where are beef bouillon cubes in the grocery store

Where to Find Beef Bouillon Cubes in the Grocery Store – A Helpful Guide for Home Cooks

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.

As a home cook and recipe developer, I rely on beef bouillon to amplify umami and round out the flavors in many of my dishes Over the years, I’ve mastered the art of hunting down those precious cubes in grocery stores near and far.

In this article, I’ll share my insider tips for locating beef bouillon, so you can skip the aimless wandering and get straight to cooking. Let’s explore the top spots to find beef bouillon cubes at the grocery store.

The Soup Aisle

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. Be sure to check both the upper and lower shelves in this section – beef bouillon is lightweight so it occasionally gets shoved to hard-to-reach spots.

Not seeing it with the other soup products? Before you walk away empty-handed, check down the soup aisle endcaps (the displays at the end of the aisle). Stores sometimes showcase certain items here to catch shoppers’ attention. The beef bouillon could be hiding in plain sight on one of these stand-alone displays.

The Spice Aisle

If the soup aisle search comes up short, make your way over to the spices and seasonings. Some grocery stores stock bouillon cubes alongside herbs, spices, salt and pepper.

You’re most likely to find beef bouillon near the garlic powder, onion powder and other savory seasoning blends. Be diligent and scan the shelves thoroughly – the colored packaging can easily blend in with the array of spice jars.

While you’re poking around this section, keep an eye out for powdered bouillon seasoning. It’s not the cube form, but works well sprinkled on meats or stirred into cooking liquids. Consider it a handy backup option if the bouillon cubes remain elusive.

International and Ethnic Foods

Got an international or ethnic foods section in your grocery store? It could be harboring those beef bouillon cubes.

Since bouillon is essential for many global cuisines, stores with international aisles often carry a selection of bouillon cubes. Check the shelves near the Thai, Chinese, Mexican and other ethnic ingredients.

You may spot familiar American brands here, but also look for bouillon options that originate from other countries. They can provide authentic flavors to complement the cultural dishes you’re cooking.

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. The bouillon cubes are often slipped into a small display rack in these spots.

Also browse the shelves holding the canned and boxed stocks – beef bouillon frequently sits amongst this group. Examine the space above and below these items to uncover hidden stashes.

Buyer Beware: The Meat Counter

A word of caution: don’t confuse the butcher counter or meat cutting station for the beef bouillon display! I once overheard a puzzled shopper at the meat counter, asking where they could find the beef bouillon. The butcher looked baffled before politely explaining that raw beef and bouillon cubes are very different. Whoops! Just a friendly public service reminder to double check you’re in the broth section, not at the butcher block.

The Baking Aisle

Here’s an unexpected hot spot that many bouillon cube hunters overlook – the baking aisle. If your grocery store has limitedinternational and ethnic offerings, they may file bouillon cubes alongside baking staples like flour, sugar and spices.

Glance along the baking powder, gelatins, food coloring and other basic baking needs. Beef bouillon cubes often sneak into this area since they’re compact and used in small amounts like baking ingredients.

While scouring for bouillon, toss a container of gelatin into your cart too. You can dissolve gelatin with bouillon to make gourmet aspics for cold salads and appetizers.

The Condiments

Before you throw in the towel, consider taking a cruise through the condiments. Some stores surprisingly shelve bouillon near ketchup, mustard, hot sauce and other flavor boosters.

Check any open spaces along the jam-packed shelves in this section. Beef bouillon cubes are compact so they easily tuck into small gaps between jars and bottles.

Also scan condiment displays at the ends of aisles for those hidden beef bouillon treasure stashes. Just be careful not to knock over the precariously stacked pickled relishes and chili sauces.

Customer Service is Your Friend

Despite your valiant efforts combing every aisle, you may still come up empty-handed. When all else fails, don’t hesitate to flag down a store employee for guidance. Customer service staff have the inside scoop on product locations.

Politely explain what you’re seeking and ask if they have beef bouillon cubes in stock. Most will happily lead you right to the elusive bouillon or clarify if it’s currently out of stock. Some may even offer creative substitutions, like powdered or liquid bouillon varieties.

Pro Trip: Grab Extras

If you finally spot those prized beef bouillon cubes, resist the urge to just grab one container. Since they can be tricky to find consistently, I suggest buying two or three, whenever possible.

Tuck the extras away in your pantry so you always have backup bouillon when recipe inspiration strikes. No more emergency mid-meal runs to the store when you realize you’re out!

Beef Up Your Bouillon IQ

Now that you know where to find beef bouillon cubes at the grocery store, let’s get clear on what exactly they are. Bouillon cubes contain concentrated, dehydrated beef or beef-flavored stock. Just one small cube can transform a cup of water into a full cup of savory broth.

Home cooks use bouillon cubes to:

• Make quick broth for soups, stews, gravies, etc.
• Boost flavor in rice, quinoa, pastas, etc.
• Enhance taste in sauces, dips and marinades.
• Substitute when fresh broths/stocks aren’t available.

When shopping for beef bouillon, you’ll see a few common forms:

Cubes – The iconic compact cubes, usually around an inch square. They must be dissolved in hot liquid.

Granules – Dried bouillon crushed into tiny granules. Whisk into cooking liquids for fast flavor.

Paste – Concentrated bouillon in a thick paste or gel form. Typically comes in a jar or tubes.

Liquid – Bottled, concentrated bouillon sold as a liquid. Often used for convenience.

Beef bouillon contains onions, carrots, celery, seasonings and beef fat or flavors. Some versions also incorporate tomatoes, sugars, soy sauce, yeast extract, preservatives and MSG.

When comparing options, watch out for:

Salt content – Many cubes are high in sodium. Seek lower sodium products if needed.

Artificial colors and flavors – Check the ingredient list if you wish to avoid these.

Allergens – Bouillon often contains milk, soy, MSG and sulfites.

How to Cook with Bouillon Cubes

Beef bouillon cubes make it simple to add savory, beefy flavor to dishes. Here are some tips for cooking with bouillon:

• To make 1 cup of broth, dissolve 1 bouillon cube in 1 cup hot water or liquid. Adjust amounts as needed.

• Add cubes directly to simmering soups, stews and sauces. Allow time to dissolve and incorporate.

• For richer flavor, brown cubes slightly in fat before adding liquids.

• Use crushed cubes or granules to season meat before cooking or add to rubs.

• Whisk bouillon powder into gravies, dips, dressings for instant savory notes.

• Substitute bouillon + water for plain water when cooking grains or mushrroms to boost taste.

Beef up Bloody Marys by adding a dissolved beef bouillon cube – it enhances the savory flavors.

Storing Beef Bouillon Properly

Follow these tips to maintain freshness and prevent your bouillon cubes from acquiring freezer burn or absorbing fridge odors:

• Once opened, transfer cubes to an airtight container. The original packaging is not moisture-proof.

• Store containers in a cool, dry place like the pantry. Avoid humid environments.

• If your home is very hot, refrigerate cubes in summer to extend shelf life.

• Write the opened date on containers and use within 6 months to 1 year.

• If cubes become hard, simply crush them before adding to dishes.

Ready to Hunt for Bouillon

Now that you’re armed with insider bouillon-hunting strategies, you can confidently track down those flavor-packed beef bouillon cubes on your next grocery run. Head straight to the soup aisle first, then branch out to the spices, international section, meat department and baking aisle if needed.

Enlist help from store staff when you get stuck. And be sure to stock up on extras when bouillon is found! With this guide in hand, your cooking is destined to reach new depths of savory beefy flavor. Grab the bouillon and get ready to simmer up some sensational soups and stews soon. Happy beef bouillon cube hunting!