Chicken bouillon cubes are a common ingredient in many dishes and are used to make soups, stews, rice dishes, and more taste better. But many people who cook at home don’t know how much sodium is in those little cubes. Eating too much sodium can be bad for your heart. This complete guide will show you how much sodium is in one chicken bouillon cube and give you ways to lower your sodium intake.
Sodium Content in Popular Chicken Bouillon Cube Brands
The amount of sodium in a chicken bouillon cube can vary quite a bit depending on the specific brand Here is a breakdown of the sodium levels in some popular options
- Knorr Chicken Bouillon Cubes – 1000mg sodium per cube
- Maggi Chicken Bouillon Cubes – 1100mg sodium per cube
- Herb Ox Chicken Bouillon Cubes – 900mg sodium per cube
- Wyler’s Chicken Bouillon Cubes – 860mg sodium per cube
- Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base – 320mg sodium per 1 tsp serving (equivalent to 1 cube)
As you can see most standard chicken bouillon cubes contain 700-1000mg sodium per cube. That’s already nearly half the recommended daily sodium intake in just one small cube!
Why You Should Care About Sodium Intake
Sodium is an essential mineral that our bodies require in small amounts. However the average American consumes a whopping 3,400mg of sodium per day – far more than the recommended limits. High sodium intake is associated with negative health effects like
- Increased blood pressure
- Higher risk of heart disease and stroke
- Fluid retention
- Kidney problems
The American Heart Association says that adults shouldn’t eat more than 2,300 mg of sodium every day. People with high blood pressure or a high risk of heart disease should not take more than 1,500 mg per day. As you can see, these limits can be broken very quickly with just one or two bouillon cubes.
Healthy Ways to Reduce Sodium from Bouillon Cubes
Luckily, there are several easy ways to reduce the sodium content of your food when cooking with bouillon cubes:
- Use only half a cube instead of a whole one
- Combine the cube with fresh herbs, spices and acidic ingredients (like lemon) to boost flavor
- Opt for low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties
- Make your own homemade broth using real chicken and minimal salt
- Substitute bouillon with salty flavor-boosters like soy sauce, fish sauce or anchovies
- Try salt-free seasoning blends to add flavor without sodium
You can cut down on sodium without giving up taste. By following a few easy steps, you can eat tasty food and keep your heart healthy.
Homemade Lower-Sodium Chicken Broth
Making your own chicken broth at home is one of the healthiest things you can do. This allows complete control over sodium content.
Ingredients:
- Leftover chicken bones/carcass
- Vegetable scraps (onion, carrots, celery etc)
- Fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, bay leaves
- Whole black peppercorns
- Water
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a large pot and cover with water.
- Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer for at least 2 hours, up to 8 hours for maximum flavor extraction.
- Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve.
- Cool and store broth in airtight containers in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for several months.
With homemade broth, you can add salt and seasonings to taste when using it to cook. This allows precise control over sodium levels in your finished dishes. It also provides superior flavor compared to bouillon cubes.
One chicken bouillon cube can contain upwards of 1,000mg sodium – a substantial portion of the recommended daily amount. While bouillon cubes add convenience and flavor to cooking, it’s important to be mindful of sodium intake from these and other sources for heart health. Luckily, with a few simple substitutions and homemade options, you can still enjoy delicious food without going overboard on sodium. Moderation and balance is key for maintaining good health while still enjoying bold, savory flavors in the kitchen.
Uses of chicken broth and chicken bouillon
Chicken broth and chicken bouillon are both good choices as the base of a meal, particularly if you’re feeling under the weather. Make a hearty chicken noodle soup with broth or bouillon as the base. You can also add it to a bowl of ramen noodles or use it to make a soup like minestrone that is high in vegetables.
If your chicken noodle soup recipe calls for chicken broth but you only have chicken bouillon on hand, no need to worry. Chicken broth will likely give your dish a deeper flavor, but using chicken bouillon instead wont make a huge difference in the overall taste.
Chicken broth and chicken bouillon aren’t just for soups, though. They’re also great additions to dishes that benefit from a richer flavor. Add chicken broth to a creamy risotto or to masa to make rich tamales, or use it as the base to braise meat. Chicken bouillon, especially bouillon powders, are also great as an additional seasoning on their own.
Chicken broth and chicken bouillon nutrition
Although chicken broth and chicken bouillon are easily interchangeable in recipes, they do differ when it comes to their nutritional profiles. Homemade chicken broth slightly edges out chicken bouillon as the healthier choice.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one cup of homemade chicken broth contains roughly:
- 86 calories
- 6 grams of protein
- 3 grams of fat
- 8.5 grams of carbohydrates
Chicken broth also contains small amounts of essential minerals, such as:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
Homemade broth usually has about 340 milligrams of sodium, but that can change based on how much salt is added while it’s cooking.
It’s important to note that store-bought chicken broth will likely contain much higher amounts of sodium than homemade versions.
Chicken bouillon nutrition
Compared to homemade chicken broth, chicken bouillon contains fewer calories, but also has lower amounts of protein and essential minerals. One cup of chicken bouillon has about:
- 14 calories
- 1.5 grams of protein
- 0.2 grams of fat
- 0.4 grams of carbohydrates
A major difference between the nutritional profiles of chicken broth and chicken bouillon is their sodium content. Regular chicken bouillon can have up to 890 milligrams of sodium, which is almost three times as much as homemade broth and almost half of the daily value.
If sodium intake is a concern, there are low-sodium varieties of chicken bouillon and store-bought chicken broth available. Check the nutrition label before purchasing and look for items labeled low-sodium or sodium-free.
What Are Bouillon Cubes? (15 Little Known Facts About This Popular Ingredient)
FAQ
Are chicken bouillon cubes high in sodium?
Regular chicken bouillon can contain as much as 890 milligrams of sodium, nearly three times the amount found in homemade broth and nearly half of the ….
What’s a healthier alternative to chicken bouillon?
Canned or homemade chicken stock gives any dish depths of flavor and less salt than typical kinds of chicken bouillon, making them even better than the bouillon itself. Vegetable bouillon or stock comes in as a close second. Either stock needs to simmer for at least 2 hours to substitute for bouillon.
Is there a low sodium version of better than bouillon?
Better Than Bouillon® Seasoned Vegetable Base with Less Sodium is made by blending carrots, celery, onions, tomato, and aromatic spices together. It has one-quarter less salt than our Original Bases, conforming to FDA requirements for reduced sodium levels.
What is 1 cube of chicken bouillon equal to?
A: Bouillon cubes are pre-measured, so you know exactly how much bouillon you’re using — typically 1 teaspoon. Granules, on the other hand, must be measured out, but you can add exactly the amount you want, whether that’s 1/4 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon.
How much sodium is in a bouillon cube?
Cravings in Amsterdam observes that a single bouillon cube can contain up to 1,000 milligrams of sodium, and a Wyler’s chicken bouillon cube, for example, contains 800 milligrams of sodium.
How much sodium is in chicken bouillon?
Bouillon, like many canned chicken broths, can be high in sodium (1 cube of Wyler’s chicken bouillon has about 880 milligrams of sodium). To reduce the sodium, I generally add 1 cube for every 1 cup boiling water.
How many calories are in a chicken bouillon cube?
Click here to edit. What is my Recommended Daily Intake (RDI)? There are 5 calories in 1 cube (3. 7 g) of Wyler’s Chicken Bouillon Cubes. Calorie breakdown: 0% fat, 100% carbs, 0% protein.
How many calories in chicken bouillon?
Chicken bouillon is low in calories but high in sodium. It also provides a small amount of several other micronutrients, including copper and selenium. When chicken bouillon is mixed with water, one cup (241 mL) has (1): Keep in mind that the nutritional value can change depending on the brand and the exact ingredients used.
What is chicken bouillon made of?
It also includes a variety of seasonings, such as turmeric, parsley, and coriander. In some cases, it may also contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), an ingredient used to enhance the flavor of certain dishes. Although chicken bouillon is most commonly found in the form of dry cubes, it’s also available as a paste, powder, or liquid.
Should you eat chicken bouillon if you have a low sodium diet?
Because of this, if you want to cut down on salt, you should choose a low sodium or sodium-free chicken bouillon. Furthermore, chicken bouillon lacks nutrients and only provides small amounts of vitamins and minerals, including copper and selenium.