Anyone preparing meals for the new term
For pasta, rice, soups and sauces, check the flavour, number of cubes and amount to use per recipe. This will help you choose a pack size that suits the dishes you actually cook.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone keeping an eye on salt
Salt-free and reduced-salt recipes have different nutritional values per serving. Compare the information for each product, taking account of the recommended amount and volume of water.
Households with ingredient restrictions
Depending on the recipe, ingredients or allergens may include celery, wheat, soya, milk, eggs or mustard. Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the product you choose.
What should you look for first?
Start with the meals you have planned for the new term, then compare pack sizes and labels. The type of stock, recommended amount, salt content and ingredients can vary from one product to another.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and uses | Number of cubes, net weight and recommended amount per recipe. | If I cook with stock often, I want a pack that suits the dishes I have planned, without having to use lots of cubes in every recipe. Around 33% of consumers put pack size and usage first. |
| Salt | Amount of salt per serving or recipe, and the corresponding volume of water. | If I’m watching how much salt I add to my meals, I need to distinguish between a reduced-salt recipe and a salt-free one. Around 25% of consumers put salt content first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. | If an ingredient is a concern in my household, the flavour or a plant-based label isn’t enough to make a decision. Around 25% of consumers prioritise ingredient suitability. |
| Flavour and cooking | Type of stock and recommended uses shown on the packaging. | For my soups, rice and sauces, I’m looking first and foremost for a flavour that suits the recipes I make. Around 17% of consumers put this first. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Judging pack size by weight alone
Two packs of different weights won’t necessarily make the same number of servings. The number of cubes and the recommended amount matter too.
Look at all three details together, then choose a pack based on how often you’ll use this type of stock.
-
Confusing ‘reduced salt’ with ‘salt-free’
Knorr’s reduced-salt vegetable stock contains 1.4 g of salt per serving, so the reduced-salt claim doesn’t mean it’s salt-free.
Compare the ‘salt’ figures on the same preparation basis and take account of any other seasonings in the dish.
-
Assuming allergens from the flavour alone
A recipe described as plant-based may still contain wheat or celery, for example, or carry warnings about traces of other allergens.
Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging for the exact product.
-
Stocking up without checking the packaging
How long a product can be kept and how it should be stored depend on the product. The product information for an Auchan stock cube, for example, says to protect it from heat and moisture.
Check the date and storage instructions on the pack, and choose a size you’ll use for the meals you have planned.
Brands and retailers to know
Maggi
The range includes Kub Or and a vegetable stock advertised as having 25% less salt. Compare the recipes rather than assuming they have the same ingredients.
- The MAGGI KUB vegetable stock with 25% less salt featured on Joybuy is described as plant-based; its stated value is 0.67 g of salt per 100 ml when prepared.
- This product contains celery and may contain eggs, milk and gluten. Kub Or 128 g contains wheat and carries other ‘may contain’ warnings.
Knorr
The vegetable stock range includes traditional, reduced-salt and salt-free recipes. Check the figures for each product individually.
- Knorr states that its salt-free vegetable stock contains 0.02 g of salt per serving.
- Its reduced-salt vegetable stock contains 1.4 g of salt per serving and may contain gluten, milk, mustard, egg and soya.
Carrefour
The retailer sells stock cubes under its own brand, including a beef recipe. Check the flavour and ingredients of the product you choose.
- Carrefour’s beef stock contains beef fat and beef extract, giving a clear indication of the type of recipe.
- It may contain milk, mustard, egg, soya and cereals containing gluten.
E.Leclerc
The retailer offers Eco+ and Rustica stocks, among others. The type of stock and nutritional information vary by product.
- The products described include Eco+ chicken stock and Rustica stock tablets.
- The product information for Rustica vegetable stock states 48.9 g of salt per 100 g of unprepared product. Check the recommended amount before comparing this figure with that for a prepared serving.
Auchan
The range described includes vegetable, chicken and pot-au-feu stocks. The instructions can help you choose a recipe suited to the way you plan to cook.
- For its vegetable stock in a pack of 12 cubes, each weighing 10 g, Auchan recommends one tablet per half-litre of cooking water. It can be used for pasta, rice, vegetables and soups, among other things.
- This product contains celery and soya and carries warnings about possible traces of other allergens.
Stock cubes available on Joybuy
This range includes lamb, chicken, vegetable and herb flavours, as well as Kub Or. First choose the type of stock that suits your dishes, then check the recommended amount and ingredients for each product.
Image unavailable
Calnort Lamb, 36 stock cubes, 10 g each
A lamb flavour to consider for dishes that call for this type of stock.
The pack contains 36 cubes of 10 g each. Check the recommended amount and allergens on the packaging before use.
Image unavailable
Maggi Kub Or, stock cubes 128 g
This recipe may suit you if the Kub Or flavour is a good match for the soups, sauces or rice dishes you have planned.
It contains wheat and may contain eggs, milk, celery and mustard. Check the serving size and recommended amount on the packaging.
Image unavailable
MAGGI KUB vegetable stock, 25% less salt, 120 g
A vegetable recipe to compare if you’re looking for a stock advertised as reduced in salt, rather than a salt-free product.
The stated value is 0.67 g of salt per 100 ml when prepared. This product contains celery and may contain eggs, milk and gluten. Also check the recommended amount for your serving.
Image unavailable
Knorr Herb & Olive Oil, 15 stock tablets, 150 g
Worth considering when herbal notes and olive oil suit the dishes you’re making.
The pack contains 15 tablets and weighs 150 g. Check the recommended amount on the packaging before preparing the stock.
Image unavailable
Calnort Chicken, 10 g stock cubes
A chicken flavour to consider for stock or dishes where it works well.
Each cube is listed as weighing 10 g. Check the packaging for the number of cubes, recommended amount and allergens before choosing this product.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the right pack size of stock cubes?
Check the number of cubes, their weight and the recommended amount for the dishes you usually make. A heavier pack doesn’t necessarily make more dishes if the amount you need to use is different.
Is reduced-salt stock salt-free?
No. Knorr’s reduced-salt vegetable stock contains 1.4 g of salt per serving, while Knorr states that its salt-free vegetable recipe contains 0.02 g per serving. To choose between them, compare the nutritional values on the same serving or preparation basis.
What should I check if I have an allergy or need to avoid certain ingredients?
Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product, even if it is described as plant-based. The DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods. Depending on the stock cubes, warnings may relate to celery, wheat, soya, milk, eggs or mustard.
How should I store stock cubes?
Follow the date and storage instructions on the packaging for your product. For the Maggi product described, the instructions say to store the cubes in a cool, dry place and check the date shown on the pack.