As a home cook, beef bouillon cubes are a staple in my pantry These little cubes of concentrated beef broth add rich, savory flavor to soups, stews, gravies, rice dishes and more But beef bouillon can be frustratingly tricky to locate at the store if you don’t know where to look.
After years of hunting through grocery aisles for bouillon, I’ve discovered the best places to find those elusive beef cubes. In this article, I’ll share my tips to help fellow home cooks skip the aimless wandering and zero in on the bouillon. Let’s explore the top spots to track down beef bouillon cubes at the grocery store.
The Soup Aisle
The most obvious place to start your beef bouillon search is in the soup aisle. Here you’ll see shelves stocked with cubed, granulated and liquid bouillon varieties alongside canned and boxed broths, stocks and soup mixes.
Scan the shelves near the chicken and vegetable bouillon, which beef bouillon often sits beside. It could also be grouped with onion soup and gravy mixes, so check there too. Beef bouillon cubes are lightweight, so check upper and lower shelves – they tend to get shoved into hard-to-spot areas.
If you don’t see it with the other soup products, peek at the endcaps (displays at the aisle ends). Stores like to highlight certain items here to grab shoppers’ attention, and beef bouillon is sometimes hidden in these standalone displays.
The Spice Aisle
If the soup aisle search comes up empty-handed, head to the spices and seasonings. Some stores stock bouillon cubes alongside herbs, spices, salt, pepper and other flavor boosters.
Look near the garlic powder, onion powder and seasoning blends. The colored bouillon packaging can blend into the rows of spice jars at first glance, so scan carefully.
While browsing, keep an eye out for powdered bouillon seasoning too. It’s not cubed, but works great sprinkled on meats or stirred into cooking liquids. Consider it a handy backup if the cubes remain elusive.
International and Ethnic Foods
Got an international or ethnic foods section? It may be harboring those beef bouillon cubes. Since bouillon is essential for many global cuisines, stores with international offerings often carry a variety of bouillon cubes.
Peek at the shelves near Thai, Chinese, Mexican and other ethnic ingredients. You may find familiar American brands here, but also look for cubes from other countries for authentic flavor.
The Meat Department
Make a stop in the meat department, specifically the area with broths and stocks. Some stores shelve bouillon products here alongside refrigerated and frozen options.
Check inside doors and under shelves holding refrigerated chicken, beef and veggie broths. Bouillon cubes are often slipped into small racks in these spots.
Also browse the shelves with canned and boxed stocks – beef bouillon frequently sits with these too. Look above and below for hidden stashes.
The Baking Aisle
Here’s a hot spot many bouillon hunters overlook – the baking aisle! If your store has limited ethnic sections, they may file bouillon with baking basics like flour and spices.
Glance along the baking powder, gelatins, coloring and other staples. The compact cubes often land here since they’re used like baking ingredients.
While looking, grab some gelatin too. You can mix it with bouillon cubes to make gourmet aspics for cold salads and appetizers!
The Condiments
Before surrendering, check the condiments. Some stores surprisingly shelve bouillon near ketchup, mustard and other flavor boosters.
Scope out any gaps along the jam-packed shelves. The compact cubes fit nicely into tight spaces between jars and bottles. Also check aisle endcaps for hidden treasure troves. Just be careful not to knock over the precariously stacked sauces and relishes!
Ask for Help
If the aisles yield no results, ask a store employee for guidance. Customer service staff know product locations and can lead you right to the bouillon or share if it’s out of stock. Some may even suggest backup options, like powdered or liquid varieties.
Grab Extras
When you find those prized beef cubes, resist the urge to just grab one. Since they can be inconsistently stocked, I suggest buying two or three when possible.
Stash the extras in your pantry so you’ll always have backup bouillon when recipe inspiration strikes. No more emergency store runs because you’re out!
With these insider tips, you can now confidently track down beef bouillon cubes on your next grocery trip. Head to the soup aisle first, then expand your search to spices, international foods, meat, baking and condiments if needed.
Enlist employee help when stuck. And be sure to stock up when found! Your cooking is destined for new levels of rich, beefy flavor. Happy beef bouillon cube hunting!
Bouillon Cube Substitute
Broth and stock are the best substitutes for bouillon cubes since bouillon is often used to make instant stock. In fact, the word bouillon is a French word that means broth. Use chicken stock to substitute for chicken bouillon cubes, beef stock to substitute for beef bouillon cubes, and vegetable stock in place of veggie bouillon cubes.
Recipes That Use Bouillon Cubes
There are many ways to use bouillon cubes, especially when making sauces and soups.
What Are Bouillon Cubes? (15 Little Known Facts About This Popular Ingredient)
FAQ
Where is beef bouillon in the grocery store?
You can look on the soup aisle for canned, beef, chicken, turkey and vegetable broth. The spice section may have a powered or gelatin like soup base, beef, chicken, vegetable stock base, and usually somewhere on the canned meat aisle you can find beef, chicken or pork bouillon in either a powder or cube form.
Where are bouillon cubes in the grocery store?
There are many types and brands of bouillon cubes, and while all of them may not be available at the local grocery store, at least one company will be represented. Find them in the soup aisle, usually in small cardboard boxes near or on the top shelf.
What aisle is beef bouillon in?
Beef bouillon cubes, paste, and liquid are all found in the spice or broth and stock aisle of the grocery store.
What section is bouillon in?
Chicken bouillon cubes, liquid, and paste are located in the spice or stock and broth aisle of the grocery store.
Where can I find beef bouillon cubes?
The most obvious place to begin your beef bouillon cube search is in the soup aisle. Here you’ll find an array of cubed granulated and liquid bouillon alongside canned and boxed broths, stocks and soup mixes. Beef bouillon often sits on shelves near chicken and vegetable bouillon varieties. It may also be grouped with onion soup and gravy mixes.
Where can I buy bouillon cubes?
Bouillon cubes can be found at any supermarket or grocery store that sells pantry items. They are a simple ingredient to find no matter where the shopper is in the world. At least one type or brand of bouillon cubes will be available.
Where do you buy Bouillon in a grocery store?
The Meat Department Make a pit stop in the meat department – specifically near the broths and stocks. Some grocery stores shelve bouillon products in this area, near the refrigerated and frozen broths and stocks. Peek into doors and under shelves holding the refrigerated chicken, beef and vegetable broths.
Where can I buy beef bouillon granules?
Beef bouillon granules are easy to buy at bulk food retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club. Ethnic markets, like Asian supermarkets or Indian bazaars, are also good places to find them. Our blog post has given you the information needed to purchase beef bouillon granules.
Can you cook with beef bouillon cubes?
If you love adding rich, savory flavor to soups, stews, sauces and more, you likely cook with beef bouillon cubes. These small but mighty cubes pack a hearty beefy punch, transforming dull dishes into deeply satisfying comfort foods. But beef bouillon can be tricky to locate in the grocery store if you don’t know where to look.
Where do bouillon cubes come from?
The bouillon cubes they sell are from Turkey or Romania or something, but it’s still name branded stuff. when you import directly like dollarama does you cut out all the middle men so they can offer you such a great cheap price. As a result, store brand stuff can be sold for a lot less.