For several camping meals, choose how many stock cubes to take based on the dishes you plan to make and the dosage on the pack, rather than the pack size alone. If anyone in your group needs to be mindful of salt, allergens or other ingredients, check the exact recipe before opting for a larger pack. The cubes should also be kept away from moisture.
If you’re making soups, rice, pasta or sauces over several days, a dry format makes it easier to work out how many cubes to take. Packs of 12, 32 and 48 cubes are among the options listed by Auchan, Carrefour and Joybuy; remember to check the dosage for each recipe.
When you’re sharing meals, the ingredients list and nutritional information matter just as much as the pack size. Depending on the product, recipes from Maggi, Knorr and Auchan include ingredients such as wheat, celery or soya.
A stock cube intended for vegetable dishes can also be used to make soup or season starchy foods. However, check the exact ingredients if your menu excludes certain foods: the word ‘vegetable’ alone doesn’t tell you what’s in it.
When planning camping meals with stock cubes, start with the dishes you’ll make and the number of people you’re feeding. Then compare the pack size with the recipe ingredients.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for your meals | Number of cubes, net weight and dosage shown for each dish. | I’m preparing several meals for the group and want to take enough cubes without bringing multiple packs. Around 29% of consumers say this is their main requirement. |
| Salt and allergens | Salt content measured against the same serving basis, ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. | If you’re sharing meals with someone who needs to avoid an ingredient, the contents matter more than the size of the box. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Recipes for your menu | The product name and ingredients list: don’t infer the contents from the word ‘vegetable’ alone. | I’m looking for a base to go with vegetable dishes and starchy foods rather than a meat flavour. This is the main requirement for around 21% of consumers. |
| Shopping at your usual retailer | The pack size available for your chosen recipe and how many packs you’ll need for your trip. | I do my pre-trip shopping at a particular retailer and want to find a pack size that suits the length of my stay. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this option. |
A large box won’t be practical if the dosage or recipe doesn’t suit the meals you have planned.
Count the dishes you’ll be making, then compare the number of cubes, net weight, directions for use and ingredients.
The products listed by Maggi, Knorr and Auchan show that these descriptions don’t rule out ingredients such as wheat, celery or soya, or warnings about other allergens.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy.
Knorr’s reduced-salt vegetable stock still lists 1.4 g of salt per serving on its product page.
Compare values using the same serving basis, and check the exact product description if you’re looking for a salt-free recipe.
Auchan says its vegetable stock cubes are sensitive to heat and moisture.
Follow the storage instructions for your chosen product and keep the cubes away from moisture during your trip.
These brands offer useful points of comparison for pack sizes and ingredients. The details listed apply to the specific products named, not their entire ranges.
Carrefour lists Maggi organic stock in a box of 32 cubes. Joybuy also lists Maggi Kub Or in a pack of 48 cubes, 192 g.
Knorr offers, among other options, classic and reduced-salt vegetable stock.
Auchan lists dehydrated vegetable-flavoured stock in a box of 12 cubes, weighing 10 g each.
E.Leclerc lists Rustica cooking stock in a pack of 12 tablets, with a net weight of 120 g.
These products offer different quantities and recipes for cooking at the campsite. First choose a recipe that suits everyone, then check the dosage and how many dishes you can make from each pack.
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This pack could be a good option for several meals if the lamb recipe suits everyone in your group.
Check the recommended dosage for each dish, as well as the salt and allergen information on the pack.
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This vegetable recipe is worth considering if you’d like to compare a product marketed as reduced salt with your usual stock.
‘Reduced salt’ doesn’t mean ‘salt-free’: compare nutritional values using the same serving basis, and check the number of cubes and dosage for your meals.
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This dry format can be used to prepare several meals, provided its ingredients are suitable for everyone in your group.
The net weight is 128 g. To plan your meals, check the number of cubes, the dosage and the ingredients list for this product.
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You can compare this herb and olive oil recipe with other stocks, depending on the dishes you plan to make during your trip.
The box contains 15 tablets and weighs 150 g. Check the pack for allergen information and compare salt content using the same serving basis.
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This chicken recipe is worth considering if it suits the meals you have planned and 12 tablets will be enough for your trip.
The product title includes the claim ‘Fat-Free’, but the ingredients list mentions chicken fat. Check the allergen information and storage instructions on the pack too.
Compare the number of cubes, net weight and dosage instructions with the dishes you plan to make. Before stocking up, also read the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen.
Compare their salt content using the same serving basis, taking the dilution instructions into account. ANSES advises checking the ingredients in foods and limiting those with the highest salt content. A ‘reduced-salt’ recipe isn’t necessarily ‘salt-free’.
No. Depending on the product, information from Maggi, Knorr and Auchan lists ingredients such as wheat, celery or soya. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the product you buy; the DGCCRF reminds manufacturers that allergenic ingredients must be clearly highlighted on the label.
Follow the storage instructions on your chosen box and keep the cubes away from moisture. Auchan says its vegetable-flavoured stock cubes are sensitive to heat and moisture; instructions may differ for other products.