt per 100 g of product and 1 g per stated prepared serving.
Take the stock cube into account before adding salt, and adjust the seasoning in the filling once you’ve tasted it, if possible.
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Relying on allergen information for a different product
The product information published by Carrefour and Auchan varies between products. It mentions ingredients including wheat, celery and soya, as well as possible traces that differ by product.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’ve bought, even if you already know the brand.
Brands to know when comparing products
Maggi
The range includes Kub Or and stock cubes in a variety of flavours, featured in Carrefour and Auchan catalogues.
- Kub Or is available in several pack sizes, so you can choose one to suit how often you use it.
- Carrefour’s product information for the 64-cube pack lists wheat and celery, so check the ingredients on the pack you choose.
Knorr
The range includes vegetable and chicken flavours, as well as products with no added salt.
- Knorr states that its no-added-salt chicken stock contains 0.03 g of salt per serving; this figure doesn’t apply to the whole range.
- The ‘no added salt’ claim doesn’t mean you can skip checking the other ingredients in that product.
Carrefour Original / Carrefour Bio
The Carrefour France catalogue features Original vegetable stock cubes and Bio chicken stock.
- The products shown include 12 x 10 g cubes for the Original vegetable stock and 8 x 10 g cubes for the Bio chicken stock.
- Compare the two products by flavour and the number of cubes you’ll need for your recipes.
Marque Repère / Rustica / Bio Village
E.Leclerc offers stocks under these ranges, as well as bases intended for other culinary uses.
- The variety of products makes it easier to find a flavour and pack size to suit your recipe.
- A stock base, cooking stock and stock cube may not be used in the same way, so check the product name and instructions.
Auchan
The Auchan range includes vegetable-flavour stock cubes and other stock flavours.
- The product information for its vegetable-flavour stock cube gives suggested uses and quantities for cooking water or cooking juices.
- This product lists celery and soya, and may contain traces of other ingredients. Check the label if these are a concern for you.
Stock cubes on Joybuy
These vegetable, herb and chicken stock products could work as seasoning in a savoury recipe. If you’re using them in a loaf cake or quiche, adjust the amount to suit the recipe.
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MAGGI KUB 25% Less Salt Vegetable, 120 g
Worth considering for a savoury filling if you’re looking for a vegetable-flavoured stock. The pack contains 120 g; the reduced-salt claim in the name doesn’t mean you can skip checking the salt content on the packaging. The listed ingredients include celery.
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Knorr Herb & Olive Oil Bouillon, 15 tablets, 150 g
Consider this if a herb and olive oil flavour would suit your savoury recipe. The pack contains 15 tablets and weighs 150 g. Check the ingredients list and reduce any added salt to account for the amount of stock you use.
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Maggi Kub Or, stock cubes, 128 g
Worth considering to season a savoury filling or sauce if the flavour suits the recipe. The pack weighs 128 g. The listed ingredients include wheat; check the packaging for other allergens and adjust any added salt.
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Calnort chicken stock cubes, 10 g each
Consider this for a savoury chicken recipe if the flavour works with the filling. Each cube weighs 10 g. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, then adjust the amount of stock cube and salt in the recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Can you add a stock cube to a sweet cake?
Stock cubes aren’t intended for desserts: the products covered here are designed for savoury dishes. For a sweet cake, use the ingredients specified in the recipe rather than stock seasoning.
How much stock cube should you use in a savoury loaf cake or quiche?
Adjust the amount to suit the size of the recipe and its other ingredients, rather than automatically using the quantity recommended for cooking water. For its vegetable-flavour stock cube, Auchan recommends one tablet per half-litre of cooking water, or per quarter-litre of cooking juices for sauces and meat. These quantities aren’t intended for loaf cake or quiche batter.
Does ‘no added salt’ stock avoid the issue of allergens?
No. The ‘no added salt’ claim doesn’t tell you whether the product contains other ingredients or allergens. Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the exact pack you plan to use.
What should you check on the label before choosing a stock cube?
Check the ingredients, allergen information and nutrition details for the product you’ve chosen, including its salt content. The French Ministry of the Economy states that allergenic ingredients must be emphasised in the ingredients list of relevant food products.