Holidaymakers planning several easy meals
You want one flavour that works in a range of dishes, and a number of cubes that makes sense for the length of your stay.
Who will find these criteria useful?
People cooking for a group
You need to check the ingredients, allergens and salt content of the exact product before adding it to a shared dish.
Guests in a holiday rental with limited kitchen equipment
You’re looking for cubes that are easy to measure out for pasta, rice, vegetables or soup, and can be stored according to the pack instructions.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the meals you’ll be making during your stay: they’ll help you work out how many cubes you need and which flavour to choose. Then check the label for each recipe, particularly if you’re sharing a meal.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for your stay | Compare the net weight and number of cubes with the meals you have planned; check the recommended amount on the box. | If I’m only cooking a few times, I want to avoid opening a box and leaving most of it unused. Around 45% of consumers prioritise a quantity that suits the length of their stay. |
| Ingredients, allergens and salt | Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and nutritional information for the product you’ve bought. | When sharing a meal, I need to know whether everyone can eat the recipe I’ve chosen. Ingredients are the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Use and storage | Choose a flavour to suit the dishes you have in mind, and follow the storage instructions once opened. | In a kitchen with limited equipment, I prefer a recipe that suits my dishes and can be stored as directed. Around 22% of consumers prioritise ease of use. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a flavour or brand is free from certain allergens
Ingredients vary from one recipe to another. The product information Carrefour provides for Maggi, and Auchan provides for its pot-au-feu stock, lists wheat, celery or soya in some products, as well as possible traces of other allergens.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the box you’re going to use, even if you’re familiar with another recipe from the same brand.
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Leaving an open box somewhere warm or damp
Auchan’s product information for its pot-au-feu stock says the cubes are sensitive to heat and moisture.
Follow the storage instructions for your product. For this Auchan product, the manufacturer recommends storing it in an airtight container after opening.
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Choosing a large box without planning how you’ll use it
A box of 32 cubes and one of 12 cubes won’t suit the same meal plan, even though both are stock cubes.
Match the number of cubes to your recipes and the length of your stay, bearing in mind how many you plan to take home.
Brands to consider by recipe
Maggi
The range includes KUB OR; Carrefour lists one product in a box of 32 cubes.
- This pack size could suit you if several meals call for the same recipe.
- Ingredients vary by product: the Maggi organic stock listed by Carrefour contains wheat and celery, and warns that other allergens may be present.
Knorr
Knorr offers several types of stock, including traditional, organic and salt-free recipes.
- Knorr suggests using its vegetable stock in soups, pasta dishes, risottos and vegetable stir-fries.
- This vegetable stock contains salt and celery seeds, so its name alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for everyone at the table.
Carrefour Original / Carrefour
Carrefour lists a Carrefour Original vegetable stock in a box of 12 cubes, each weighing 10 g.
- The number and weight of the cubes make it easier to match this pack size to the meals you have planned.
- Check the recipe and its label before serving it to a group.
Auchan
Auchan’s range includes vegetable-flavour and pot-au-feu stock cubes in boxes of 12, each weighing 10 g.
- The product information for the pot-au-feu stock explains how to use it in cooking and how to store it after opening.
- This recipe contains soya and celery; Auchan also warns that traces of other allergens may be present.
Marque Repère / Rustica
E.Leclerc lists a Rustica cooking stock in a pack of 12 cubes, with a net weight of 120 g.
- The pack size helps you work out how much you’ll need for your stay.
- Check the exact recipe, its ingredients and the instructions for use before choosing.
Stock cubes available on Joybuy
These products include herb and olive oil, chicken, vegetable and KUB OR flavours. For a holiday rental, choose a pack size to suit the meals you have planned and check the label for the variant you select.
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Knorr Herb & Olive Oil Bouillon, 15 cubes, 150 g
A recipe with herbs and olive oil to consider if this flavour suits the dishes you have planned.
Box of 15 cubes, net weight 150 g. Check the ingredients and recommended amount on the pack.
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Maggi Chicken Bouillon Cubes Fat-Free, 12 cubes
A chicken stock recipe to consider for dishes where you’d like to add a poultry flavour.
Box of 12 cubes. Check the pack for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
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MAGGI KUB 25% Less Salt Vegetable, 120 g
A vegetable stock recipe to consider if it suits the soups or other dishes you have planned.
Net weight 120 g. To understand the claim about salt, check the nutritional information and the basis for comparison shown on the pack; also check how many cubes it contains.
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Maggi KUB OR Bouillon Cubes, 128 g
A recipe to consider if you’d like to use the same stock in several dishes during your stay.
Net weight 128 g. Check the number of cubes, recommended amount and allergens on the pack for this product.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to check the allergens in a standard stock cube?
Yes. Check the label for the product you’ve bought, especially if you’re sharing a meal. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients in prepacked foods must be highlighted. Stock recipes can have different ingredients, even within the same category.
How should you store opened stock cubes in a holiday rental?
Follow the instructions on the pack and choose a suitable place to store them. For its pot-au-feu stock, Auchan says the cubes are sensitive to heat and moisture and recommends storing them in an airtight container after opening.
Is a ‘vegetable’ stock cube necessarily suitable for every diet?
No. The word ‘vegetable’ doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or allergens. The vegetable stock listed by Knorr contains celery seeds, among other ingredients; check the composition and product-specific information for the one you plan to use.