People making salads and plant-based sides
For rice, pasta or vegetables you’re taking on a picnic, choose a stock cube flavour that suits the recipe. If your guests have dietary restrictions, check the ingredients of the specific product too.
Who are these criteria useful for?
People keeping an eye on salt
If your meal already includes bread, cheese, cured meats or savoury snacks, the salt content and portion size shown for each stock cube can help you choose how to season your food.
People stocking up their cupboards for summer
The number of cubes in a pack should match how often you expect to use them. Once opened, the storage instructions on the packaging are especially important if your cupboard is exposed to heat or humidity.
What should you check before buying?
Start with your menu and your guests’ dietary requirements, then compare the salt content for equivalent portions. Dosage, the number of cubes and storage instructions after opening can help you choose between otherwise suitable recipes.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recipe and guests | Ingredients, highlighted allergens, possible traces and whether any ingredients come from animals. | For a salad to share with several guests, I want a recipe that meets their dietary requirements, rather than relying on the word “vegetable” alone. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
| Salt | Salt per portion, the size of that portion and how much stock cube you plan to use in the dish. | If the rest of the picnic already includes salty foods, I prefer to know how much salt the seasoning adds before using it. Around 31% of consumers put managing salt first. |
| Uses and dosage | Suggested uses on the packaging and the dosage for the amount of food you’re preparing. | I plan to use the same box for rice, pasta and vegetables, so a recipe I can adjust to suit each dish matters more to me. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Pack size and storage | Number of cubes, best-before date and storage instructions after opening. | Between picnics, I want to be able to store opened cubes as instructed on the packaging. Storage and pack size are the top priorities for around 15% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming “vegetable” means allergen-free or vegan
Knorr’s classic vegetable stock cube contains celery. The name of a recipe doesn’t tell you everything it contains, or whether it may contain traces of other ingredients.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen, even if its flavour seems suitable for your dish.
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Forgetting about salt because the cube is used for seasoning
Knorr’s product information lists 1.7 g of salt per portion for its classic vegetable stock cube and 0.02 g for its salt-free vegetable recipe. These values apply to those specific products and the portions stated by the brand.
Compare the salt content on an equivalent portion basis, and take into account how much you’ll actually use before adding any extra seasoning.
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Applying storage instructions for a dry cube to the prepared dish
How you store a dehydrated stock cube doesn’t determine how to store a salad or sauce made with it. France’s DGCCRF reminds consumers that higher temperatures speed up microbial growth in chilled foods.
Follow the instructions for storing the stock cube. If the dish you’re transporting is perishable and needs to stay chilled, use a cool box and follow its storage requirements.
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Choosing a large box without planning how to store it
A pack with enough cubes for regular use may not be right for just a few picnics. Auchan’s information for its pot-au-feu stock cube recommends using an airtight container after opening and notes that the cubes are sensitive to heat and humidity.
Choose a pack size that suits the dishes you plan to make, and check how to store the cubes once the box has been opened.
Brands and ranges to compare
These brands and retailers offer options to compare by recipe, pack size and labelling. Choose based on the specific product and its packaging, rather than the brand name alone.
Maggi
The range includes KUB OR stock cubes and vegetable recipes, including organic and reduced-salt options.
- Carrefour lists a box of 32 KUB OR Bio cubes, a pack size to consider in light of how often you plan to use them.
- The organic product listed by Carrefour includes wheat and celery, among other ingredients. “Organic” doesn’t mean you can skip checking the allergen information.
Knorr
Its classic, reduced-salt and salt-free vegetable recipes let you compare different seasoning options.
- According to Knorr’s product information, its salt-free vegetable recipe contains 0.02 g of salt per portion, compared with 1.7 g for the classic vegetable recipe.
- The classic vegetable recipe contains celery. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variant.
Auchan
The retailer’s stock cubes include a variety of recipes, including vegetable, chicken, beef and pot-au-feu.
- The product information for its pot-au-feu stock cube includes dosage and storage instructions for after opening.
- This recipe includes ingredients from beef, soya and celery, among others. Don’t assume it can replace a plant-based recipe without checking the ingredients.
Marque Repère, Rustica et Bio Village
These ranges stocked by E.Leclerc include a variety of stock cube recipes and pack sizes.
- The E.Leclerc catalogue includes dehydrated stock cubes in packs of eight, among other options.
- E.Leclerc’s product information for a Bio Village organic chicken stock cube lists 38.2 g of salt per 100 g. The word “organic” doesn’t tell you how much salt a product contains.
Carrefour
Here, Carrefour is a retailer where you can compare product information for stock cubes from different brands, rather than a single recipe.
- Depending on the product, its listings let you check the ingredients and pack size before you choose.
- Online product information doesn’t replace checking the packaging of the product you buy, particularly for allergens and storage instructions.
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Frequently asked questions
Should stock cubes go in the cool box?
For a dry stock cube, follow the storage instructions on its packaging. Auchan’s product information for its pot-au-feu stock cube, for example, recommends protecting opened cubes from heat and humidity. However, if you’ve used the cube to make a perishable dish, transport the dish according to its own storage requirements. France’s DGCCRF reminds consumers to maintain the cold chain for chilled foods.
How should you choose a stock cube if a guest has an allergy?
Check the ingredients and any trace warnings on the packaging of the specific product. In France, the DGCCRF states that allergens present in the ingredients of prepacked foods must be highlighted. The flavour or the word “organic” doesn’t tell you whether a recipe is suitable for the person concerned.
Does “reduced salt” mean “salt-free”?
No. These terms describe different recipes. To compare the products you’re considering, check the salt content and the corresponding portion size. Knorr’s product information lists 0.02 g of salt per portion for its salt-free vegetable stock cube and 1.7 g for its classic vegetable stock cube. Also check the recommended dosage for your dish.
Is the best-before date on a stock cube a use-by date?
No. A best-before date is not the same as a use-by date. A product’s quality may change after its best-before date. Before using it, check the condition of the packaging and the stock cube, and follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions. The date also doesn’t remove the need to store your prepared picnic dish correctly.