Vegetable Broth reviews
I just got my issue of Cook's Illustrated yesterday. Does anyone read that? They have the occasional vegetarian/vegan recipe or one that can be modified. I like it because they always have good reader tips and interested product reviews. They will taste test things like different brands of tomato sauce or try different food processors, cutlery, or bakeware. It's really helpful.
Anyway this month they taste tested different brands of store bought vegetable broth. I just thought I would let you know the results since I've tried a couple of them and you might have too. I haven't perfected my homemade broth yet :)
The only one they recommended was Swanson Vegetarian Vegetable Broth. I agree. When I see these on sale at 10 for $10 at the store I always stock up.
Recommended with reservations:
College Inn Garden Vegetable Broth (too strong tasting and tomatoey to me),
Knorr Vegetarian Vegetable Bouillon cubes, and
Imagine Organic Vegetable Broth.
Not recommended: Better Than Bouillon Vegetable Base (haven't tried it but I like the faux chicken base),
Emeril's Organic Vegetable Stock,
Swanson Organic Vegetarian Vegetable Broth (in a box not a can),
Imagine Organic Vegetable Cooking Stock,
Kitchen Basics Natural Vegetable Cooking Stock (always saw this in the store and never tried it. Guess I won't now),
and the worst rated was Pacific natural Foods Organic Vegetable Broth (I've tried this and didn't like it much at all).
:-[ I must have bad taste, I use the Pacific Organic Vegetable Broth, though I haven't tried most of the others. I've used the College Inn Garden Vegetable Broth in the past, but I quit using it because it isn't organic. Perhaps I should branch out and try something new.
i love cooks magazine! they have a show on PBS too, which is sometimes worth watching, for some tips and tricks.
my favorite boullion is Better Than Boullion too. but i have to agree that Pacific is gross. imo, Imagine was meh, okay.
the other one i use and like very much is rapunzel.
ive not ever tried the knorr (though ive heard good things about it) or the college inn.
Massell brand bouillons are the best I've tried. They're an Australian brand and it comes in cubes. Just delicious and vegan. Yum.
I don't have the magazine with me today to refer to, but I think one of the reasons they didn't like the better than bouillon because it was too salty.
:-[ I must have bad taste, I use the Pacific Organic Vegetable Broth, though I haven't tried most of the others. I've used the College Inn Garden Vegetable Broth in the past, but I quit using it because it isn't organic. Perhaps I should branch out and try something new.
My mother manages a grocery store and she gave me a bunch of this brand broth, because they were no longer selling it. I think it is OK, when used in little amounts, but I tried making soup with it and it was nasty! I would not recommend using it as a base, but in a pinch combined with other ingredients it is fine. I prefer the veggie broth in VWAV, from the matzoh ball soup recipe. It is too die for and I try to keep some in the freezer. BTW I love Cooks Illustrated. It is so informative.
Personally I have tried about half of those and find the Knor Veggie cubes to be my flavor of choice. Honestly though, how can anyone say "This is the best flavor." Thats like saying the author's view is a definitive answer on what everyone in the world's taste buds like. Though I guess they could be measuring content like salt and MSG but seriously, its like soy milk. Everyone has their own preferences, none are 'right' or 'wrong' just what people like over other things.
Personally I have tried about half of those and find the Knor Veggie cubes to be my flavor of choice. Honestly though, how can anyone say "This is the best flavor." Thats like saying the author's view is a definitive answer on what everyone in the world's taste buds like. Though I guess they could be measuring content like salt and MSG but seriously, its like soy milk. Everyone has their own preferences, none are 'right' or 'wrong' just what people like over other things.
I realize I had the Knorr brand before and I didn't like it because the cubes were too big I had to cut them in half! Anyway the results are based on a panel of testers (not sure how many) and what they preferred. But you're right, it's very subjective.
i haven't tried too many stocks/broths but i have Celifibr brand 'chicken' and 'beef' cubes and they're pretty good, but i've only used them as bases for things.
if i'm making a "beefy" type soup and using broth (e.g. french onion soup) i really like the wholefoods brand (365 Organic) of vegetable broth.
for "chicken" i like imagine's boxed broth. unfortunately it's a little on the expensive side.
well, i would imagine that the "testers" are omnis who don't have the refined pallet that us veggie types have ;)
True, very true.
well, i would imagine that the "testers" are omnis who don't have the refined pallet that us veggie types have ;)
thats exactly what i was thinking! maybe thats why we like organic brands, but to them they might taste bland.
I was mad at that article. I normally love Cook's Illustrated but I was a bit PO'd at the tone of the article and some of the commentary.
I figure they threw in the "perfecting hummus" article to appease those they might have offended.
I figure they threw in the "perfecting hummus" article to appease those they might have offended.
When I saw the hummus article I realized it was written by someone I went to college with. I'm going to contact him and try to get the scoop on Cook's Illustrated and maybe drop some hints about adding more veg friendly recipes.
IMO, vogue vegebase is by far the best "broth" ever. it's good in just about anything!
http://www.voguecuisine.com/recipe.html