People organising meals for a group
If you’re making soups, starchy dishes or stews for several people, the number of stock cubes in the pack and the recommended quantity will help you work out how much to bring.
Who are these options for?
People who need to check salt and allergens
When several dishes need to meet different dietary requirements, you’ll need to check the ingredients of each stock and keep its packaging to hand while cooking.
People preparing different types of dishes
If you’re using stock in rice, pasta, soup or a sauce, choose the flavour to suit your menu and check the ingredients of the specific product you select.
What should you check?
For festival meals, start with your recipes and the quantities you’ll need. The size of a pack alone won’t tell you how much stock you can make. Then consider dietary requirements and storage.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and serving size | Compare the number of stock cubes with the recommended quantity for the volume you’re making. This varies by product and how you plan to use it. | If I’m cooking several large pots, I want to know how many cubes to set aside before I start. Around 31% of consumers put this kind of planning first. |
| Salt and allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and nutritional information, especially the salt content and stated serving size. | When guests have dietary requirements, I need to be able to tell the dishes apart and identify which stock has gone into each one. This comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Storage and serving | Check the storage instructions and how to protect the stock cubes once the pack has been opened. | If meals are being prepared on site, I want a pack that’s easy to store and use throughout service; around 25% of consumers prioritise this kind of organisation. |
| Suitability for your menu | Choose a flavour to match your planned dishes and check the ingredients of the exact version you’re buying. | For a vegetable soup or a sauce served with different menus, I want to make an informed choice about the ingredients. Around 19% of consumers put finding a match for their recipes first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Working out how much stock you can make just from the number of cubes
Two packs of stock cubes won’t necessarily have the same dilution instructions. So the number of cubes alone isn’t enough to plan your cooking.
Use the instructions for each product and the quantities in your recipes to work out how many cubes you’ll need.
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Assuming vegetable stock is suitable for everyone
The flavour name alone doesn’t tell you all the ingredients and allergens. The vegetable stock listings checked at Auchan and Carrefour, for example, mention celery in some products.
Check the label on each pack and keep it to hand while serving if you know anyone has dietary restrictions.
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Adding salt before checking how well the dish is seasoned
A stock cube may already add salt to your dish; “reduced salt” does not mean “salt-free”.
Follow the product’s recommended quantity first, then taste your dish before deciding whether it needs any more seasoning.
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Relying on a specific product without checking the store
Ranges and offers can vary from one shop to another. Lidl notes, for example, that some items in its catalogues may not be available in all smaller stores.
Check that the store where you plan to shop has the product you want before planning your menu around it.
Brands and ranges to know
These brands and retailers offer a starting point for comparing stock products. The details below relate to the specific products mentioned, not the entire range.
Maggi
Maggi offers stock cubes in a range of flavours and pack sizes. Auchan lists a 120 g Kub Vegetable product, described as vegetable-based and reduced in salt.
- The vegetable version is worth considering for soups and stews, among other dishes.
- According to Auchan’s listing, this version contains celery and may contain other allergens. Check the exact pack.
Knorr
Knorr distinguishes its classic stocks from its salt-free vegetable stock.
- This distinction makes it easier to choose a version that suits the seasoning you have in mind.
- The ingredients in a classic vegetable stock won’t tell you what’s in the salt-free version. Check the name and label of the product you choose.
Carrefour
Carrefour sells its own Carrefour Original stock cubes as well as stocks from other brands.
- The Carrefour Original vegetable stock listed by the retailer comes in a pack of 12 cubes weighing 10 g each.
- Check the ingredients and instructions for the product available in your store.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc lists, among other products, a 120 g Rustica dehydrated cooking stock.
- The pack contains 12 cubes, so you can work out how many packs you need from the quantity stated on the product.
- This product listing states that it contains 48.9 g of salt per 100 g. Bear in mind how much you use in each dish.
Auchan
Auchan offers classic and organic stock cubes, including a vegetable-flavoured product with 12 cubes weighing 10 g each.
- For pasta, rice, vegetables and soups, this product’s listing recommends one cube per half-litre of water.
- The same listing mentions celery and soya. Check the pack for any other allergen information, too.
Stocks to explore on Joybuy
This selection includes three stock cube products and two stocks in other forms. For a group meal, first choose a format and flavour to suit your dishes, then check the recommended quantity and ingredients of the product you pick.
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Maggi Kub vegetable stock, reduced salt, 120 g
Worth considering if you’re making a vegetable dish and want to choose a version Maggi describes as reduced in salt. Think about how you plan to season the whole dish; reduced salt does not mean the stock is salt-free.
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Knorr herb and olive oil stock, 15 cubes, 150 g
A stock cube option to consider if the flavour suits your festival recipes. The pack contains 15 cubes and weighs 150 g. Check the pack instructions to work out how much to use in each dish.
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Maggi Kub Or stock cubes, 128 g
Stock cubes to consider for dishes that suit the Kub Or flavour. The pack weighs 128 g; check the ingredients and recommended quantity before working out how many packs you’ll need.
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Totole chicken-flavoured granulated stock, 1 kg
Consider this if you’re looking for granulated stock rather than cubes for recipes that suit a chicken flavour. The pack size is 1 kg; check the recommended quantity and ingredients before adding it to your menu.
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Calnort vegetable stock powder, 250 g, Middle variant
A powdered option to consider if you’re planning a menu that calls for vegetable stock. The pack contains 250 g; check the label for the recommended quantity, ingredients and storage instructions once opened.
Frequently asked questions
How many stock cubes should I bring for festival meals?
Start with the volume of each dish and the recommended quantity for the stock you’ve chosen. The Auchan and Knorr listings we checked each give an example of one cube per half-litre for certain uses, but always follow the instructions for your product and recipe.
What should I check if guests have allergies?
Read the ingredients and highlighted allergens on each pack, then keep the packaging to hand while serving. The DGCCRF notes that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on prepacked foods; the words “vegetable stock” are no substitute for checking.
Is a reduced-salt stock cube the same as a salt-free one?
No. “Reduced salt” means the salt content is lower than a comparison product, while “salt-free” refers to a different version. Check the nutritional information and stated serving size for the exact product, then consider the other ingredients in your dish before seasoning it.
How should I store stock cubes during the festival?
Follow the instructions on the pack and protect the cubes from heat and moisture. The Auchan listing we checked recommends keeping its vegetable stock in an airtight container once opened.