NOW CLOSED: Bisto Stock Melts reviewer feedback thread

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the Mumsnetters who have been trying out the new Stock Melts from Bisto with their family.
We have some questions for you to answer but we'd love to hear about how you are using them over the next couple of weeks.
Do post links to any recipes you use them in and give the family feedback on taste as well!

All testers who add feedback to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £100 Amazon voucher.
If you're not a tester but have any queries of Bisto or with a tester please do post it and we will endeavour to get a response.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw.

MNHQ

My box came yesterday

I will add my feedback soon

My box arrived this week and i was really chuffed with the joseph joseph utensils. Have cooked a few meals but only with the beef ones so i'll post more when i've tried the others. I like them so far but they turned very watery in the slow cooker.

So far...

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
I actually cheated and eyed these up in Tesco before mine came. The packaging is distinctive, and it seemed like they have a lower salt content to the competitors. This factor alone would have made them my stock of choice.

The fact that the meat pots promote real meat juices was another eye ctching point.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
They were very easy to use. In some dishes I just lobbed them in, and in others I made up the stock. They dissolved well in both dishes and boiling water and smelt gorgeous. I find that the knorr pots leave a lot of sediment when making up the stock, but this wasn't the case with Bisto. The only slight issue I had was that they didn't always come away cleanly from the pots, and I had to scrape out the last few bits with a spoon.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
Definitely. They added a deeper, richer taste to all of the beef dishes I cooked. The risotto I made with the chicken stock was noticeably less salty than when I have used other stock. The DCs ate their teas at an alarmingly fast rate each time!

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
Definitely - see above. I can only think of "meaty" to describe the flavour - more poetically "an additional dimension without the traditional stock saltiness". I haven't used the veggie ones yet.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
So far we have made cottage pies, spag bog (both with the beef) and chicken risotto with the chicken stock. I'm planning a veg risotto and a pasta and sauce dish with the veggie ones.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
Definitely. I love dishes with stock, but avoid them usually because of the overpowering saltiness. I find that when I make my own stock it's usually bland, so these are a fabulous addition to my kitchen.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?
I already have! My Dad is a keen cook. He's going to try the veggie ones on my recommendation. Again, it was the superb flavours without the saltiness that made me suggest them to him.

Marking my place to come back and write up my answers after DC are in bed later

Thanks again for the tester boxes and also the fab Joseph Joseph utensils!

Received my box on Friday so will start using this week.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?

That they were nicely packaged and looked expensive.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?

They melted well and were easy to scoop out of the little tub. Normally I have to slice up my usual brand of stock cube in order for it to dissolve evenly.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?

Absolutely! It made the meal taste amazing - much better than my usual stock cubes.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?

Very much so. The flavours were much deeper than we are used to and we loved it. The flavours are extremely meaty without being salty.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?

So far, I've used the beef in a meatball sauce and the chicken in an Irish Stew. I'm planning on using them in vegetable soup, spaghetti bolognese, spaghetti carbonara, cottage pie and beef casserole next week.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?

I think the price is quite reasonable for the enhanced quality of the food. I will definitely buy them when I can afford to - I do have weeks when the value stock cubes will have to do :(

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

Yes, definitely as I thought I was a pretty good cook already but these improve the flavour of my food so much. I would be happy to serve up a meal containing these stock melts at a dinner party.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to try them and for the gorgeous gifts! They're very much appreciated!

Q1. I like the fact that the packaging is resealable, which is a vast improvement on the frankly dire packaging of my usual brand.

Q2. It dissolved well, no residue at the bottom of the jug. As simple to use as my usual brand.

Q3. Yes, we liked it. Flavour was deeper and richer than my usual brand. The chicken one is very chickeny!

Q4. As above, the chicken one tastes of roast chicken.

Q5. I made my own chicken risotto, rather than the one on the box. I am planning a vegetable soup and a cottage pie. Haven't done them yet as I have been ill.

Q6. In my supermarket (Tesco), they are 10p dearer a box than the RRP, as they are £1.99. Whether I will buy them again depends on a price comparison with my usual brand. Though I won't be buying them as regularly, and will still have to buy my usual brand more often as the Bisto ones aren't Gluten Free. Still think the Bisto ones taste nicer though!

Q7. Yes, I would recommend them to friends and family because they are easy to use and taste better than the other main brand.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
Nice packaging, would look good on shelf & attract buyers I think

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
Easy to use, dissolved easily

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
We all thought they gave a nice flavour, although I did need to season a bit more it was nice to have control over the salt content but still have the flavour.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
Yes definately flavourful-have only done a Beef & a Veggie Casserole so far

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
As above but quorn spag bol next & veggie /chicken curry

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
Bit pricey but might have them for special meals/treats!

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

Yes would recommend especially to foodie friends.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?

It looked like an expensive brand, I liked that it was a resealable pack, and that it actually works as some don't. I loved the recipe idea on the bottom of the pack, all the information is given in a very clear way on the packaging.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?

I find that the cubes I use can be quite salty and often I use less although this means a reduced flavour, some of the cheaper brands can also be a little greasy and not melt well. This stock melt gave a beautiful depth of flavour without being too salty or greasy,

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?

Absolutely, I didn't have to compromise on quantity to reduce saltiness, I also added this to a couple of dishes I normally wouldn't bother with and noticed the difference in taste.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?

We loved the taste of these. I think deep really is the best word to describe the flavour.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?

I have so far made a vegetable soup, a beef stew and a vegetable rissoto and added on to spag bol. I am planning on doing a broth and chicken soup this week and another, as yet undecided chicken dish.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?

I think £1.89 is a very reasonable price. I usually buy the cheaper stock cubes, and to be honest I wouldn't have bothered before I tried them as I wouldn't have thought it would have made so much of a difference. Having now tried them I think they are well worth the money.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

I already have recommended them to a few people, I know 2 of them have bought them and love them.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
Slightly fiddly to get the stock out of the little pot, it had to be spooned out rather than being squeezed out which was annoying. Sleeve with lid is a good idea.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
They melted faster than stock cubes

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
Yes and it wasn't favourable, see below

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
No, I was disappointed. Bisto Stock Melts taste exactly like a stock cube which if that was what you were aiming for is fine but I was expecting a more sophisticated flavour. The first thing that hit me when I open the pot was the burnt smell of both the chicken and beef. I expect a stock to taste of chicken not roast chicken same with the beef. It was almost acrid in flavour and spoilt practically every dish I made. I used Knorr stock pots as a basic demi glace to enhance sauces and broths as the stock pots taste of chicken or beef not of a roast.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
I used them in dishes where I would normally use a Knorr Stock Pot. 1) chicken stock melt in a miso broth - left with raft of bitter herbs and small droplets of orange fat floating on the top and a roasted chicken flavour that overpowered the broth. 2) beef stock melt in spaghetti bolgnaise - my 9 month old DD refused to eat it and my DH complained about the bitter flavour 3) beef stock melt in gravy - DH enjoyed this meal and said it reminded him of gravies his Granny made 30 years ago. I'm not giving up though and will try them in a chicken tagine, vegetable soup and couscous.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
Not at the moment. I didn't like them. They taste just like a stock cube and do not have the subtlety of flavour that the Knorr Stock Pots have

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?
I would say that if you want a stock cube that melts quickly then Bisto Stock Melts are great but if you want a more sophisticated flavour don't use them.

I'm still waiting for mine :(

I used the chicken stock and made a risotto with onion, garlic, chicken, mushrooms, peas and soft cheese.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
I thought the packaging was lovely actually! Not at all what I would expect stock to be. I am a dye hard stock cube user...of the very salty kind...so the thought of NOT having to crumble and having dissolving issues pleased me. I haven't ever used anything but my cubes or the odd spoon of bovril, so I really looked forward to this.... I noticed the lower salt content and realised that they would be better for the kids. To be honest though, if i saw them in the supermarket i would assume they were expensive and 'not for me' and probably wouldn't give them a second look UNLESS they were heavily discounted.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
So much easier! unlike some of the others, i found the stock came out of the pot in one lump. It dissolved easily and I felt like I was using 'proper' stock.
I loved not having to crumble in a cube.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
Yes, the lack of salt! Now i've been brought up on salt and love it so i missed it a bit, but i have to say the flavour was good. The kids loved it - as usual - so from that point of view not giving them all that salt is a bonus. I shall have to try harder and get use to it.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
I would say the flavour was like roasted chicken, and yes we liked it. In this recipe it is hard to say if it changed it much other than the salt, but it was very tasty.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
As I said at the top, i made chicken risotto. I am planning on making beef stew, broccoli soup and both a chicken and a beef gravy.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
Yes I think I will, but only if they are not too expensive

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?
I would yes, particularly to parents who cook for their little ones

miss ree - should be on its way to you now!

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?

Look impressive - look more expensive than some of the similar products on the market. Eye-catching packaging. Good receipes on the back.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?

Really easy to use - found that they dissolved easier than some other stocks I have used. Definiatley at lot easier to use than traditional stock cubes & better texture to simialr stocks - these dissolve easier & quicker.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?

My family commented on the spagetti bolognaise that I made - my son stated that it was like a cross between beef stew & spaghetti bolgnaise - he really liked it. My 2 eldest children also advised that they were impressed with the flavour of the gravy that I made using the beef stock melt.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
Yes very impressed with flavour as above my son noticed the richness in the spaghetti bolgnaise I made using beef stock melt.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?

So far I've used in spaghetti bolgnaise, gravy for roast dinner & used the receipe for the steak sauce - which went down a treat with the whole family. I am keen to use the vegetable stock melts & looking at making a warming suop with them this week. The chicken melt I used in a jambalya - which was good but didn't really notice the difference of flavour, however I was using hot chillies in this receipe so may have had an effect.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?

Def - good price for a quality product.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

Yes - ease of use, quality product with a distinctive flavour - bettter than other similar products on the market.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
Looked like good quality product and packaging

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
I used the beef one in the slow cooker and didn't have to dissolve it in water like I normally would with other makes. Also used chicken one in casserole in oven but I did add that one to water and was easy to mix no granules to try dissolve

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
It definately tasted beefier/stronger and the chicken one tasted of "chicken" unlike some I have used that taste more veg based

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
Yes we liked the taste it was a richer base for the casseroles. A stronger than normal taste from other stock that I have used

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
I've used in beef casserole, corn beef hash, spaghetti bolognaise, chicken casserole and tonight I'm going to use with sausage and onions
Will do a rissoto tomorrow with the veg ones

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
Yes I think I would buy them again because I liked the taste and find them very convenient to use

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?
I have already recommended them to family and friends and my ds at uni has (borrowed some) said he will try them too.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?

i like the packaging. i had noticed them in Tesco once or twice and they are quite eye catching compared to the others on offer.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?

I found that the chicken and vegetable stocks melted very easily in boiling water for my casseroles but the beef one was still a little clumpy at the bottom of the jug and needed a little more water on top to fully dissolve.
this is still a vast improvement on the powdered cubes i have used in the past.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?

the flavour had a deeper, richer quality and my DD practically shovelled her dinner in

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?

up to now we have tried the chicken and vegetable ones and the flavour was lovely without being over salty. there is a beef casserole in the slow cooker as we speak with the beef stock melt in

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?

i have made chicken and veg soup, veg casserole and mushroom risotto up to now and i am making a beef casserole for this evening i am planning a cottage pie and a big pan of scouse this weekend
Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?

i will definitely buy them again as they add a lovely extra quality to the food without being too expensive.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

i already have i have given one of each flavour to my sister and a veg one to my mum who is a veggie they have both agreed how nice the flavours are and will be buying them in the future

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?

Very nice packaging - look more expensive than they actually are!

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?

Dissolved easily into the dishes I used them in. No lumpy bits which was great!

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?

Much meatier taste in the Beef and Chicken ones. Lovely strong veg flavour from the veg ones. Very nice indeed and noticeably less salt.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?

Yes, the taste was much better. It made the flavour a much richer meaty flavour. You could notice that there wasn't as much salt as traditional stocks.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?

I did some batch cooking yesterday - Beef Chilli, Bolognese, Chicken Stew and Vegetable soup.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?

Yes, I would pay that for them as the lower salt content means that I won't have to make 9month old DD a separate dish.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

Yes, I would most definitely recommend to friends and have indeed already recommended to my Mum for cooking for DD when she's childminding her!

Only just got round to doing this - have used each variety now.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
Nice packaging, I like the fact that the box re-closes.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
These were so easy to use! They really did just melt into the meat/dissolve easily in boiling water. No grainy bits etc. and no residue on my mixing jug.
Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
Yes - less salty than regular stock cubes. DH said he preferred it.
Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
The Beef ones were our favourite as they added a lovely rich gravy to my Cottage Pie, which I struggle to get with cubes. The flavour did seem richer, probably due to the meat juices in the Melts. The flavour seemed more 'unctuous', like I'd get if I made my own. DH in particular was really impressed.
Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
Beef - Cottage Pie and Beef Casserole. Chicken - Risotto. Veg - Mushroom & Noodle Soup. I'm going to try making some sauces with them as suggested on the recipe card I got in my pack; though to be honest, the cottage pie was so popular that I might just use the rest of them in that!
Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
I think I probably would, though I would be more likely to if they were on offer or part of a multibuy etc.
Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?
Yes I would.

The utensils are fantastic as well - they have all been put to good use

I've now used the chicken one in a soup and a ratatouille I thought I would do a quick review of that flavour.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?

As above, lovely clear packaging, loved the recipe ideas, looks like a more expensive brand.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?

I much prefer it to the stock cubes I usually use that sometimes don't melt properly and I usually have to compromise on quantity due to the salt content.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?

Yes we noticed a difference, the chicken was slightly more subtle then the other flavours but we still tasted a difference.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?

Yes we did like the flavour, the chicken didn't make as much difference as the beef and vegetable flacvours did but it definetly added a deeper flavour to the dishes.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?

I made chicken soup and a ratatouille, I will be making another batch of chicken soup this week and am planning a chicken rissotto.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?

I will buy them again now that I have tried them and tasted the difference, I wouldn't have paid £1.89 to have a try of them though.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

I have already and know a couple of people who have bought them.

Firstly, thank you for the chance to try these and the utensils, they are great and well used already!
Q1. I liked the look of the packaging, it looked interesting and a bit more different than I expected.

Q2. I mostly use stock cubes, having tried other brands of condensed liquid stock and not noticed much difference. I don?t trust cubes to dissolve properly without using water so I liked the consistency of these and trusted them to ?melt? properly.

Q3. I used a vegetable stock melt in a roasted vegetable pasta sauce (I wouldn?t normally use stock in the tomato sauce) and it definitely was a good addition and improved the flavour. I also used one in a mushroom curry ? it was too strong for this because I used a whole tub for quite a small amount of mushrooms, it gave a very rich flavour. I would be careful to think about quantities next time.

Q4 I used a vegetable stock melt in the stir fry recipe you provided and have to say I was amazed that all three DCs liked it ? I have never managed to keep all three happy with a stir fry before, I usually just try some ginger and garlic with vegetables and noodles. Your recipe suggested stirring in a stock melt to the vegetables and then squeezing over some lime juice, it was amazingly tasty and I will definitely make this again. I don?t know how to describe the stock flavour except to say it was full of flavour, but added to other flavours rather than overpowering them.

Q5. I am planning soup, bolognese and risotto this weekend. I will consider adding them to other dishes that I wouldn?t necessarily add stock to as well as my usual soups etc.

Q6. I will buy them again - if they make a difference in soup then I will use them instead of my usual cubes, if not then I may decide to use both and keep the Bisto melts for dishes where I know they will make a difference. I am impressed with the salt content also.

Q7. Yes, I have already suggested to someone that they try them and they have.

woah! just made beef stew!! yep. the beef stock is lovely in beef stew :-)

i made beef gravy yesterday and to be honest it was too bitter, but the onion, celery and carrot in the stew have made it softer in flavour and sweeter. yum yum!

Made a chicken and ham tangled pie tonight (Hairy Bikers) and used the chicken stock. First thing I noticed was the smell - even as a non meat eater it smelt nicer than other stock cubes and the Knorr stock melts. It was then much easier to dissolve into the chicken and ham mixture than the alternatives. Was very impressed as the Knorr ones can take a while sometimes and can leave jellified lumps in places. It also gave a richer colour and aroma.

DD has eaten her pie and said it was delicious. I asked her specifically about the gravy/sauce within the pie and she said it was lovely.

If the others are the same then yes, will definitely buy.

Once again, thanks for choosing me. I have enjoyed being a tester .

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?

I though the resealable boxes were good and I found the pots easy to open.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?

Much easier than using a stock cube, although I have always made it up with 500ml boiling water so far. I might try with cold water or putting straight into something next.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?

The beef ones were so lovely and rich. They weren't salty in the slightest, which we liked. I much preffered the taste of all the meals to usual - I would normally use either an oxo cube or bisto best gravy granules.

I also used a veggie one in a spag bol and was less impressed. I'm struggling to pinpoint why - perhaps a little bland? I think the beef one would be too beefy for a spag bol - it would be more like shepherds pie

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?

see 3

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?

I have made 2 beef stews in the slow cooker, and used 2 pots to make onion gravy for toad in the hole and a steak pie. All 3 of us really liked the strong beef taste, and dd (3.6) couldn't get enough of it!

I have only used the one veg one in the spag bol. I'm going to do the veg risotto at the weekend with a vegone and I'll do some chicken gravy for sunday roast to try a chicken one.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?

I think it's maybe a little bit high (I am a tight Northerner after all). Maybe £1.59? In my local Sainsbury's they are on the shelf with value stock cubes 10p for 12 cubes! Now I wouldn't buy those but people probably would if they hadn't tried these ones. Then again I did buy a sachet of beef and ale stew recently for the slow cooker and that was 89p for only one meal, so I suppose it is quite good value!

I probably won't buy the veg ones again, but will absolutely buy the beef ones - they were FANTASTIC!

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?

Yes, I will recommend to my Mum at the weekend, and if any work colleagues ask me about them. I think they are a good product, especially if they were on a BOGOF/3for2 offer.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
I loved the resealable closing boxes. My only criticism was the packaging was quite busy as such i switched off to the text on the packet and didnt even notice the recipes until i read about them on this thread.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
They were so easy!!! I slid a knife around the edge of the pot and the stock slid out easily. They dissolved so much better than stock cubes too. I normally use oxo cubes and squash them in the foil which is tricky to then open. These were a dream.
Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
They were less salty, so i used them in baby food. The stock smelt rich and deginately made for a rounder, deeper richer taste.
Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
My eldest daughter is almost 4 and she wont touch sauces/gravies. I blended a bolognese and added it to spaghetti expecting uproar. It is the first time that every single member of the family finished the same meal. 8 month old wolfed it down and little miss picky eater asked for more. They stock does taste of roasted meats, the beef ones in particular is like the glorious crispy bits from the roasting pan. We loved them.
Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
I used the beef ones in a stew, bolognese, chilli and made a gravy. The chicken i made a pie and the veg ones i used in baby food and a tomato soup. I'm going to use the chicken ones in a jamalaya and a chicken/chorizo stew.
Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not,why?
Hmmm this is tricky. The price is fair, they are an excellent product and make for a far more luxurious feeling meal but thats the crux, they feel like a luxury product. They are prob twice the price of other basic stock cubes and so i dont think i'd splash out for everyday fare. But then i did really like them so maybe i'll indulge myself!
Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?
Yes! I've got a lit of foodie friends and revipes/cooking comes up a lot in conversation so i will be recommending these.

Q1. What were your initial impressions of the Bisto Stock Melts?
I thought they were well packaged, in nice little boxes with easy to open & close lids, making them easy to store in the cupboard.

Q2. How was it using the Stock Melts? How did this compare to using a cube or other stock?
They were great to use and came pretty close to homemade stock. They are so convenient to use. When you don?t have time to make your own stock, this makes an excellent alternative. They are much much nicer tasting than a stock cube, which I find tastes a little artificial.

Q3. Did you and your family notice any difference in the taste of the dish compared to your usual recipe?
If we don?t have time to make stock, then we simply use water, so adding a stock melt definitely enhanced the flavour of the dishes we made.

Q4. Did you and your family like the taste of the Stock Melts or not? Did it make the flavour any richer/deeper or not? How would you describe the flavour of the Stock Melts?
We liked the taste of the stock melts. They really added flavour to our dishes, but not in an overpowering way. I think the stock melts tasted very almost like what you would expect from homemade stock, except that they lacked the freshness you get from homemade stock.

Q5. Which dishes did you use the Bisto Stock Melts in? Which recipes are you planning on using them in?
We have used them in a vegetable risotto and also in a chicken risotto. We are also planning on using them in a bolognese.

Q6. The RRP of the Bisto Stock Melts is £1.89 for a pack of 6, do you think you will buy them again or not? If so why? If not, why not?
I think I would definitely buy them, although they come up a little more expensive than the Knorr stock pots, which we also use and think are very good.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the Bisto Stock Melts to a friend/relative? If so why? If not, why not?
Yes, I would definitely recommend them. They taste great and are so convenient to use. They are just what today?s time stretched families need.