People preparing several dishes
If you’re using stock in sauces, vegetables, rice or soup, check that the flavour and quantity will work for all the recipes you have planned.
Who is this for?
People who want to control the salt
If other ingredients on the menu are already salty, it’s worth checking the salt content of the cube and the recommended dosage before adding the final seasoning.
People who pay close attention to ingredients and allergens
Whether you’re choosing a classic or organic vegetable stock, read the label if an ingredient or possible trace could affect your choice.
What should you look for?
If your meal includes several dishes, start with what you’re cooking, then compare the pack size and dosage of the recipes that suit them.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and quantity | Net weight, number of cubes and quantity needed according to the recommended dosage. | If I’m preparing several dishes, I want enough stock without ending up with lots of unused boxes; around 36% of consumers put this usable quantity first. |
| Flavour and dosage | The recipe’s flavour and the volume of liquid recommended per cube. | For my sauces or side dishes, I want a flavour that complements the menu; around 29% of consumers prioritise how well it goes with their dishes. |
| Salt | Salt listed in the nutritional information, reference portion and dilution instructions. | When the menu already includes salty ingredients, I prefer to stay in control of the seasoning; around 21% of consumers say this is their main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Ingredient list and allergen or possible trace information for the chosen variety. | Before cooking for my guests, I need to rule out a recipe that doesn’t suit their dietary requirements; around 14% of consumers prioritise this check. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming vegetable stock is suitable for all allergies
Product listings for some Auchan and Maggi varieties mention ingredients such as celery, soya or wheat, as well as possible traces that vary by recipe.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product before using it for your guests.
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Salting the dish before tasting the stock
The amount of salt varies by recipe and serving size. Anses recommends reading food labels to find out what foods contain.
Follow the dosage on the pack, taste the dish, then adjust the seasoning.
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Relying on a specific product without checking local availability
Lidl states that offers in its catalogues are valid for a limited time and that not every item is necessarily available in every store.
If your menu depends on a specific stock cube, check the current catalogue and the offers at your chosen store.
Brands and retailers to know
Maggi
The range includes various stock cubes and dehydrated stocks, including an organic variety and a Bouillon Brut vegetable stock.
- The Maggi Bouillon Brut garden vegetable stock listed at Auchan contains 34.5% vegetables.
- Ingredients and allergen information vary between products, so check the pack you choose.
Knorr
The range includes a salt-free vegetable stock.
- Knorr states that this specific product contains 0.02 g of salt per serving.
- This figure does not apply to the brand’s other stocks; compare the nutritional information for each recipe.
Auchan
The retailer offers a vegetable-flavour stock in a box of 12 cubes.
- The product listing recommends one cube per ½ litre of water, including for pasta, rice, vegetables and soups.
- This recipe lists celery and soya, as well as possible traces of other allergens.
Marque Repère / Rustica (E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc offers Rustica cooking stock in a pack of 12 cubes, with a total weight of 120 g.
- The number of cubes and the pack weight help you work out how much you’ll need for your planned dishes.
- For this product, E.Leclerc lists 48.9 g of salt per 100 g of product as sold, so take the dosage into account when preparing it.
Carrefour
The retailer stocks stock cubes from national brands, including Maggi Kub Or with Provençal herbs.
- The flavour shown on the product makes it easy to compare with the dishes on your menu.
- Check which product is available at your chosen store or for your selected collection option.
Stock cubes on Joybuy
This selection includes vegetable, herb, lamb and chicken flavours. Choose according to your New Year’s Eve dishes, then check the dosage and ingredients that matter to your guests on each pack.
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Maggi KUB 25% Less Salt Vegetable, 120 g
A vegetable flavour to consider for soups and slow-cooked dishes. The pack weighs 120 g; check the number of cubes and dilution instructions on the packaging. The recipe lists celery and possible traces of eggs, milk and gluten.
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Knorr Herb & Olive Oil, 15 cubes, 150 g
Worth considering if the herb and olive oil flavour works with your pasta, vegetables or soups. The pack contains 15 cubes and weighs 150 g; check the dosage and nutritional information for this product.
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Calnort Lamb, 36 cubes of 10 g
A lamb flavour to choose only if it suits the sauces or slow-cooked dishes you have planned. The pack contains 36 cubes of 10 g. The stated salt content is 5.41 g per cube; check the dosage and information about soya and possible traces of allergens.
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Maggi Kub Or, 128 g
Worth considering for soups, sauces or rice if this recipe’s flavour suits your menu. The pack weighs 128 g; check the number of cubes and the recommended dosage. The recipe lists wheat and possible traces of eggs, milk, celery and mustard.
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Calnort Chicken, 10 g cubes
Worth considering if chicken flavour suits the stocks, sauces or rice dishes you have planned. Each cube weighs 10 g; check how many are in the pack, the dosage and the ingredient list. The stated salt content is 5.33 g per cube.
Frequently asked questions
How many stock cubes do I need for several New Year’s Eve dishes?
Work out how much stock each recipe needs and check the dosage shown on the pack. Net weight alone won’t tell you how many dishes you can prepare, so also check the number of cubes and the recommended volume of liquid.
How much vegetable stock should I use per cube?
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. For its vegetable-flavour stock cubes, Auchan recommends one cube per ½ litre of water, including for pasta, rice, vegetables and soups.
Could salt-free stock work with a menu that’s already salty?
It gives you more control over the seasoning added by the stock, as long as you also take the other ingredients in the dish into account. Knorr states that its salt-free vegetable stock contains 0.02 g of salt per serving; check the serving size and nutritional information for the product you choose.
Can vegetable stock cubes contain allergens?
Yes. Some vegetable recipes list ingredients such as celery, soya or wheat. Read the ingredient list and any possible trace information for the exact variety, as the flavour name alone won’t tell you what it contains.