Who is this option for?

Kitchen manager preparing savoury dishes

If the hotel kitchen uses stock in soups, sauces or hot dishes, the number of cubes should match the recipes you plan to make. Stock cubes don’t serve the same purpose as biscuits laid out on the buffet.

Buyer who pays attention to ingredients

Before using stock in dishes served to guests, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each product. A ‘vegetable’ or ‘organic’ label is no substitute for reading the details.

Hotelier organising breakfast

If you need both stock cubes and a biscuit tin, clarify what needs to be cooked and what needs to be served to guests before choosing a family pack.

What should you look for?

First, decide whether the cubes will be used in a savoury dish. Pack size and recipe only become relevant once you’ve established how they’ll be used.

Criteria What to check Who it matters to
Intended use Clarify whether the stock will be used in a savoury recipe or whether you’re actually looking for biscuits for the buffet. If I need to fill a biscuit tin, I want to avoid ordering an ingredient intended for savoury cooking; around 36% of consumers would put defining the intended use first.
Recipe and allergens Check the ingredients, any declared allergens and the salt content listed for the exact product. When I’m cooking for guests with dietary restrictions, I need to know what’s in a cube before using it; around 28% of consumers would prioritise the recipe, allergens and salt content.
Pack size and restocking Compare the number of cubes with how often you’ll be cooking, then check storage and supply arrangements. If the kitchen uses stock regularly, I’m looking for a quantity I can store and replenish without ending up with a surplus; around 36% of consumers would prioritise pack size and restocking.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a large pack is a breakfast solution

    Stock cubes from Maggi and Knorr are designed to help with savoury cooking. Buying a large quantity won’t, by itself, meet a need for biscuits or buffet presentation.

    Check the menu and what the product is for before choosing a pack containing dozens of cubes.

  • Assuming ‘vegetable’ or ‘organic’ means allergen-free

    Carrefour’s product listings for Maggi Kub Or vegetable and organic stock cubes mention wheat and celery, among other ingredients. Depending on the recipe, other allergens may also be listed as possible traces.

    Check the ingredients and allergens on the actual pack you’ll be using, including whenever you switch to a different product.

  • Choosing a pack size without planning how to restock

    A quantity of cubes that suits a busy kitchen is only useful if the establishment can store the product and reorder it as needed.

    Before choosing a product for the hotel’s recipes, check the supply arrangements with your chosen supplier.

Brands and retailers to know

Maggi

Carrefour lists a 64-cube Kub Or pack and a 32-cube Maggi organic stock pack, for example. These two options differ in both recipe and quantity.

  • The 64-cube pack may be worth considering if the kitchen regularly uses this product in savoury dishes.
  • Carrefour’s listing for the 64-cube Kub Or pack mentions wheat and celery, as well as possible traces of egg, milk and mustard.

Knorr

The range includes a reduced-salt chicken stock cube, which may suit your needs depending on the recipe and the ingredients allowed on your menu.

  • Knorr says this product contains 25% less salt than the average stock cubes on the market, excluding reduced-salt versions. This comparison doesn’t apply to every recipe in the brand’s range.
  • This chicken stock contains poultry ingredients and celery, so check the ingredients if your menu excludes these.

Auchan

Auchan sells stock cubes under its own brand, as well as Maggi and Knorr products, including packs of 12 cubes.

  • The number of cubes makes it easy to compare these pack sizes with the kitchen’s expected usage.
  • Check the recipe and exact pack size for each product rather than assuming that an entire range is available in a family pack.

E.Leclerc / Marque Repère

E.Leclerc lists a Rustica cooking stock in a pack of 12 cubes, among other products.

  • This pack size gives you a useful comparison if your kitchen doesn’t necessarily need dozens of cubes.
  • Check with your chosen E.Leclerc store to find out whether this product can be included in your supply arrangements.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What should you check on a pack of stock cubes for a hotel kitchen?

First, check the product name, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, nutritional information and storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. For prepacked food sold in France, the Ministry of the Economy states that allergenic ingredients must be listed and highlighted on the label.

Is reduced-salt stock automatically suitable for every menu?

No. This claim means neither ‘salt-free’ nor that there are no other ingredients to consider. Knorr says its reduced-salt chicken stock contains 25% less salt than the average stock cubes on the market, excluding reduced-salt versions. The product also contains poultry ingredients and celery. Check the recipe and the salt content listed for the product you choose.

How should you store stock cubes for a hotel kitchen?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. For its Marché du jour garden vegetable stock, Maggi recommends storing it in a cool, dry place. Check the instructions for any other product you use.