Bouillon seasonings as a cooking aids Review: Worth it or not?
Bouillon seasonings are very popular and have been around for many years. They are used in many homes.
Cooking is my passion. I am always in search of the best ingredients, the best seasoning, and the best foods.
My goal has always been to offer my family, friends, acquaintances, and blog followers the best options available to create tasty meals, even if their budget is limited.
Over the years, I have tried several bouillon seasonings, and finding one favorite bouillon product is very challenging. The challenge comes with the type of diets you are following and food allergies. A couple of years ago, I decided to stop using these cooking aids for health reasons.
Why are bouillons so popular?
On MarthaStewart.com, the definition is exactly what it is.” “Bouillon is often used synonymously with broth. The term also pertains to the condensed-cube and powder forms of broth used to add a burst of flavor to some recipes.”
Same as spices and herbs, bouillon cubes and powder are cooking aids. These types of cooking aids, when used properly, help you create delicious meals, as mentioned in all the websites reviewed.
I decided to review three different types of Bouillon that are easily found in most supermarkets. If you are curious about why Bouillon in Haitian Caribbean Cuisine signifies something else, read it here: What is Bouillon? Seasoning, Broth, or Soup?
Let’s Dive in…
Osem Chicken Style Consomme Soup & Seasoning Mix
Osem Chicken Style Consomme Soup and Seasoning Mix is suitable for seasoning several types of dishes. Founded in Israel, Osem Investments Ltd, the company that manufactures the seasoning mix, is now owned by Nestlé S.A. of Switzerland.
The seasoning mix is a kosher product. Kosher means that the product was manufactured on the premise that it satisfied the requirements of Jewish law. The Pros and Cons below are only for the Chicken Seasoning Mix.
Here are a few key points about Osem Chicken Style Consomme Soup
- Soup & Seasoning Mix
- No food coloring. No preservatives
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Gluten-Free
- Powder Form
- Contains Corn Starch
- Contains Maltodextrin
- For the chicken consomme only: Serving Size: 1 tsp; Serving per container: 67 – Sodium: 830 mg
Knorr Bouillon
Knorr has been bringing flavors from around the world to our kitchens for many years. Founded in 1838 in Germany, Knorr has become an international brand offering a wide range of bouillons, soups, stocks, seasonings, sauces, soupy snacks, dressings, and gravies.
Knorr products are easy to use, quickly dissolve, and add tons of flavor to soups, stews, sauces, and gravies. Knorr also has a variety of products from bouillon cubes, powder, and broths.
Here are a few points about Knorr Bouillon products:
- Soup & Seasoning Mix
- Powder Form
- Cubes Form
- Broth
- Some of the cooking aids contain dehydrated mechanically separated cooked chicken and dehydrated chicken meat
- Some of the products contain hydrolyzed soy/corn protein
- Not sure what they mean by Colour ??? as an ingredient.
- Chicken Bouillon Salt content 1130 MG – per Serving Size Per ½ CUBE (5.75 G) | About 1 Cup 250 ML) Prepared
Maggi Cubes Seasoning, a bouillon seasoning?
Founded in 1872 in Switzerland, Maggi continues to make cooking aids that are tasty and accessible for easy cooking. The company manufactures a variety of products such as noodle soups, soup mixes, and sauces.
Maggi’s cubes have been a staple cooking aid for many years in many cuisines. In the Caribbean, African and Asian cooking, Maggi is very popular and one of the first cooking aids.
A few important points about Maggi Cubes
- Flavour Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium Inosinate
- Maize Starch
- Colour (Ammonia Caramel)
- MAGGI® Chicken Stock and Vegetable Stock cubes manufactured in Egypt are Halal certified and do not contain any actual animal product.
- For a box of 16 cubes, or Serving Size 6.00 g; Servings Per Container 16 – Sodium 1280mg
Final Thoughts
Most seasoning (cubes and powder form) contains corn to start, which is not good because of the numerous food allergies. Corn allergy is slowly becoming more popular, and many food manufacturers have opted to use tapioca starch or rice starch.
Many seasonings products contain many additives and chemicals. It is highly recommended to read the labels to make sure that you understand what you are using as cooking aids.
These cooking aids may not have any short-term effects. The long-term result is usually associated with the level of sodium and MSG. So be aware!
Sources
https://www.knorr.com/ca/en/home.html
https://www.marthastewart.com/269001/broth-basics
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