Stock cubes

[mkjuk]

I just replaced my housemates Knoor chicken stock cubes with OXO chicken stock cubes, she is now claiming that these ones are inferior. Having now gone back to the shop and looked at the prices i have seen that the OXO ones are indeed about 5p cheaper but is there really any difference?

Also is it true that when you mix chicken stock cubes with chinese and indian herbs and spices, the flavour of the dish will become salty?

How do i get round this?

[yummymum]

Tell her to stop being lazy and make her own stock! lol

[WendyS]

I use both, but tend to prefer the Knoor chicken stock cubes for flavour. . However, I think they do contain more salt than the OXO chicken cubes and if used for Chinese cooking and combined with soy sauce, etc. it's best just to use half a cube.
We also make our own chicken stock which has a lovely velvety liquid texture without being salty at all, but few people have the time or patience to go this route.

[Figi]

In my opinion the best stock cubes are Kallo - they do organic and vegetarian and low-salt versions and they don't have any nasty additives in them.

[mkjuk]

Wendy S - how do you make your own chicken stock?

[Kim A]

You have a choice here. You can use raw chicken bones (I buy wings and use the carcasses of chickens that I have portioned myself). OR you can use the bones from a roast bird - it's up to you, but whatever you do, don't use a cheap supermarket chicken to make stock with - their bones are underdeveloped and the stock is always weedy, even after boiling down.
Okay - stick the bones in the biggest pan you have, along with a peeled onion or two (cut in half), some celery stalks cut into chiunks, a couple of peeled carrots, chunked, a couple of bayleaves and a few peppercorns. cover the lot with water and bring to the boil, skimming off the scum that rises to the top. When the water has come to the boil, turn the heat down to a very low simmer - if you continue to boil it, the fat on the carcasse melts and goes into the stock, and makes it greasy. Cook for about three hours, lid off. After three hours, strain through a colander or sieve, discard the bones and veg and return the stock to the pan. You then boil it like mad until it reduces to about a third of its original volume. You now have chicken glace, or strong chicken stock. Pour into a suitable container and leave to cool. You can freeze it. you can use it 'neat' or dilute it to taste. I make it every week and always have it in the freezer. I learnt how to make it at cookery school and I think everyone should do it - down with OXO!

[Figi]

Or you can follow the method above but use a pressure cooker and you have the stock in 20 minutes!

[warpig1]

Wow, Kim A, thanks, excellent recipe for stock, thank you, as mine is always cr@p! Will try yours.

[The Big Gill]

Kim A - good point about supermarket chickens. It never occurred to me why my stock always turns out so weak when my mum used ot be able to get a good soup out of a chicken carcass. Thanks.