FoodNutritionHealthy Eating
If you don’t have time to make it yourself, here are some delicious, shelf-stable options.
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Julie KendrickOn Assignment For HuffPostRUSS ROHDE via Getty Images
The more you cook at home this year, the more you’ll find yourself in need of stock. While it can be satisfying and even meditative to make your very own stock from scratch,it’s also a good idea to keep some shelf-stable options on hand.
But with all the fillers and additives added to some stocks these days, it can be challenging to know which brand to buy. We talked to chefs and nutritionists to find their favorite choices for taste, convenience and nutrition.
What to look for
First, you need to read a few labels, beginning with a search for brands that keep sodium levels in check. Full-sodium broths are one of the top 10 saltiest foods, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, registered dietician nutritionist Amanda Frankeny told HuffPost.
Once you’ve checked out the sodium, you’ll want to find out what else is — and isn’t — in that stock. “More studies continue to show the inflammatory impact of excess preservatives, fillers, artificial sweeteners and flavors,” chef Marshall O’Briensaid. He suggested looking for brands that are preservative-free and do not include “natural flavors.”
“Look for brands made just with simple ingredients like vegetables, meat, bones herbs and spices,” O’Brien said. Once you start looking, you’ll realize there aren’t a lot of store-bought stocks that fit those qualifications.
Food coach Jen Smiley, founder of Wake Up and Read the Labels, said you’ll want to be just as aware of what’s not in the stock. ”Avoid stocks that have preservatives, fillers, gums or artificial ingredients,” Smiley said. “Most broths have added sugar and wheat flour, which causes you to become tired, hungry and bloated.”
And if you’re sensitive to MSG, beware of an ingredient called “yeast extract” that’s just a different name for MSG.
Ready for more suggestions from the experts? Here are some of their top picks.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability are subject to change.
1
Bluebird Provisions bone broth cubes
“One of my new favorites to have on hand is this dehydrated bone broth,” RDN Sara Haas told HuffPost. “I love it because it’s in powdered form, so it easily can be added to water to make soup, cook grains or beans, add to stir-fries or used as the liquid to steam vegetables. It’s made with a gentle dehydration process, which keeps nutrition intact.”
2
Amazon
Concentrated bases
“While I love to make homemade vegetable broth, it’s a lot of work on a busy night,” RDN Sharon Palmer said. “My favorites are Knorr, Edward & Sons, and Better than Bouillon vegetable broth bases. Because they’re concentrated, there’s a smaller carbon footprint, and they’re much more environmentally friendly than premade quarts of broth. They’re easy to store, since they don’t take up a lot of space, they last a long time and I don’t have to worry about using up a whole quart container at once."
Sandy Davis, chef for Roxo Events, is also a Better Than Bouillon fan. “This stuff is definitely a cut above, but it’s also a bit pricey for everyday use,” he said. “I like to think that it’s best saved for ‘company.’”
Get Knorr Vegetable Bullion cubes on Amazon for $4.84.
Get a 12-pack of Edward & Sons Garden Veggie Bouillon Cubes on Amazon for $35.21.
Get Better Than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Base on Amazon for $4.99.
3
Kettle & Fire Bone Broth
Two of our experts recommended this brand. “The organic bone broth is filled with natural collagen,” registered dietitian Marissa Meshulam said. “I love using it as a base for soup or sipping on its own as a warming afternoon snack.”
Smiley loves it too, singing the praises of a product “made with real ingredients that your body can recognize.”
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4
Kitchen Basics Unsalted Vegetable Broth
Frankeny went with this brand for her top pick. “It’s a hearty, plant-based option with hints of fire-roasted bell peppers and tomatoes, and it has a meat-like base and an herbaceous finish,” she said. “It has 170 milligrams of sodium per serving, which is a third of the sodium of the average store-bought brand.” This product has been certified heart-healthy by the American Heart Association.
5
Pacific Foods Bone Broth and Vegetable Broth
This brand was the one most mentioned by the experts we consulted. “It has a homemade taste, and it’s not too overpowering, so a home cook can use it as a base to easily create soups, stews or sauces,” O’Brien said.
“It’s one of my favorites,” RDN Andrea Mathis said. “It’s budget-friendly and tastes very close to homemade bone broth. There’s no added sodium, which makes this a great choice for those wanting to reduce their salt intake, and it has 9 grams of protein per one-cup serving.”
RDN Amy Gorin is a fan of the company’s low-sodium vegetable broth. “I always recommend a lower-sodium broth when possible,” she said. “I like that the ingredients list is really simple: It’s just water, a bunch of veggies and sea salt.”
6
Rachel Ray Stock-In-A-Box
Chef Robin Selden said she reaches for this brand for a number of reasons. “First of all, you can actually spell all of the ingredients,” she said. “There’s no monosodium glutamate or sugar, and it’s gluten-free. I buy the low-sodium version so I can season it to my liking rather than starting with a heavy salted stock.”
How does she use it? “We’re a big soup family, so I start my soups with these stocks rather than having to make them from scratch. That’s been a game-changer for my Sunday morning batch-cooking ritual, when I freeze quarts of soup for easy family meals. I recently made a huge pot of my yummy Five Onion French Onion Soup using low-sodium beef stock, and I also recently made a light vegetable soup with the chicken stock.”
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Before You Go
Accessories You Need For Your Instant Pot
Blue and red sealing rings(01 of 14)
You're certainly well aware of the Instant Pot funk that eventually permeates your multicooker's gasket (aka the sealing ring). There are a few different cleaning methods you can use to remove the odor, but none of them work all that well. With these two colored options, you can assign one to savory dishes (think meats and stews) and another to cheesecakes (which you don't want infused with the scent of said meats or stews). (Pro tip: You're supposed to store your IP with the gasket removed, to encourage air flow and discourage the growth of mildew and other nasty things.) Get the two-pack from Amazon for $11.95 (fits the 6-quart model).
An egg steamer rack(02 of 14)
Whether you like your eggs hard-boiled, soft-boiled or somewhere in between, you can steam them to perfection in an Instant Pot. But if you don't want to risk them rolling around and cracking, you should buy this setup, which lets you nestle 14 eggs in the machine at once. This brilliant gadget will fit in both the 6- and 8-quart versions. (credit: Amazon)
Mini silicone mitts to help you grab the hot inner pot(03 of 14)
Have you ever had the patience to wait until your Instant Pot's inner pot is completely cool before lifting it out? Yeah, us neither. If you're sick of burning your hands, you need these flexible silicone mitts, which'll give you a good grip and protect your fingers from the heat. (credit: Amazon)
Tools that won't ding up the inside of your Instant Pot(04 of 14)
Metal utensils can scratch the coating off your Instant Pot, which is a major no-no. To prevent that from happening, these Instant Pot-branded tools are made specifically to protect your appliance, no matter how hard you are on it. These are a few of our favorites: Get the lid cleaning brush for $6.65.Get the meat claws for $12.74.Get the spoon spatula for $7.20.
A new ceramic, non-stick inner pot(05 of 14)
If you do, by chance, happen to scrape off the nonstick lining of your inner pot, it's important (for safety reasons!) to replace it immediately. It comes in three sizes, is dishwasher safe and is PTFE and PFOA free. Get it from Amazon for $15.25 (3 quart), $19.95 (6 quart) or $24.99 (8 quart).
And a stainless steel inner pot(06 of 14)
For all those times you don't need nonstick, this is nice and durable. And if you're cooking multiple dishes for a crowd, it's always good to have extras. (Keep scrolling for a storage lid, because you'll need one!) Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (3 quart), $22.99 (6 quart) or $32.99 (8 quart).
A silicone cover for easy storage(07 of 14)
Ever make a HUGE pot of soup in your IP and don't feel like transferring it to yet another HUGE container to keep in the fridge? This silicone lid seals perfectly and allows you to move your cooled pot straight to the refrigerator for easy storage. (credit: Amazon)
The perfect pan for making IP cheesecake(08 of 14)
A HuffPost colleague of ours is legendary for her Instant Pot cheesecake, and she swears this pan is one of the secrets to its greatness. Fat Daddio's 7x3-inch pan with a removable bottom in particular (don't choose another brand or model) fits perfectly in the IP and features just the right thickness to evenly conduct heat throughout your cheesecake as it steams to creamy perfection. (credit: Amazon)
An air fryer attachment that saves you a ton of space(09 of 14)
If you've always wanted an air fryer but don't have room in your kitchen for another appliance, this is for you. You just pop it on top of your Instant Pot and watch it work its magic. Keep in mind that it's made for the 6-quart model -- but its rapid air circulation cooks food to crispy perfection, from chicken wings to French fries and even homemade veggie chips. (credit: Amazon)
Yogurt cups!(10 of 14)
Let's be real, most people never use the yogurt-making feature of their Instant Pot simply because they don't have containers to cook the yogurt in. This kit comes with five 6-ounce cups (they're BPA free and dishwasher safe), spill-proof lids and a rack. Now start making yogurt already! (credit: Amazon)
A silicone steamer basket(11 of 14)
There's nothing worse than fumbling with a cheap metal steamer in the inside of your pot. This silicone version has long handles that allow you to easily remove your food without dropping it or burning yourself. This version is compatible with the 6- and 8-quart cookers. (credit: Amazon)
A hand blender, for all you soup-making fanatics(12 of 14)
If you make a lot of soup in your IP -- particularly blended soups -- you may dread getting out (and cleaning) your blender after you've already dirtied your Instant Pot. If that's the case, an immersion blender will save you a ton of cleanup. Just wave its magic wand around the inside of your pot, and your soup will be buttery smooth in no time. We find this model to be particularly effective for its low price. (credit: Amazon)
A silicone egg bite pan(13 of 14)
The internet is obsessed with egg bites because they're nutritious, convenient and just plain delicious. But an Instant Pot makes them even easier to make if you have this handy doo-dad. Cleanup will be a breeze and mornings will be a whole lot easier. This is compatible with the 6- and 8-quart cookers. (credit: Amazon)
