Who are these stock cubes for?

Those who like to season each dish themselves

If you’re preparing several side dishes and sauces for Easter, a salt-free stock cube lets you decide how much to season each recipe. It’s still worth checking the nutritional information: Knorr France lists 0.02 g of salt per serving for its salt-free vegetable stock.

Families who prefer stock that’s already seasoned

For vegetables, rice or a slow-cooked dish, a stock cube labelled 25% less salt may suit you if you want to keep the stock’s existing seasoning. The reduction claimed by Knorr France and Maggi is relative to a comparison product, not a salt-free stock cube.

People who pay close attention to ingredients

Flavour and a reduced-salt claim aren’t the only things to consider if you need to avoid an ingredient or choose a recipe with no animal-derived ingredients. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.

How do the options compare?

For your Easter recipes, first decide whether you want to control the salt yourself or use a stock cube that’s already seasoned. Then compare the salt content for the amount you’ll use and check the ingredients for your chosen flavour.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Salt levels Compare the salt content for the same prepared quantity, and take account of any other salty ingredients in the dish. When I’m cooking several dishes, I want to adjust the seasoning in each one separately rather than let the stock cube decide; around 46% of consumers make this a priority.
Stock that’s already seasoned Check what the “25% less” claim is compared with, then look at the salt content per serving and the exact flavour. For a sauce or vegetables, I’d rather start with stock that’s already seasoned while choosing an option that claims to contain less salt; around 36% of consumers would make this their priority.
Ingredients Check the ingredients, allergens and any “may contain” statements on the version you’re buying. If an ingredient isn’t suitable for my meal, I need to be able to choose a stock cube based on its ingredients before its flavour; around 18% of consumers would put this suitability first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming “25% less salt” means “salt-free”

    The reduction is based on a comparison. On its own, it doesn’t tell you how much salt you’ll consume. Knorr France lists 1.4 g of salt per serving for its reduced-salt vegetable stock.

    Check the “salt” line and adjust your comparison to the number of stock cubes and the quantity of food you’ll actually prepare.

  • Choosing a flavour without checking the allergens

    Ingredients vary between products. Knorr France’s reduced-salt vegetable stock contains celery, among other ingredients, and carries warnings about other possible allergens.

    Check the ingredients and any “may contain” statements on the pack you’re buying, even if you’ve already looked at the product details online.

  • Assuming a product you’ve found online will be available for all your shopping

    Product ranges vary by shop. A Carrefour product listing, for example, noted that a salt-free Knorr stock cube was no longer available in its stores.

    Before you finish your Easter shopping, check what your shop stocks. If the product you want isn’t available, choose another way to season the dish.

    Changing stock cubes or adjusting the seasoning also means reviewing the amount of salt in your recipe.

Brands and retailers to check

These products give you a way to compare salt claims and ingredients. A brand or retailer appearing here doesn’t guarantee that a product is available in your local shop.

Knorr

Knorr France offers salt-free and reduced-salt vegetable stocks, as well as a salt-free chicken option.

  • The salt-free vegetable stock lists 0.02 g of salt per serving. The Auchan product listing specifies one stock cube diluted in 500 ml of water.
  • The 25%-less-salt options are different from the salt-free ones. Check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen flavour, too.

Maggi

Maggi offers KUB OR stock cubes, among other products, as well as a vegetable stock with a reduced-salt claim.

  • A Carrefour product listing describes KUB OR stock cubes as having 25% less salt than the average non-reduced-salt stock cubes.
  • The Carrefour listing for this product mentions wheat and possible traces of other allergens, so check the exact version.

Carrefour

Carrefour product listings let you check the formats and ingredients of some Maggi and Knorr stocks before you choose.

  • One listing shows Maggi KUB OR stock cubes with 25% less salt, in a pack of 32.
  • Another listing noted that a salt-free Knorr stock cube was no longer available in Carrefour stores. Check the range at the shop you plan to visit.

Auchan

Auchan product listings provide preparation and ingredient details for some salt-free and reduced-salt Knorr products.

  • The listing for Knorr salt-free vegetable stock specifies eight stock cubes weighing 72 g, with one cube to be diluted in 500 ml of water.
  • The vegan suitability stated in this listing applies to this particular vegetable stock, not all Knorr stocks.

E.Leclerc

The stocks and cooking bases in E.Leclerc’s range can help you compare pack sizes and ingredients in store.

  • The category includes several stocks and gravy bases.
  • Don’t assume a stock has less salt just because it’s labelled “organic” or “reduced fat”. Check its salt content.

A reduced-salt stock cube on Joybuy

This selection features a vegetable stock cube with 25% less salt, for seasoning dishes such as soup or a slow-cooked meal. If you’d rather control all the salt you add yourself, compare it with a salt-free option instead.

MAGGI KUB vegetable stock cubes with 25% less salt, 120 g

MAGGI KUB vegetable stock cubes with 25% less salt, 120 g

This product is a good choice if you want to season soup or a slow-cooked dish with a vegetable stock cube that claims to contain less salt, rather than a salt-free one.

Pack size: 120 g. The “25% less salt” claim doesn’t mean the product is salt-free.

If the amount of salt or the ingredients are particularly important for your recipe, check the dilution instructions, serving size and allergen information on the pack.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a “reduced-salt” stock cube salt-free?

No. A reduced-salt claim is a comparison, while a salt-free version is the right choice if you want to control the seasoning yourself. Knorr France lists 1.4 g of salt per serving for its reduced-salt vegetable stock, compared with 0.02 g per serving for its salt-free vegetable stock. Compare the nutritional information and serving sizes of the products you’re considering.

How do I use a salt-free stock cube in an Easter recipe?

The Auchan listing for Knorr salt-free vegetable stock specifies one stock cube per 500 ml of water, or crumbling a cube into the dish while it cooks. Taste the finished dish before adding salt, especially if other ingredients are already salty.

Where can I check the allergens in a stock cube?

Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re buying. For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF says allergenic ingredients must be highlighted. Also check any “may contain” statements on the product.

Will a stock cube I’ve found online be available in my shop at Easter?

Not necessarily. Check the range at the shop where you plan to do your shopping. For example, a Carrefour listing said that a salt-free Knorr stock cube was no longer available in its stores. Have another seasoning option in mind if you’re relying on a particular product.