Families who cook often
If you regularly make soups, dishes with rice or pasta, sauces or slow-cooked meals, check the number of tablets and the stated quantity to see how many meals a pack will cover.
Who are these formats for?
Anyone who wants to measure out what they need without leftovers
For a stir-fry or a small amount of sauce, you may prefer to add stock gradually. However, check the type of product and how to store it after opening: the 400 mL MAGGI liquid stock carton featured by Carrefour should be used within three days.
Households keeping an eye on salt and allergens
Ingredients vary depending on the recipe and flavour. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) advises checking food labels for ingredients; also check the ingredients and allergen information for each product.
What should you check before buying?
For regular family meals, choose the format based first on how much you use in each recipe and how often you cook. Then check the recommended quantity, ingredients and storage instructions for the specific product.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Stock of tablets | Number of cubes, pack weight and recommended quantity for the amount you’re cooking. | When I often cook large quantities, I want to know how many recipes my stock will cover. Around 40% of consumers would rank this as a priority. |
| Portion size and leftovers | Format and how to measure it out; how long a liquid product keeps after opening. | For a sauce or stir-fry, I prefer to add only as much as I need without leaving a container open for too long. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Ingredients | The ‘salt’ value in the nutritional information, ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. | If the ingredients determine my choice, I need to be able to check each flavour’s recipe before buying. This would be a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Planned recipes | Type of stock, suggested uses and instructions for dissolving or crumbling. | Whether I’m making soup, rice or a slow-cooked dish, I look for a product with instructions that suit what I’m preparing. Around 10% of consumers would make this their main criterion. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Mistaking a seasoning bottle for squeeze-bottle stock
Carrefour describes MAGGI Liquid Seasoning in a bottle as a seasoning, while its 400 mL MAGGI liquid stock comes in a carton. They are not interchangeable in either use or packaging.
Before buying, read the product description and portioning instructions, then check the cap if you want to pour out small amounts.
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Stocking up by counting packs alone
The multipacks featured by Carrefour, Auchan and E.Leclerc come in different box sizes. So the same number of packs does not necessarily mean the same number of tablets or portions.
Compare the number of units, pack weight and recommended quantity for the recipes you usually make.
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Assuming every flavour has the same ingredients
Product listings from Carrefour and Auchan show that ingredients and allergens vary by product. A salt-related claim on one range does not automatically apply to every recipe from the brand.
Check the ingredients, ‘may contain’ information and nutritional values again if you switch flavour or format.
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Opening a carton without planning when you’ll use the rest
According to Carrefour’s product listing, 400 mL MAGGI liquid stock should be refrigerated and used within three days of opening.
Choose this format if you can use it within that time in your next few meals. If you’ll use stock less often, consider cubes or tablets and check their own storage instructions.
Brands to know when comparing formats
MAGGI
A range of cubes, liquid stock and bottled seasoning, each suited to different uses.
- Carrefour features, among other options, a box of 32 organic cubes and a 400 mL carton of vegetable stock.
- Carrefour describes the 1 kg bottle of MAGGI Liquid Seasoning as a seasoning, not as liquid stock in a squeeze bottle.
Knorr
A brand to consider if you’re choosing between traditional stock cubes, concentrated stock pots and liquid seasonings.
- Knorr France also offers a range of salt-free stock products.
- The ‘salt-free’ claim applies only to the products labelled as such, not to the entire Knorr range.
Carrefour
Own-brand cubes and dried stock in a range of recipes to compare.
- The Carrefour range includes beef and chicken products, including a reduced-salt chicken option.
- Check the ingredients and number of units in the product you choose rather than assuming the features of one flavour apply to another.
Auchan
Stock cubes in a range of recipes to suit the dishes you make.
- Auchan features, among other options, a box of 12 × 10 g vegetable-flavoured cubes.
- Check the dissolving instructions and allergen information for each product.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
Tablets and stock to consider if you’re looking for different recipes in a dried format.
- The E.Leclerc range includes, among other options, Rustica chicken and pot-au-feu stock tablets.
- Check the packaging and instructions for your chosen product before planning your stock.
Stock cubes available on Joybuy
These products are stock cubes that you can measure out to suit your family recipes. If you want to dispense stock in small squirts, check the product description and cap of a liquid product instead: the cubes below are not squeeze bottles.
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MAGGI Fat-Free Chicken Stock, 12 tablets
Worth considering if you want to use individual tablets as you cook. The pack contains 12 tablets; check the recommended quantity and allergen information on the packaging.
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MAGGI Classic Chicken Stock Cubes, 80 g
A cube format you can use across several recipes. The pack weighs 80 g; check the number of cubes and recommended quantity on the packaging to work out how much you’ll need.
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MAGGI KUB Vegetable Stock, labelled ‘25% less salt’, 120 g
Worth considering if you’re comparing vegetable recipes and their salt content. The pack weighs 120 g; check the nutritional values and the basis for the on-pack comparison, along with the recommended quantity.
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MAGGI Kub Or Stock Cubes, 128 g
A cube format to consider for meals spread across several days. The pack weighs 128 g; check the number of cubes, recommended quantity and ingredients for this product.
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MAGGI Pot-au-Feu Stock, 180 g
Worth considering for pot-au-feu-style dishes, soups or sauces. The pack weighs 180 g; check the number of units, recommended quantity and nutritional values before planning your meals.
Frequently asked questions
Is liquid stock more practical than cubes for a large family?
Liquid stock can be a good choice if you’ll use the opened contents quickly; cubes let you use individual portions when meals are further apart. Carrefour says the 400 mL MAGGI liquid stock carton should be refrigerated and used within three days of opening.
What should I check about salt and allergens?
Read the ‘salt’ value in the nutritional information, the ingredients list and the allergen information for the exact product. ANSES advises checking the ingredients on the label; if you change flavour or format, check again.
How should I store stock after opening?
Follow the instructions for the product you choose, as they vary by format. Carrefour advises refrigerating the MAGGI liquid stock featured here and using it within three days; Auchan recommends storing its beef-flavoured stock tablets in an airtight container after opening.