where to find beef consomme in the grocery store

Finding Beef Consommé at Your Local Grocery Store – A Helpful Guide

Beef consommé is a rich, flavorful broth made by simmering beef vegetables, and aromatics. This intensely savory liquid can be used as a base for soups and stews or enjoyed on its own. However beef consommé can be tricky to locate at your average grocery store. This guide will teach you where to find beef consommé and recommend specific brands and products to look for.

What Is Beef Consommé?

Before we discuss where to buy it, let’s cover the basics of what exactly beef consommé is:

• Made from beef stock that is clarified and concentrated to intensify flavor,

• Produces a crystal clear, amber-colored liquid.

• Intensely beefy, rich, and savory flavor.

• Usually made with beef bones, onions, carrots, celery, herbs.

• Simmered for 6-12 hours to extract flavors and gelatin.

• Strained to remove solids and impurities.

• Used as a base for soups or enjoyed plain.

• Provides protein, collagen, vitamins & minerals.

• Shelf-stable when canned, also sold fresh or frozen.

Knowing exactly what to look for will make hunting it down much easier!

Where to Find Beef Consommé in Grocery Stores

Beef consommé can be found in a few different sections of the grocery store. Here is a checklist of areas to search when looking to buy beef consommé:

• Canned Soup Aisle – Check shelves with other canned broths and stocks.

• Soup/Broth Section – Near fresh soups or tetra-pak stocks.

• Meat Department – Sometimes sold fresh in the refrigerator case.

• Frozen Section – May be available frozen, often as ice cubes.

• Gourmet/Specialty Foods – High-end brands sold with other upscale items.

• International Foods – European and Latin American varieties.

• Online Grocery – Search the website to locate and order it.

Certain types of stores are also more likely to carry beef consommé than others:

• Specialty Grocers – Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s.

• Gourmet Markets – Dean & DeLuca, Fresh Market.

• Meat Markets/Butcher Shops – Often have house-made options.

• Warehouse Clubs – Costco Business Centers carry it.

• International Markets – Hispanic/Latino and European markets.

• Restaurant Supply Stores – For chefs but open to public.

• Online Retailers – Amazon, specialty food sites.

Top Brands of Beef Consommé

Now let’s go over some of the leading brand names and manufacturers to look for when shopping for beef consommé:

Canned:

• Campbell’s – The most widely available canned beef consommé. Sold condensed or ready-to-use.

• College Inn – Affordable canned version sold at many supermarkets.

• Swanson – Canned beef broth and consommé varieties.

• Pacific Foods – Organic, low-sodium options.

• Progresso – Hearty and traditional canned recipe.

Tetra Pak:

• Kitchen Basics – Common brand of boxed beef consommé.

• Pacific Foods – Organic boxed version, vegetarian options too.

• Imagine Foods – Low-sodium, organic, non-GMO tetra packs.

• Trader Joe’s – Their house brand of concentrated consommé in tetra paks.

Fresh:

• Bonafide Provisions – Fresh, artisanal beef bone broth and consommé.

• Kettle & Fire – Grass-fed beef bone broth and concentrates.

• Bare Bones Broth Co. – Organic beef bone broth and consommé.

• Epic Provisions – Grass-fed concentrates made from beef bones.

Frozen:

• Savory Choice – Frozen beef consommé concentrates and cubes.

• Bones Broth – Grass-fed frozen consommé and broths.

• Wilde Brands – Frozen concentrated chicken and beef broths.

Tips for Finding It

Here are some additional tips to improve your chances of locating beef consommé:

• Ask the store butcher if they have any fresh or can order it.

• Check manufacturer websites for store locators.

• Call ahead to verify a store carries it before making a trip.

• Inquire at customer service if you’re having trouble finding it.

• Purchase online for delivery if your local stores don’t have it.

• Try gourmet markets or restaurant supply shops.

• Look for both name brand and generic/store brands.

How to Use Beef Consommé

Once you’ve procured some beef consommé, here are tips for incorporating it into your cooking:

• Use as the base for soups, stews, braises. Boosts savory meaty flavor.

• Add to pan sauces, gravies, marinades for extra richness.

• Poach eggs, seafood, or poultry in consommé instead of plain water.

• Drink plain, reheated consommé as a hot, nourishing beverage.

• Freeze in ice cube trays then pop out cubes to add flavor to dishes.

• Reduce further into an extra-strong glace de viande for an intense flavor boost.

• Whisk in wine or brandy and herbs for an elevated French consommé.

• Substitute 1:1 for any recipe calling for beef broth or stock.

Storing and Handling Beef Consommé

Properly storing your beef consommé will help it retain maximum flavor and longevity:

• Keep canned consommé in a cool, dry pantry up to 2 years.

• Refrigerate opened cans and tetra paks up to 4-5 days.

• Use fresh consommé within 4 days. Freeze for longer storage.

• Frozen consommé keeps 6 months in the freezer.

• Freeze broth in ice cube trays for easy portioning.

• Bring consommé to a boil when reheating if using in recipes.

• Microwave canned consommé with the lid off otherwise it may splatter.

• Simmer to reduce excess sodium and concentrate flavors as needed.

Beef Consommé Substitutes

If you can’t find beef consommé, these make suitable substitutions:

• Beef broth or stock
• Chicken broth/stock
• Bone broth (beef or chicken)
• Mushroom broth (for vegetarian diets)
• Roasted vegetable broth
• Water + bouillon cubes/granules

The Takeaway

Beef consommé may take some searching, but a bit of detective work at specialty grocers and high-end markets should turn up this “brown gold” broth. Canned versions offer convenience while house-made fresh consommé is sublime. With its deep savory essence of beef, this versatile ingredient is worth seeking out to elevate soups, braises, and more. Ask your butcher, scour the soup aisle, and check gourmet stores to get your hands on some beefy, rich consommé.