Best of the Test: Store-Bought Stocks (2024)

Tasters loved the not-too-salty, "slightly sweet" flavor of this concentrated stock ($3.69 for 112 oz. of broth, amazon.com, which takes only seconds to dissolve in boiling water. Bits of veggies and herbs add to the well-rounded, "homemade" taste.

Unlike some other samples, which tasters equated to "salt bombs," this broth ($3.29 for 32 oz. of broth, amazon.com) had "great flavor" and was "just salty enough," making it ideal for a variety of dishes. "Really, really, really good" was one emphatic review.

A big hit with tasters, this broth ($3.99 for 32 oz. of broth, amazon.com) had complex flavor that was a little sweet, a little tangy, and not too salty. Many also liked its lightness, tasting like nothing more than "chicken and aromatics," just as a broth should taste.

Tasters weren't able to agree on just what vegetable they tasted the most of in this broth ($2.99 for 32 oz. of broth, amazon.com). Many thought the carrot flavor was a bit too strong, while others commented on the onion and celery, and still others detected "sweet potato" (NB: there is no sweet potato in this broth). The overall consensus was that this broth wasn't as balanced or as tasty as some of the others, but its mildness was reminiscent of "homemade" stock and volunteers would gladly use it.

While not the winner, this concentrated broth ($3.69 for 112 oz. of broth, amazon.com) was a close runner-up. Although described as "ultra salty" by some, it garnered points from many tasters for its "rich," "fresh" flavor. Calling it "hearty" and "homemade" tasting, volunteers said they would "gladly use it" to cook with and did not mind the "strong celery flavor."

Many tasters commented on the "great flavor and balance" of this broth ($3.69 for 112 oz. of broth, amazon.com), which actually "tastes like chicken." Although some considered it "way too salty," others enjoyed its aggressive seasoning and "home cooked" consistency.

The volunteers were split on this contender's ($4 for 304 oz. of broth, amazon.com) flavor with some calling it "artificial tasting," while others considered it "the most flavorful of the bunch." The one thing they all agreed on? The strong presence of celery in both taste and scent.

Although some tasters thought the flavor of this broth ($1.87 for 32 oz. of broth) was "watery," others thought it had a lot of chicken flavor and "a strong veggie taste," particularly that of carrot and onion. Some volunteers commented on the slightly sour aftertaste, which lost this broth some points.

This middle-of-the-road broth ($1 for 21 oz. of broth, amazon.com) received mixed reviews with some tasters commenting on its sweetness and tang and others calling it salty. Most agreed, though, that it was "pretty tasty," but "nothing special." A few were even able to pick out the fact that this was the only sample that came from a canned concentrate.

Unlike some of the other broths sampled, this one ($1.99 for 32 oz. of broth) had neither much chicken flavor nor veggie flavor. Described as "very light" and "very neutral," this broth possessed a "strange after taste" that volunteers did not love.

The good news: this broth ($3.29 for 32 oz. of broth, amazon.com) was a lot less salty than many of the others sampled. The bad news: it had a lot less chicken flavor too. Described as "tangy" and "onion-y," yet "watered down"-tasting, this broth also had an odd "herbaceous" flavor that reminded tasters of everything from "nachos" to "licorice."

This broth ($5.15 for 32 oz. of broth, amazon.com) possessed a strange combination of "watery" blandness and a "too thick" consistency, which tasters did not appreciate. They also detected warm spices-perhaps ginger, nutmeg, or allspice-which tasted strange and out of place in a vegetable broth; however, a few thought the spices could make this broth a natural base for carrot soup.

Volunteers all agreed that the "strong carrot flavor" in this broth ($3.99 for 32 oz. of broth, amazon.com) was "overwhelming," probably due to the use of carrot juice, as well as dehydrated carrots. This excessive amount of carrot also gave the broth an "alarming" color, which tasters found "off-putting." Despite this, a couple of tasters actually enjoyed the sweetness that the carrots lent to this broth.

The overwhelming agreement among tasters was the lack of chicken flavor in this broth ($3.85 for 32 oz. of broth, amazon.com). The vegetables, particularly the carrots and celery, were apparent, but, overall, this stock was "too watered down" and tasted "very artificial."