Knorr Chicken Stock Pots

I am a BzzAgent and in my latest trial I have been sent three packets of four of these stock pots. I have four chicken ones, four beef and four vegetable ones. There are also other flavours available, Rich Beef, Fish and Herb infusion but I have not tried those as yet. The one I am reviewing here is the Chicken Stock pot in a four pot packet but they do also come in packs of eight small pots.

BASIC FACTS:
Each pot makes 500ml of stock.
These have no artificial flavour enhancers, no added MSG in any of the varieties.
All varieties have no artificial preservatives
All varieties have no artificial colours
All varieties are Gluten free
The chicken stock pots as well as the beef and vegetable and rich beef stock pots are all okay for those needing a lactose free diet.
The vegetable and herb stock pots are suitable for vegetarians
All of which makes a very positive start for me.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS
If prepared as is suggested on the packs then 100ml of these stock pots will provide you with 5kcal,
Also each 100ml prepared as per instruction will provide 0.1g Protein, 0.2g Carbs (0.1g sugars), 0.4g Fat, 0.46g Sodium, 1.14g Salt, Trace of Fibre.

PACKAGING AND STORAGE
This comes in a cardboard outer sleeve with four small peel off little plasticl trays. All the packaging is recyclable.
In order to use the little stock pots you just easily peel off the plastic film lid and the jellied stock then is tipped into whatever you are cooking.
You should store the unopened product in a cool dry place but if you open a pot then you should store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

INGREDIENTS
Water, Salt, Vegetable Fats and Oils, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Vegetables in varying proportions [Carrots, Leek, Onion], Chicken Fat (1.8%), Flavourings (contains Mustard), Thickeners (Xanthan Gum, Locust Bean Gum), Garlic, Pepper, Parsley, Chicken Powder (0.25%), Colour (Burnt Sugar Caramel), Maltodextrin, Rosemary Extract

HOW TO USE
You use them pretty much as you would home made stock or even stock cubes. You can dissolve each pot into 500 ml of boiling water which then makes a delicious stock for gravy, casseroles or soups or you can do as I do and add directly to rice, pastas or sauce, soups or whatever dish you are creating.

I simply peel back the lid which is very easy unlike some packs you come across; I then either squeeze the little flexible plastic pot to pop out the contents. This plops out as a whole little jelly cube or I slip a spoon into the corner and release the jelly and then it slips straight out easily too. As I said I am idle so never bother to make liquid stock with these, I just add water or wine or whatever other liquid such as tinned tomatoes etc with the other basic ingredients, such as chicken vegetables, herbs and onions and seasoning and the stock pot.

Although when you first pop this into your dish it stays as a limp of jelly I find it quickly melts into the dish once the heat gets to it. I never find I need to cut it up as it really takes seconds to start melting

ARE THEY ANY BETTER THAN STOCK CUBES?

I have always either made my own stock if I have left over chicken carcasses from roasts or I have used stock cubes but I have always been slightly concerned about the MSG ( Monosodium glutamate) in these as it is not supposed to be very good for you.

Stock cubes also tend to be rather on the salty side so I am careful when cooking for my grandchildren when babies not to use stock cubes as you have to be careful with salt for little ones. I have read a few reviews on Ocado that complain about these being very salty but personally I haven't found that at all.

I always add my own freshly grown herbs from my garden if I can and also use herbs and spices a lot in my cooking so the stock cubes have really only added the flavour and salt . These I find are less in your face salty and are fresher tasting. They are not quite the same as my homemade stocks but are a pretty darn good substitute.

I am not a big one for buying 'celebrity' endorsed products or brand names and I usually am more than happy with shop branded products but will be happy to try a mixture if it looks tempting. I find that by adding my own fresh herbs, vegetables and spices that my creations are usually pretty well accepted by family and friends.

I do use a lot of stock cubes and may well now transfer my buying to using these so long as they are not too expensive. Ocado sell this pack of four for £1.46 and the pack of eight for £2.41 so the eight pack is better value. They seem to be the same price in Tesco but Amazon have various prices some of which seem very expensive so I suggest looking around and avoiding Amazon whose cheapest appears to be £5.99 for the eight pack.

I have now used my four of these and I am impressed. They give a more full bodied, rounded flavour that the cubes and I have found them particularly good in soups which I make a lot of in this cold weather as soups are filling, warming and healthy.

I made a chicken and sweet corn soup; we used another for a chicken and ham pie, a third for chicken curry and the last one went into a chicken casserole which I made up my own recipe for and very tasty it was too.

SO IN SHORT
I have found these very easy to use and they give a good flavour without being in your face or too salty. I am very pleased to see that they contain no msg artificial flavours or colours but they are not a cheap option with each pot costing over 35p so if you are on a budget you might choose to stick to stock cubes. You could also look out for when they are on offer and stock up as they do have a reasonable shelf life. Mine says it will last well into 2013 so there is not really a problem with shelf life unless the pot is opened.

I also liked the fact that the cardboard pack has a recipe inside it. The chicken one I have, suggested a Spanish chicken but you can also go on the Knorr website and there are lots of suggestions from Marco Pierre White who is the celebrity behind this product.

Thanks for reading. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name.
©Catsholiday