A food question--about broths/stocks...

[Julie in CA]

First of all, let me just say up front that I know that homemade stocks are the best. BUT...

Let's just assume that you want to incorporate more clear soups as a first course, in an effort to feel a bit more satisfied with smaller serving sizes at dinner time, and you need to do it without adding a lot more time to your already packed days. Is there a store-bought broth that you think actually tastes good, pretty much on it's own?

[RegGuheert]

Most store-bought broths include a significant amount of MSG. Since for me, that means a severe headache afterwards, taste is irrelevant. While I understand not everyone gets a headache from MSG, I also understand that it is a toxin to everyone.

 

All that said, I, too, would be interested to hear about any store-bought broth that is MSG-free.

[Rosie_0801]

Nope! Shop bought stocks are alright cooked into something, but not so great on their own. How about miso? You can boil the kettle, pour it into mugs/bowls, leave it to cool until you can stick your finger in without burning it, then mix in the miso paste. If you're not used to it, start with the lighter coloured miso (which you should be buying out of the fridge section if possible) and try the darker pastes when you get used to the lighter ones.

 

:)

Rosie

[Jumping In Puddles]

No.

 

Do you have a pressure cooker?

 

Stock is SOOOOO easy and takes so little time (Maybe 10 minutes at most!) to throw in the pot then it simmers on the stove all by itself.

[Tea Time]

First of all, let me just say up front that I know that homemade stocks are the best. BUT...

Let's just assume that you want to incorporate more clear soups as a first course, in an effort to feel a bit more satisfied with smaller serving sizes at dinner time, and you need to do it without adding a lot more time to your already packed days. Is there a store-bought broth that you think actually tastes good, pretty much on it's own?

There are organic stocks that you can buy. They are usually in the heath food stores and are in the little paper cartons that they use for soy and rice milk. Hopefully they don't have MSG. You could doctor them up and they would work.

 

I make stock, but there is some work involved. Also, it is not that cheap. I store it in mason jars in the freezer. They are easy to defrost in cold water. It is not clear either, and the flavor concentration varies a lot. If we lived near a health food store, I'd be temped to switch to the organic stock, assuming it is MSG free. I can't remember the ingredients exactly, but I did buy it before, so they can't be completely alarming.

 

Does anyone else know much about the organic stock? The MSG/gluten free stock powder I bought once was HORRIBLE. Yuck. Not even worth using, IMO.

[Dobela]

Most store-bought broths include a significant amount of MSG. Since for me, that means a severe headache afterwards, taste is irrelevant. While I understand not everyone gets a headache from MSG, I also understand that it is a toxin to everyone.

 

All that said, I, too, would be interested to hear about any store-bought broth that is MSG-free.

I buy MSG free Swanson at Kroger, although it is not always available. I have also found MSG free broths in the Organic/health food section of our local Kroger. At Aldis I buy their Fit and Lively brand and it is always MSG free. Plus it is less than 50cents a can (a big plus in my book LOL).

 

I often buy MSG free bullion at the health food store.

 

But having said that, I haven't found broth that is as rich tasting as homemade. I often buy large quantities of cheap chicken and make stew pots full of broth. I freeze the broth in containers and shred the chicken for use in meals later. I use it for soup bases and cooking that doesn't require exact measurements since I can never freeze it in premeasured quantities.

[Rosie_0801]

I make stock, but there is some work involved. Also, it is not that cheap. I store it in mason jars in the freezer. They are easy to defrost in cold water.

 

I only make veggie stock, but it doesn't cost much because I use veggie peelings left over from whatever I'm cooking, often thrown into left over stock from cooking beans. For that reason, the flavour will vary a lot and isn't usually nice to eat as a broth. It's perfectly good to use in cooking though.

The mason jar idea is great, I only wish my freezer was big enough!

 

:)

Rosie

[Mekanamom]

Here is my lazy chicken stock recipe.

 

I get a whole chicken, clean, rinse, and pat dry. Oil and season it. Put it in the crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

 

At dinner time, we eat the chicken... and (after it has cooled a bit) I just pour the leftover broth from the crockpot through a stainer into a ziplock bag. It can freeze flat, so it doesn't take up too much space in the freezer that way.

 

This is not low fat stock, though. If you want lower fat, you could probably peel the skin off the chicken first. Or let the stock cool in the ziplock bag in fridge before freezing and skim the fat off the top.

 

Anyway... it gets your chicken dinner cooked and produces stock all in one step with the crockpot. You could add veggies or anything else you want to flavor your chicken and your stock.

[Tea Time]

I only make veggie stock, but it doesn't cost much because I use veggie peelings left over from whatever I'm cooking, often thrown into left over stock from cooking beans. For that reason, the flavour will vary a lot and isn't usually nice to eat as a broth. It's perfectly good to use in cooking though.

The mason jar idea is great, I only wish my freezer was big enough!

 

:)

Rosie

 

Oh, good ideas with the peelings. I agree about the eating it as broth alone part. I don't like it that way - meat or veggie stock.

 

But that gave me another idea. When I roast a chicken it is always the same basic idea. Sometimes I use a crock pot but usually it is in a dutch oven in the oven. I use olive oil, garlic, and fresh rosemary, then I add a generous amount of lemon juice. The broth this makes is delicious, and I serve it with the meal over rice and I even put it on the salad. That chicken also makes wonderful chicken salad for leftovers.

 

The olive oil, garlic, rosemary, lemon combo are the trick. I bet they would make good additions to veggie stock, too.

 

Another flavor combo my family loves is ginger, sesame seed oil, garlic, and lemon.

 

I am convinced there are several flavors that take the place of MSG effectively and they are lemon, red pepper or jalepeno pepper, and fermented things like sauerkraut or vinegar. For some reason, if my meal has those alternatives, I don't miss the MSG. Does anyone have any other flavors they use to zing the tastebuds? They might dress up broth and make it more satisfying.

[Carol in Cal.]

It's great!

 

I also simmer chicken breasts in chicken Bovril to make chicken salads. Then I take the enriched broth and refridgerate it. When the fat congeals, I discard it and put the broth into the freezer in quart size wide mouthed canning jars. That is the broth that I use most often for a soup base.

 

Bovril works pretty well by itself, too.

 

I don't know whether it has MSG or not, though. It's pretty rich-tasting for broth, and you can concentrate it more than canned broth by adding less water if you want.

[RegGuheert]

I buy MSG free Swanson at Kroger, although it is not always available. I have also found MSG free broths in the Organic/health food section of our local Kroger. At Aldis I buy their Fit and Lively brand and it is always MSG free. Plus it is less than 50cents a can (a big plus in my book LOL).

Thanks, Dobela! I looked at a list of ingredients for the Swan broth products and here is what I find:

 

Chicken Broth:

 

 

 

SWANSON, BROTH, ORGANIC CHICKEN

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

Organic Chicken Broth (Water, Organic Free Range Chicken), Contains Less Than 2% of the Following Sea Salt, Chicken Flavor (Chicken Stock, Chicken Fat, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Egg Yolk Solids, Salt), Organic Chicken Flavor (Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum), Cooked Organic Vegetables (Carrot, Onion, Celery), Chicken Fat, Vegetable Flavor (Spinach Puree, Carrot Puree, Celery Puree, Salt, Onion Puree, Citric Acid), Organic Yeast Extract (Organic Yeast Extract, Salt, Wheat), Onion Powder, Sugar, Cane Juice, Canola Oil, Flavoring, Carrot Powder, Potato Flour, Turmeric, Black Pepper.

 

According to Truth in Labeling, Autolyzed Yeast Extract is on the list of ingredients which *ALWAYS* contain right-handed glutamic acid, which is the toxin found in MSG. (Left-handed glutamic acid is one of the 20 amino acids found in all life.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I often buy MSG free bullion at the health food store.

Personally, MomsintheGarden and I have looked at many, many different types of bullion and all seem to contain Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

 

Thanks for the tip, but I recommend checking out Truth in Labeling for more details on how MSG is hidden in various ingredients.

 

Fortunately, MomsintheGarden makes and freezed awesome chicken and turkey broth that she uses for cooking. I've NEVER had soup better than some of her recent creations! :drool5:

 

Thanks again,

 

Reg

[Orthodox6]

Yes, there are store-bought broths and stocks which taste good, are made from good-quality ingredients, and contain no additives (such as MSG).

 

http://www.imaginefoods.com/index.php

 

http://www.pacificfoods.com/

 

I regularly purchase products from both of these companies.

 

I do not buy broths or stocks made by Health Valley, though. Everything they make tastes identical to the next product. If I have had one Health Valley product, I already know what the next Health Valley product will taste like ! (Verrrrry boring food line-up.)

 

Like others posting, I also make my own broths and stocks, either in the crock pot or on the stovetop.

 

P.S. Here is a helpful page with information about glutamates -- where they are found, and some of the names by which they are "disguised" by food manufacturers.

http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm

 

 

 

First of all, let me just say up front that I know that homemade stocks are the best. BUT...

Let's just assume that you want to incorporate more clear soups as a first course, in an effort to feel a bit more satisfied with smaller serving sizes at dinner time, and you need to do it without adding a lot more time to your already packed days. Is there a store-bought broth that you think actually tastes good, pretty much on it's own?

Edited June 15, 2009 by Orthodox6

[RegGuheert]

Yes, there are store-bought broths and stocks which taste good, are made from good-quality ingredients, and contain no additives (such as MSG).

 

http://www.imaginefoods.com/index.php

 

http://www.pacificfoods.com/

Thanks! Most of these broths look great! (A couple of them have Autolyzed Yeast Extract or Carageenan.) It's great to have some new companies to buy good food from!

I regularly purchase products from both of these companies.

P.S. Here is a helpful page with information about glutamates -- where they are found, and some of the names by which they are "disguised" by food manufacturers.

http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm

Thanks for another good link on MSG!

[BikeBookBread]

I'll second the plug for Pacific brand. It is quite good especially doctored...

[Classical Katharine]

is the only one I know of that tastes as good as you are looking for. It has the highest protein content. More meat, more flavor. The chicken, salted or the beef, no salt, are what we get. We buy by the case from a food co-op to save money.

[Dobela]

Thanks, Dobela! I looked at a list of ingredients for the Swan broth products and here is what I find:

 

Chicken Broth:

 

 

 

SWANSON, BROTH, ORGANIC CHICKEN

 

 

INGREDIENTS: Organic Chicken Broth (Water, Organic Free Range Chicken), Contains Less Than 2% of the Following Sea Salt, Chicken Flavor (Chicken Stock, Chicken Fat, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Egg Yolk Solids, Salt), Organic Chicken Flavor (Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum), Cooked Organic Vegetables (Carrot, Onion, Celery), Chicken Fat, Vegetable Flavor (Spinach Puree, Carrot Puree, Celery Puree, Salt, Onion Puree, Citric Acid), Organic Yeast Extract (Organic Yeast Extract, Salt, Wheat), Onion Powder, Sugar, Cane Juice, Canola Oil, Flavoring, Carrot Powder, Potato Flour, Turmeric, Black Pepper.

 

 

 

 

 

According to Truth in Labeling, Autolyzed Yeast Extract is on the list of ingredients which *ALWAYS* contain right-handed glutamic acid, which is the toxin found in MSG. (Left-handed glutamic acid is one of the 20 amino acids found in all life.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally, MomsintheGarden and I have looked at many, many different types of bullion and all seem to contain Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

 

Thanks for the tip, but I recommend checking out Truth in Labeling for more details on how MSG is hidden in various ingredients.

 

Fortunately, MomsintheGarden makes and freezed awesome chicken and turkey broth that she uses for cooking. I've NEVER had soup better than some of her recent creations! :drool5:

 

Thanks again,

 

Reg

Thanks for the site. I have severe migraines from MSG and do watch for the "code names" as well. I don't have a can currently, but the Swanson I buy is just plain broth and none ofthe hidden names for MSG. But it also isn't the organic. Seems like it is the 99% fat free or something like that. I was actually suprised it was ok when I bought it.

 

IFY another site I like has seevral more hidden names for MSG on it: http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm'>http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm'>http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm'>http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm or start at the homepage http://www.msgmyth.com/

 

I also no longer eat out without checking out restaurant menus online first. You find MSG in some of the oddest places and unexpected foods.

[RegGuheert]

 

Thanks for the site. I have severe migraines from MSG and do watch for the "code names" as well. I don't have a can currently, but the Swanson I buy is just plain broth and none ofthe hidden names for MSG. But it also isn't the organic. Seems like it is the 99% fat free or something like that. I was actually suprised it was ok when I bought it.

Great! Thanks! We'll look for that in the stores. It's too bad more manufacturer's won't sell just plain broth!

IFY another site I like has seevral more hidden names for MSG on it: http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm'>http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm'>http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm'>http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm or start at the homepage http://www.msgmyth.com/

Thanks! Orthodox6 also gave that link and MomsintheGarden and I have started to look at it. It looks like it is better organized than the site I have been using!

I also no longer eat out without checking out restaurant menus online first. You find MSG in some of the oddest places and unexpected foods.

Yes, I travel for business and eating out in the US is a crap shoot. Eating in other parts of the world is much safer in my experience.

[Orthodox6]

Ooops -- if any of those brands' products include autolyzed yeast extract. I would not have listed them had I known that. Sorry !

 

Carrageenan is just an extract from seaweed, and safe when food-grade is used, from what little I have read. Here is an article which discusses the temporary concern about the safety of carrageenan in foods:

http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=82

 

 

Thanks! Most of these broths look great! (A couple of them have Autolyzed Yeast Extract or Carageenan.) It's great to have some new companies to buy good food from!Thanks for another good link on MSG!

[RegGuheert]

Ooops -- if any of those brands' products include autolyzed yeast extract. I would not have listed them had I known that. Sorry !

Some of their products do, but the good thing is that some do not!

Carrageenan is just an extract from seaweed, and safe when food-grade is used, from what little I have read. Here is an article which discusses the temporary concern about the safety of carrageenan in foods:

http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=82

Thanks for the link! Unfortunately, carageenan is often processed at high temperatures and *sometimes* contains right-handed glutamic acid, at least according to Truth in Labeling.

[Dobela]

.... It's too bad more manufacturer's won't sell just plain broth!...Yes, I travel for business and eating out in the US is a crap shoot. Eating in other parts of the world is much safer in my experience.

I wish they would just leave the junk out of our foods. I would buy more from them if they could get that thrutheir corporate heads! I recently had one of the worst migraines I had in a very long time after eating at Olive Garden. I used to order this one pasta dish regularly and had no problems. I let myself get too comfortable only to learn later that they now added Hydrolized Vegetable Protein to that dish now. So, no more Olive garden for me.

[DebonLI]

are so delicious, especially the chicken.

[Jumping In Puddles]

Good luck on your search, and let us know if you find a good one. :)

Edited June 16, 2009 by Jumping In Puddles