We keep broth, stock, and bouillon in our pantry all the time to make some of our favorite cold-weather dishes, like creamy risottos and comforting sauces. Along with being a liquid base, these ingredients give your dish a subtle flavor that doesn’t overpower the seasonings you choose. Since broth, stock, and bouillon are all used in cooking in similar ways, you might wonder if they are really the same thing or if there is a better one to use in a certain recipe.
Beef broth and bouillon cubes are essential ingredients in many savory dishes. Their rich, meaty flavor adds a wonderful depth and complexity to soups stews gravies, sauces, and more. But with so many options on the market, it can get confusing figuring out substitution amounts in recipes. Specifically, how much beef broth equals 2 beef bouillon cubes? Let’s break it down.
An Overview of Beef Broth and Bouillon Cubes
Beef broth is a liquid made by simmering beef bones meat, and vegetables in water. This long cooking time extracts flavor, collagen and nutrients from the ingredients, resulting in a rich, concentrated broth. It can be purchased pre-made or easily homemade.
Bouillon cubes are compressed, dehydrated blocks of concentrated broth. They must be dissolved in liquid to be used. Beef bouillon cubes pack an intense beefy punch and are a quick way to add savory flavor to dishes.
While their flavors are similar, beef broth and bouillon cubes differ in concentration and convenience. Understanding their nuances is key to successfully using them interchangeably.
The Simple Beef Broth to Bouillon Cube Conversion
The standard broth to bouillon cube conversion is:
- 1 beef bouillon cube = 1 cup beef broth
Therefore, if a recipe calls for 2 beef bouillon cubes, you can substitute 2 cups of beef broth.
It’s that easy!
However, bouillon cube strength can vary between brands. Using an extra-concentrated cube may overpower a dish. Start with less broth and adjust to taste when substituting.
Tips for Converting Beef Broth and Bouillon Cubes
Follow these handy tips for flawlessly interchanging beef broth and bouillon cubes:
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Check the cube strength: Concentrations vary between brands. Reduce broth for very concentrated cubes.
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Simmer the cube: Dissolving cubes in hot liquid maximizes flavor extraction.
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Consider salt content: Bouillon cubes contain salt. Omit or reduce added salt if substituting with broth.
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Enhance flavor: Boost broth flavor with onions, carrots, herbs and spices.
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Store properly: Refrigerate broth for 5 days max or freeze for up to 3 months.
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Use warm liquid: Hotter liquids dissolve cubes faster, producing full-bodied flavor.
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Adjust to taste: Start with less broth and tweak amounts to suit cube strength and recipe.
Sample Beef Broth and Bouillon Cube Substitutions
Here are some examples of how beef broth and bouillon cubes can be interchanged in recipes:
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Chili recipe calls for 2 bouillon cubes = use 2 cups beef broth
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Pot roast recipe calls for 1 cup broth = use 1 bouillon cube dissolved in 1 cup hot water
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Gravy recipe calls for 3 cups broth = use 3 bouillon cubes dissolved in 3 cups warm water
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Stew recipe calls for 1 cup broth = use 2 tsp bouillon granules dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
Beef Up Your Dishes with Broth and Bouillon
Understanding conversion ratios is the secret to efficiently swapping beef broth and bouillon cubes. With the proper techniques, you can easily infuse rich, meaty flavor into your cooking. Experiment with broth varieties and cube brands to find your perfect match. Beef broth or bouillon cubes—either way, you simply can’t go wrong.
What is the difference between bouillon and broth?
Let’s start with the simplest of the trio to distinguish: bouillon and broth. What is “bouillon”? It’s the French word for “broth” that has been dried out and turned into a powder or cube.
Bouillon is typically used as a time-saving substitute for a made-from-scratch liquid broth. The flavor of bouillon can be very different depending on what’s in its dehydrated base. This can be vegetables or meats like chicken, beef, or lamb. Bouillon can also be seasoned with a wide variety of spices and herbs.
If you boil one cup of water and add one bouillon cube or a teaspoon of bouillon powder, you get one cup of broth. You can also add bouillon cubes or powder directly to soups, stews, sauces, and curries and melt them in to make them taste better and thicker. Some chefs also like to sprinkle bouillon powder or grated bouillon cubes on food as a seasoning salt to give it a boost of umami-driven flavor.
What Are Bouillon Cubes? (15 Little Known Facts About This Popular Ingredient)
FAQ
Can I use beef broth instead of bouillon?
How much stock is equivalent to bouillon cubes?
What is the ratio of bouillon cubes to water for broth?
How many bouillon cubes to make 4 cups of broth?
How do you make beef broth with bouillon cubes?
To create the equivalent of 1 cup of broth, combine 1 cube or 1 teaspoon of granules with 1 cup of boiling water and mix until the bouillon dissolves. Steps to Make Beef Broth with Bouillon Cubes Bouillon cubes are inexpensive, hassle-free ingredients that add rich flavor to soups and stews. In short, it brings out the “umami” in the dish.
How much beef bouillon do I need to make beef broth?
The generally recommended ratio for high-quality beef broth is: 1 beef bouillon cube per 1 cup of water This proportion yields a full-bodied broth with deep savory beef flavor, without becoming overly salty or concentrated. It provides a good baseline broth to use in most recipes.
Are bouillon cubes a good substitute for broth?
Yes, they are. Sometimes speedy recipes will call for broth or granules since they’re quicker than bouillon cubes. However, one bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon of granules dissolved in 1 cup of boiling water may be substituted for 1 cup of broth in any recipe. Taste of Home is America’s #1 cooking magazine.
How many beef bouillon cubes should I use?
Several factors influence exactly how many beef bouillon cubes you should use when making broth: Cube strength – Some bouillon cube brands are more potent than others. Double strength cubes will be more concentrated. Broth use – A broth for drinking solo may need more cubes than one used for cooking.