Ingredients
- 1kg chicken wings or roast chicken carcass
- 2tsp salt, optional
- 2L water, approximately
Method
- Place chicken and salt (if using) into a large saucepan and cover with water.
- Bring to the boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 2–3 hours with the lid on.
- Strain the stock through a fine sieve and discard the flesh and bones, reserve the liquid.
- A layer of fat will sit on the top of the stock – this can be removed easily when the stock is cold. (If you’re going to pop the stock straight in the freezer, don’t remove the layer of fat as it will protect it. You can remove when defrosting.)
- Remove the layer of fat before using.
Fiona’s tips
- Roast the chicken wings to give a richer flavour or use a roast or BBQ chicken carcass.
- Fresh stock can be refrigerated once cooled for up to one month.
- Stock can be frozen for up to 12 month in a well-sealed container suitable for freezing and microwaving.
- Keep the stock simple. Not including vegetables means it can be used in broths such as Asian noodle soups and chicken dumpling soups.
Makes approximately 1 litre.
Ingredients
- 2 brown onions, unpeeled, roughly chopped
- 2 sticks celery include the leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 large carrots, unpeeled, roughly chopped
- 100g mushrooms, roughly chopped (10g dried shiitake mushrooms or 100g fresh shiitake mushrooms will give a richer flavour)
- 2 garlic cloves, optional
- 1 bay leaf
- 3L water
- 5 black peppercorns
- 2tsp salt, optional
Method
- In a frypan, fry off the onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms, garlic and bay leaf on a medium heat until slightly caramelised.
- Place vegetables in a large pot, add the water, peppercorns and salt, bring to the boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer with the lid on for at least 1 hour.
- Strain the stock through a fine sieve and discard the vegetables, reserving the liquid.
- Place in freezer in microwave-suitable containers.
Fiona’s tips
- The leftover vegetables from the stock can be pureed and added to soups or sauces, although the flavour won’t be as strong.
- For a meatier flavour, add 500g chicken wings or a roast chicken carcass.
- Any leftover vegetables or herbs in your fridge can be added to the master stock recipe. But avoid potatoes and pumpkins as this gives a thicker, cloudy stock.
- Be careful when adding stronger flavours such as basil, rosemary and fennel as they can be overpowering. You want a neutral stock flavour for soups and stews as other flavours are added during cooking.
- Adding more carrots will make the stock slightly sweeter.
- Adding mushrooms to your stock gives a richer flavour and a darker coloured stock.
- Fresh stock can be refrigerated once cooled for up to 1 month.
- Stock can be frozen for up to 12 months in a well-sealed container suitable for freezing and microwaving.
Need to know
- We compared 24 liquid, 9 powdered and 14 stock cube products
- Stocks are low in fat and carbohydrates, but can be quite salty
- Liquid stocks have more sodium than powdered or cube stocks
Pre-made stock is convenient, versatile and inexpensive – and offers an excellent boost to home cuisine, adding savoury flavour to wintry meals such as casseroles and soups, risottos, curries and pastas. But what exactly is in these products?
We compare chicken and vegetable stocks from Coles, Woolworths and Aldi to find out which are the best value, but also which have the highest levels of salt.
Salt in stock
Stocks are relatively low in fat and carbohydrates but can also be quite salty.
Manufacturers add salt for flavour, and also to preserve the product and improve the stability of emulsions.
But too much sodium in our diets is associated with some serious health conditions, such as heart failure/heart attack, stroke, kidney problems and kidney stones, oedema (fluid retention), osteoporosis, left ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of heart muscle) and high blood pressure.
Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend sodium intake be less than 1600mg/day for adults and no higher than 2300mg/day.
The consumption of too much sodium in our diets may result in some serious health conditions
We examined the packs of 24 liquid, nine powdered and 14 stock cube products and found that 21 of the 23 ‘dry’ stocks had salt listed as their main ingredient. But this wasn’t an indication of the overall salt content when the product was made up as directed.
Comparing all stocks ‘as prepared’ on a per 100mL basis, liquid stocks were highest in sodium.
Chicken stocks
The most salt
Aldi’s Chef’s Cupboard Simply Stock Real Chicken Flavour. This product contains 600mg sodium per 100mL which equals a whopping 1500mg per 250mL serve. That’s 57% of the recommended maximum or 94% of the suggested daily sodium intake.
Coming in second is Continental’s Superb Stock Chicken Stock Pot, which contains 476mg sodium per 100mL, followed closely by Campbell’s Real Stock Chicken, which contains 447mg sodium per 100mL.
The least salt
Campbell’s Free Range Chicken Stock has only 33.6mg sodium per 100mL, while Maggie Beer Natural Chicken Stock has the second-least with just 94.5mg sodium per 100mL.
These varieties beat out even the reduced salt options provided by most brands. But at a cost of $1.20/100mL and $1.00/100mL respectively, they come at a price premium.
Vegetable stocks
The most salt
Campbell’s Real Stock Vegetable, which contains 541mg sodium per 100mL, followed closely by Coles Real Vegetable Stock at 530mg per 100mL and Campbell’s Real Stock Salt Reduced Vegetable which has 390mg sodium per 100mL.
The least salt
Maggie Beer Natural Vegetable Stock has 45.6mg sodium per 100mL. Vegeta Real Gourmet Stock powder comes in second with 136.4mg per 100mL, and for those watching their hip pocket, this was the best value of the products we looked at, costing only $0.01 per 100mL when made up as directed.
Interestingly, the salt-reduced vegetable options weren’t particularly low in sodium compared to the other vegetable stocks. Campbell’s Real Stock Salt Reduced Vegetable contains 390mg per 100mL while Massel Salt Reduced Vegetable Stock Cubes have 257.6mg per 100mL (although it was the fourth lowest).
Chef’s Cupboard Simply Stock Real Chicken Flavour 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 600
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Stock Pot x 4
Sodium mg/100mL: 476
Campbell’s Real Stock Chicken 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 447.2
Woolworths Chicken Liquid Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 416
Massel Chicken Style Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 384
Australia’s Own Organic Chicken Style Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 357.2
Massel 7’s Chicken Style Stock Cubes
Sodium mg/100mL: 353.6
Coles Real Chicken Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 350
Coles Chicken Style Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 349.6
Chef’s Cupboard Chicken Flavour Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 346.4
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Cubes 80g
Sodium mg/100mL: 332
Massel Low FODMAP Certified Chicken Style Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 330.4
Chef’s Cupboard Simply Stock Real Chicken Flavour Salt Reduced 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 300
Coles Vegan Chicken Style Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 300
Massel Chicken Style Salt Reduced Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 283.2
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Powder 130g
Sodium mg/100mL: 264
Continental Superb Stock Chicken 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 264
Woolworths Salt Reduced Chicken Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 260
Australia’s Own Organic Chicken Style Stock Salt Reduced 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 260
Chef’s Cupboard Salt Reduced Chicken Flavoured Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 256
Chef’s Cupboard Chicken Flavour Stock Powder 200g
Sodium mg/100mL: 254.4
OXO Chicken Stock Cubes 71g
Sodium mg/100mL: 254
Campbell’s Real Stock Chicken Salt Reduced 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 250
Coles Real Chicken Stock Salt Reduced 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 220
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Salt Reduced 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 194
Chef’s Cupboard Salt Reduced Chicken Flavour Stock Powder 200g
Sodium mg/100mL: 188
Continental Superb Stock Salt Reduced Chicken Powder 120g
Sodium mg/100mL: 188
Massel Stock Powder Chicken Style 168g
Sodium mg/100mL: 187.2
Massel Stock Powder Chicken Style Salt Reduced 140g
Sodium mg/100mL: 140
Vegeta Real Chicken Stock 200g
Sodium mg/100mL: 115.2
Maggie Beer Natural Chicken Stock 500mL
Sodium mg/100mL: 94.8
Campbell’s Free Range Chicken Stock 500mL
Sodium mg/100mL: 33.6
Which vegetable stock has the most sodium?
Campbell’s Real Stock Vegetable 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 541.2
Coles Real Vegetable Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 530
Continental Superb Stock Vegetable Stock Pot x 4
Sodium mg/100mL: 420
Campbell’s Real Stock Salt Reduced Vegetable 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 390
Australia’s Own Organic Vegetable Style Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 387.2
Massel Vegetable Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 361.6
Woolworths Vegetable Stock 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 360.8
Massel 7’s Vegetable Stock Cubes
Sodium mg/100mL: 352
Continental Superb Stock Vegetable Cubes 80g
Sodium mg/100mL: 344
Massel Low FODMAP Certified Vegetable 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 328.8
Coles Vegetable Stock Cubes
Sodium mg/100mL: 321.6
Chef’s Cupboard Vegetable Flavour Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 306.4
Chef’s Cupboard Simply Stock Real Vegetable Flavour 1L
Sodium mg/100mL: 302
Massel Salt Reduced Vegetable Stock Cubes 105g
Sodium mg/100mL: 257.6
Massel Stock Powder Vegetable 168g
Sodium mg/100mL: 206.4
Vegeta Real Gourmet Stock 250g
Sodium mg/100mL: 136.4
Maggie Beer Natural Vegetable Stock 500mL
Sodium mg/100mL: 45.6
Good to know
- Only four stocks in our comparison are truly ‘low salt’, which is defined in the food standards code as no more than 120mg sodium per 100mL. These were Campbell’s Free Range Chicken Stock (33.6mg/100mL), Maggie Beer Natural Vegetable Stock (45.6mg), Maggie Beer Natural Chicken Stock (94.8mg) and Vegeta Real Chicken Stock powder(115.2mg/100mL when made up as directed).
- Interestingly, products labelled as ‘salt reduced’ aren’t always the lowest in salt. This is because salt-reduced products don’t have to be low in sodium, rather they only have to be 25% lower in sodium than the reference product. If you’re after a truly ‘low-salt’ product, check the sodium content on the nutrition information panel.
- If you’re looking for a stock with a higher chicken and vegetable content, ‘real stock’ options such as the Maggie Beer and Campbell’s varieties are probably the way to go. See our stock comparison table below for ingredient details.
Stock comparison table
Chicken stock compared
Chef’s Cupboard Simply Stock Real Chicken Flavour 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.17
Sodium (mg/100mL): 600
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegetable powders 5% (onion, celery, garlic), chicken extract 2%, contains 1.8% chicken fat
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 90%
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Stock Pot x 4
Stock type: Concentrated Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.18
Sodium (mg/100mL): 476
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegetables (carrot, leek, garlic, 2.2% chicken (fat, meat), parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Italy
Campbell’s Real Stock Chicken 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.40
Sodium (mg/100mL): 447.2
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken, carrots, celery, cabbage, onions, parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 99%
Woolworths Chicken Liquid Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.19
Sodium (mg/100mL): 416
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken bones, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, vegetable powders (onion, garlic, sweet corn)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 95%
Massel Chicken Style Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 384
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated onion, dehydrated parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Australia’s Own Organic Chicken Style Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.30
Sodium (mg/100mL): 357.2
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Organic vegetable powders (garlic, onion)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 93%
Massel 7’s Chicken Style Stock Cubes
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 353.6
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. None specified.
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Coles Real Chicken Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.19
Sodium (mg/100mL): 350
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, Vegetable powders (onion, garlic, corn)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 95%
Coles Chicken Style Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.04
Sodium (mg/100mL): 349.6
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated vegetables (onion)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Packed in Australia 70%
Chef’s Cupboard Chicken Flavour Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.04
Sodium (mg/100mL): 346.4
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables (onion), chilli
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Packed in Australia 90%
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Cubes 80g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 332
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): 4% chicken (fat, meat), 0.5% onion powder, lemon juice powder, parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Italy
Massel Low FODMAP Certified Chicken Style Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.30
Sodium (mg/100mL): 330.4
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. None specified.
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia
Chef’s Cupboard Simply Stock Real Chicken Flavour Salt Reduced 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.17
Sodium (mg/100mL): 300
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dried Vegetables (onion, celery, garlic), Chicken extract 2%, contains 0.18% chicken fat
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 90%
Coles Vegan Chicken style Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.19
Sodium (mg/100mL): 300
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Vegetable powders (onion garlic)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Packed in Australia 97%
Massel Chicken Style Salt Reduced Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 283.2
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated onion, dehydrated parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Powder 130g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.04
Sodium (mg/100mL): 264
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): 3.2% chicken (fat, powder), onion powder, majoram, parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 56%
Continental Superb Stock Chicken 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.40
Sodium (mg/100mL): 264
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken 0.5% (powder, fat), vegetables (onion, carrot, garlic)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 98%
Woolworths Salt Reduced Chicken Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.19
Sodium (mg/100mL): 260
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken bones, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, vegetable powders (onion, garlic, sweet corn)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 95%
Australia’s Own Organic Chicken Style Stock Salt Reduced 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.30
Sodium (mg/100mL): 260
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Organic vegetable powders (garlic, onion)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 93%
Chef’s Cupboard Salt Reduced Chicken Flavoured Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.04
Sodium (mg/100mL): 256
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables (onion), parsley flakes
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Packed in Australia 90%
Chef’s Cupboard Chicken Flavour Stock Powder 200g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.02
Sodium (mg/100mL): 254.4
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables (onion, celery), parsley flakes.
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 68%
OXO Chicken Stock Cubes 71g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.07
Sodium (mg/100mL): 254
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken fat 3.4%, Chicken extract 2%, onion extract
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in the UK
Campbell’s Real Stock Chicken Salt Reduced 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.40
Sodium (mg/100mL): 250
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken, carrots, celery, cabbage, onions, parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 99%
Coles Real Chicken Stock Salt Reduced 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.19
Sodium (mg/100mL): 220
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, Vegetable powders (onion, garlic, corn)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 95%
Continental Superb Stock Chicken Salt Reduced 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.40
Sodium (mg/100mL): 194
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Chicken 0.5% (powder, fat), vegetables (onion, carrot, garlic)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 98%
Chef’s Cupboard Salt Reduced Chicken Flavour Stock Powder 200g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.02
Sodium (mg/100mL): 188
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables (onion, celery), parsley flakes.
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 62%
Continental Superb Stock Salt Reduced Chicken Powder 120g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.04
Sodium (mg/100mL): 188
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): 3.2% chicken (fat, powder), onion powder, marjoram, parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 45%
Massel Stock Powder Chicken Style 168g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.02
Sodium (mg/100mL): 187.2
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Massel Stock Powder Chicken Style Salt Reduced 140g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.03
Sodium (mg/100mL): 140
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Vegeta Real Chicken Stock 200g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.01
Sodium (mg/100mL): 115.2
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables 11.7% (celery, onion, carrot, garlic, parsley leaves), 1% dried chicken meat extract
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Croatia
Maggie Beer Natural Chicken Stock 500mL
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 1.00
Sodium (mg/100mL): 94.8
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Free range chicken bones, free range chicken meat, onion (2.5%), carrot (2%), celery (0.4%), parsley (0.1%), bay leaf (0.01%)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 100%
Campbell’s Free Range Chicken Stock 500mL
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 1.20
Sodium (mg/100mL): 33.6
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Free-range chicken, onions, mushrooms, celery, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, bay leaves
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 99%
Vegetable stock compared
Campbell’s Real Stock Vegetable 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.40
Sodium (mg/100mL): 541.2
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Carrot, garlic, celery, cabbage, onion, parsley, beetroot, bay leaves, lettuce, thyme, watercress, baby spinach
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 99%
Coles Real Vegetable Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.19
Sodium (mg/100mL): 530
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Onion, carrot, celery, tomato, leek, garlic, parsley, bay leaf, vegetable powders (onion, corn, garlic)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 95%
Continental Superb Stock Vegetable Stock Pot x 4
Stock type: Concentrated Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.18
Sodium (mg/100mL): 420
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegetables (carrot, onion, capsicum, leek, celery, garlic)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Italy
Campbell’s Real Stock Salt Reduced Vegetable 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.40
Sodium (mg/100mL): 390
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Carrot, garlic, celery, cabbage, onion, parsley, beetroot, bay leaves, lettuce, thyme, watercress, baby spinach
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 98%
Australia’s Own Organic Vegetable Style Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.30
Sodium (mg/100mL): 387.2
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Organic vegetable powders (garlic, onion), carrot powder
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 93%
Massel Vegetable Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 361.6
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated Vegetables (onion, cabbage, garlic, spinach), dehydrated parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Woolworths Vegetable Stock 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.19
Sodium (mg/100mL): 360.8
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Onion, carrot, celery, tomatoes, leek, garlic, parsley, bay leaf, vegetable powders (onion, corn, garlic)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 95%
Massel 7’s Vegetable Stock Cubes
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 352
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated vegetables (celery, spinach, bay leaf)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Continental Superb Stock Vegetable Cubes 80g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 344
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegetables 5% (onion powder, carrot, tomato powder, red capsicum, garlic powder, leek), parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Italy
Massel Low FODMAP Certified Vegetable 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.30
Sodium (mg/100mL): 328.8
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables (tomato, celery, spinach, rosemary, bay leaf, oregano)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia
Coles Vegetable Stock Cubes
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.04
Sodium (mg/100mL): 321.6
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated vegetables (onion, spinach, celery, garlic), bay leaf
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Packed in Australia 70%
Chef’s Cupboard Vegetable Flavour Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.04
Sodium (mg/100mL): 306.4
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables 5% (onion, celery, garlic, spinach), bay leaf, chilli
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Packed in Australia 90%
Chef’s Cupboard Simply Stock Real Vegetable Flavour 1L
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.17
Sodium (mg/100mL): 302
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated vegetables 15% (onion, tomato, red bell peppers, garlic, parsnip, celery), Dried herbs (parsley, oregano, bay leaf, rosemary)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 90%
Massel Salt Reduced Vegetable Stock Cubes 105g
Stock type: Cube
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.06
Sodium (mg/100mL): 257.6
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated Vegetables (onion, cabbage, garlic, spinach), dehydrated parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Massel Stock Powder Vegetable 168g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.02
Sodium (mg/100mL): 206.4
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Vegan. Dehydrated Vegetables (spinach, celery, cabbage), parsley
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Product of Australia
Vegeta Real Gourmet Stock 250g
Stock type: Powder
Cost per 100mL* ($): 0.01
Sodium (mg/100mL): 136.4
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Dehydrated Veg 15.5% (carrot, parsnip, potato,onion, celery, parsley)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Croatia
Maggie Beer Natural Vegetable Stock 500mL
Stock type: Liquid
Cost per 100mL* ($): 1.00
Sodium (mg/100mL): 45.6
Chicken/vegetable ingredients (% if specified): Onion (9.8%), celery (7.6%), carrot (6.5%), potato (1.2%), garlic (0.3%), parsley (0.2%), lemon juice (0.2%), mushroom powder, thyme (0.3%)
Country of origin (% of Australian ingredients if specified): Made in Australia 99%
Table notes
We visited Woolworths, Coles and Aldi in May 2019 and bought every variety of stock available. We then compared each product’s listed sodium levels ‘as prepared’ on a per 100mL basis, chicken/vegetable content and country of origin. *When made up as directed. Vegetable/chicken content is as stated on pack, percentages included where available. Vegetables were those listed in the ingredients as vegetable, vegetable powder, dehydrated vegetable, or separately that were not a spice or extract (e.g. bay leaf is included while rosemary extract and pepper are excluded).
How to make your own stock
Homemade stock is cheaper, tastier and easier than you think – and you can control how much salt is included. Our home economist Fiona Mair shares her recipes:
Ingredients
- 1kg chicken wings or roast chicken carcass
- 2tsp salt, optional
- 2L water, approximately
Method
- Place chicken and salt (if using) into a large saucepan and cover with water.
- Bring to the boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 2–3 hours with the lid on.
- Strain the stock through a fine sieve and discard the flesh and bones, reserve the liquid.
- A layer of fat will sit on the top of the stock – this can be removed easily when the stock is cold. (If you’re going to pop the stock straight in the freezer, don’t remove the layer of fat as it will protect it. You can remove when defrosting.)
- Remove the layer of fat before using.
Fiona’s tips
- Roast the chicken wings to give a richer flavour or use a roast or BBQ chicken carcass.
- Fresh stock can be refrigerated once cooled for up to one month.
- Stock can be frozen for up to 12 month in a well-sealed container suitable for freezing and microwaving.
- Keep the stock simple. Not including vegetables means it can be used in broths such as Asian noodle soups and chicken dumpling soups.
Makes approximately 1 litre.
Ingredients
- 2 brown onions, unpeeled, roughly chopped
- 2 sticks celery include the leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 large carrots, unpeeled, roughly chopped
- 100g mushrooms, roughly chopped (10g dried shiitake mushrooms or 100g fresh shiitake mushrooms will give a richer flavour)
- 2 garlic cloves, optional
- 1 bay leaf
- 3L water
- 5 black peppercorns
- 2tsp salt, optional
Method
- In a frypan, fry off the onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms, garlic and bay leaf on a medium heat until slightly caramelised.
- Place vegetables in a large pot, add the water, peppercorns and salt, bring to the boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer with the lid on for at least 1 hour.
- Strain the stock through a fine sieve and discard the vegetables, reserving the liquid.
- Place in freezer in microwave-suitable containers.
Fiona’s tips
- The leftover vegetables from the stock can be pureed and added to soups or sauces, although the flavour won’t be as strong.
- For a meatier flavour, add 500g chicken wings or a roast chicken carcass.
- Any leftover vegetables or herbs in your fridge can be added to the master stock recipe. But avoid potatoes and pumpkins as this gives a thicker, cloudy stock.
- Be careful when adding stronger flavours such as basil, rosemary and fennel as they can be overpowering. You want a neutral stock flavour for soups and stews as other flavours are added during cooking.
- Adding more carrots will make the stock slightly sweeter.
- Adding mushrooms to your stock gives a richer flavour and a darker coloured stock.
- Fresh stock can be refrigerated once cooled for up to 1 month.
- Stock can be frozen for up to 12 months in a well-sealed container suitable for freezing and microwaving.
Ingredients
- 1kg chicken wings or roast chicken carcass
- 2tsp salt, optional
- 2L water, approximately
Method
- Place chicken and salt (if using) into a large saucepan and cover with water.
- Bring to the boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 2–3 hours with the lid on.
- Strain the stock through a fine sieve and discard the flesh and bones, reserve the liquid.
- A layer of fat will sit on the top of the stock – this can be removed easily when the stock is cold. (If you’re going to pop the stock straight in the freezer, don’t remove the layer of fat as it will protect it. You can remove when defrosting.)
- Remove the layer of fat before using.
Fiona’s tips
- Roast the chicken wings to give a richer flavour or use a roast or BBQ chicken carcass.
- Fresh stock can be refrigerated once cooled for up to one month.
- Stock can be frozen for up to 12 month in a well-sealed container suitable for freezing and microwaving.
- Keep the stock simple. Not including vegetables means it can be used in broths such as Asian noodle soups and chicken dumpling soups.
Makes approximately 1 litre.
Ingredients
- 2 brown onions, unpeeled, roughly chopped
- 2 sticks celery include the leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 large carrots, unpeeled, roughly chopped
- 100g mushrooms, roughly chopped (10g dried shiitake mushrooms or 100g fresh shiitake mushrooms will give a richer flavour)
- 2 garlic cloves, optional
- 1 bay leaf
- 3L water
- 5 black peppercorns
- 2tsp salt, optional
Method
- In a frypan, fry off the onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms, garlic and bay leaf on a medium heat until slightly caramelised.
- Place vegetables in a large pot, add the water, peppercorns and salt, bring to the boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer with the lid on for at least 1 hour.
- Strain the stock through a fine sieve and discard the vegetables, reserving the liquid.
- Place in freezer in microwave-suitable containers.
Fiona’s tips
- The leftover vegetables from the stock can be pureed and added to soups or sauces, although the flavour won’t be as strong.
- For a meatier flavour, add 500g chicken wings or a roast chicken carcass.
- Any leftover vegetables or herbs in your fridge can be added to the master stock recipe. But avoid potatoes and pumpkins as this gives a thicker, cloudy stock.
- Be careful when adding stronger flavours such as basil, rosemary and fennel as they can be overpowering. You want a neutral stock flavour for soups and stews as other flavours are added during cooking.
- Adding more carrots will make the stock slightly sweeter.
- Adding mushrooms to your stock gives a richer flavour and a darker coloured stock.
- Fresh stock can be refrigerated once cooled for up to 1 month.
- Stock can be frozen for up to 12 months in a well-sealed container suitable for freezing and microwaving.
