Reccommended Chicken Broths from Cooks Illustrated

[Love to Eat!!]

Recommended
Swanson Certified Organic Free Range Chicken Broth
We’re not ones to jump on the organic bandwagon for its own sake; the proof’s in the taste. Swanson’s newest broth won tasters over with "very chickeny, straightforward, and honest flavors," a hearty aroma, and restrained "hints of roastiness.
570 mg $2.79 for 32-ounce carton

Recommended
Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
Fairly salty, but tasters were fond of its "straightforward" flavor profile. Though it does take about 5 minutes to reconstitute the concentrated paste in water, the 18-month refrigerator shelf life means it’s a good replacement for dehydrated bouillon.
690 mg $4.99 for 8-ounce jar of concentrate (makes 38 cups)

Recommended
Swanson Natural Goodness Chicken Broth
Swanson’s standard low-sodium broth tasted almost as good as the winner, though some panelists found it "overly roasted." Very full chicken flavor, but several tasters noted an out-of-place tartness reminiscent of lemon.
570 mg $2.19 for 32-ounce carton

Recommended
Imagine Organic Free Range Chicken Broth
A "decent flavor of chicken that lingers." This broth had very prominent onion notes, which some tasters loved and others disliked. Some panelists weren’t fond of the pale yellow color.
570 mg $1.99 for 32-ounce carton

Recommended with Reservations
College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth
Some tasters were sold on this broth’s "nice, mild chicken flavors," deeming its "understated" profile as optimal for blending into recipes. Others found it "blah and boring—nothing offensive, though."
450 mg $1.99 for 32-ounce carton

Recommended with Reservations
Orrington Farms Chicken Flavored Soup Base and Food Seasoning
The only dehydrated bouillon product in the top 10, we discovered, got flavor from a chicken and a cow. Beef tallow helped give this product "nice, and rich flavors."
680 mg $2.99 for 16-ounce jar of powdered concentrate (makes 91cups)

Not Recommended
Trader Joe's Free Range Chicken Broth
Tasters couldn’t make up their minds whether this broth tastes more like "bad takeout Chinese soup" or the "cardboard" container it comes in. The "wretched odor" earned it no extra points.
570 mg $1.99 for 32-ounce carton

Not Recommended
Kitchen Basics Natural Chicken Stock
Not one taster believed this brand really was chicken broth. "Medicinal and beefy—are you sure this is chicken?" asked one worried taster. "Tastes like Vegemite tea." Beads of oil floated on top.
480 mg $2.89 for 32-ounce carton

Not Recommended
Pacific Organic Free Range Chicken Broth
One taster noticed an "interesting mushroom smell," but that’s as positive a comment as tasters could muster. "Watery," "chemical," "dirty," and "like an entire vegetable drawer gone bad" were more-representative observations.
570 mg $2.49 for 32-ounce carton
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I swear by Better the Bouillon products, which do you use?

[Kittencalskitchen]

I recommend to make your own!

[galponetta]

For a low-cost option when it is not the dominate flavor, I really like Swanson's Natural Goodness (lower salt). I always grab a few when I see them on sale. Not like homemade, but in some dishes you can't tell the difference.

I love the new quart boxes.

[Krislady]

KITTENCAL wrote:
I recommend to make your own!

I second that!

However, our Aldi's has their house brand of chicken broth - Fit & Active, I think, that actually tastes like chicken, and we've been very happy with it in a pinch.

[Kittencalskitchen]

Krislady wrote:

KITTENCAL wrote:
I recommend to make your own!

I second that!

However, our Aldi's has their house brand of chicken broth - Fit & Active, I think, that actually tastes like chicken, and we've been very happy with it in a pinch.

[SarasotaCook]

Swanson organic usually, sometimes just the regular, either or always happy with the product. Never disappointed.

[Love to Eat!!]

SarasotaCook wrote:
Swanson organic usually, sometimes just the regular, either or always happy with the product. Never disappointed.

I know you've mentioned being tight on space in your current place. You might try the better than bouillon. They have tons of different flavors and take up little space in the refrigerator.

[Karyl Lee]

I've been using the Full Circle Organic Fat Free broth, or Wolfgang Puck's (but only if I get it on sale and want to go deluxe)

[SarasotaCook]

Love to Eat!! wrote:

SarasotaCook wrote:
Swanson organic usually, sometimes just the regular, either or always happy with the product. Never disappointed.

I know you've mentioned being tight on space in your current place. You might try the better than bouillon. They have tons of different flavors and take up little space in the refrigerator.

I haven't tried them, thx. Always to try just about anything and yes space is a serious issue how true, people would be amazed at all the ways I have learned to store things.

[Secret Agent]

I love home-made but I think having some on the shelf in case of a disaster is a very good idea. There may be a time a disaster could stike... hurricane, earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami, power failure....... so I always have some bases and boxes on hand. Ya never know......

PS - see that little picture next to my name? That's the volcano in my back yard. It worries me.

SA

[SarasotaCook]

Secret Agent wrote:
I love home-made but I think having some on the shelf in case of a disaster is a very good idea. There may be a time a disaster could stike... hurricane, earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami, power failure....... so I always have some bases and boxes on hand. Ya never know......

PS - see that little picture next to my name? That's the volcano in my back yard. It worries me.

SA

I guess I'm safe. I think I always have a chicken and beef box in my pantry. So I guess with that next hurricane strikes I'll be safe

And to that note, I totally agree. I always have some on hand. And from someone a few years ago lost power to a hurricane for 4 days ... yes, your pantry is your best friend and of course 7 -11 for ice. And a good friend who worked there and called when they got a fresh delivery.

Yes, pantry items are key.

[Zeldaz]

Is the discussion about broth, stock, base, or bouillion? It seems to me that apples and oranges are being compared. They are not the same products.

[SarasotaCook]

Zeldaz wrote:
Is the discussion about broth, stock, base, or bouillion? It seems to me that apples and oranges are being compared. They are not the same products.

No they aren't, they are interchangeable to a degree, however it will change the taste of a dish.

[IngridH]

I've got this one (better than bouillon) in my fridge right now, and it's okay when I run out of homemade stock, but reduce the salt in the rest of the recipe when you use it. I find it to be a little too salty for me.

[SarasotaCook]

IngridH wrote:
I've got this one (better than bouillon) in my fridge right now, and it's okay when I run out of homemade stock, but reduce the salt in the rest of the recipe when you use it. I find it to be a little too salty for me.

I tried that one once and salty, there are some other brands I haven't tried and always willing to try, but yes, that was a bit salty for my tastes.