Oxo gravy cubes - half vent, half query . .

MalMonroe

Hello, I just wanted to ask if anyone else has noticed that Oxo cubes seem to have lost their flavour. Or have I lost some taste buds over the years? That could happen, I do agree. 

It's just that when I was young, not so long ago, my friends and I would go out and play in the cold - sometimes even in the snow - and have a wonderful time and then come back inside where my Mum would give us all a hot mug of Oxo. Just one cube per child, crumbled into a mug. 

However, now I'm finding that I need at least three to get any flavour at all. Not just for a drink but when I'm using them for gravy-making. That's probably great news for the manufacturer but I've been wondering what's happened to Oxo?  And I guess I am having a tiny vent about the fact that I am paying three times the price to get a good strong flavour now.  .  .

Does anyone else use/notice that Oxo is not as strong as it once was?    

greyteam1959

You haven't had a dose of Covid-19 & lost your sense of taste have you ??

MalMonroe

greyteam1959 said:

You haven't had a dose of Covid-19 & lost your sense of taste have you ??

No. Oxo weakness has been going on for quite some time now, predating covid.  Does that mean that you don't use Oxo, or that you haven't noticed? 

Mnoee

I have never drank stock on its own, but I haven't noticed a difference when using them in cooking. 

I would say to be very careful using three cubes for one cup - each cube has about 2g of salt and you're only meant to have 6g of salt total per day. Maybe try a different brand?

Edited as I accidentally used the stats for the reduced salt versions (1g per cube, vs 2g).

SandyShores

Hi Mal, I can't comment on Oxo cubes, although funnily enough I did purchase some last week - normally I use the stock pots for cooking as they do a really strong one.  I've got a pot of bovril I use when I want a hot warming drink.  They used to do Bovril powder at one time, but can't find it anywhere now.  Sandy.

MalMonroe

Mnoee said:

I have never drank stock on its own, but I haven't noticed a difference when using them in cooking. 

I would say to be very careful using three cubes for one cup - each cube has about 2g of salt and you're only meant to have 6g of salt total per day. Maybe try a different brand?

Edited as I accidentally used the stats for the reduced salt versions (1g per cube, vs 2g).

Ah, yes I should have said I always use the ones with blue band on the pack - supposed to contain less salt - high blood pressure you know and like to think I'm being healthy . . . So far, so good according to my GP.

But I don't have gravy much, just every now and again and I never use three in a cup to drink, should have specified that. That would be too strong. In fact, I don't use it as a drink at all. I only use it for gravy now, maybe a couple of times a month and of course, share it with family so it's not all my consumption. It just seems a bit watery.

MalMonroe

SandyShores said:

Hi Mal, I can't comment on Oxo cubes, although funnily enough I did purchase some last week - normally I use the stock pots for cooking as they do a really strong one.  I've got a pot of bovril I use when I want a hot warming drink.  They used to do Bovril powder at one time, but can't find it anywhere now.  Sandy.

Hi, yes I used to use Bovril sometimes too. It's just that I think Oxo's like everything else that used to taste good in my childhood, it's gone weird!  

As Mnoee pointed out, these things do contain salt, even the low-salt versions. Maybe I'll just have to give them up in order to stay healthy. 

PS They do seem to have Bovril powder on amazon but it costs a fortune and doesn't sound at all appetising. Oh well!

Bettie

I bought the vegan Oxo cubes "beef flavour " and thought they made a good stock but not the same smell as  Oxo I remember as a child,  however I found them very salty.

MalMonroe

Bettie said:

I bought the vegan Oxo cubes "beef flavour " and thought they made a good stock but not the same smell as  Oxo I remember as a child,  however I found them very salty.

Thanks, Bettie - I just checked those out online but the salt content is higher than any of the others. It's a shame 'cos I would prefer to use vegan cubes. Maybe just one a fortnight, or something wouldn't hurt!

Pollycat

MalMonroe said:

It's just that when I was young, not so long ago, my friends and I would go out and play in the cold - sometimes even in the snow - and have a wonderful time and then come back inside where my Mum would give us all a hot mug of Oxo. Just one cube per child, crumbled into a mug. 
 

That's a blast from the past!

I still love a cup of Bovril when I've come in from the cold.

I use stock cubes in cooking, so can't say if the taste of oxo is getting weaker.

MothballsWallet

Mal, have you tried using gravy salt? My mum uses Compton's when she makes gravy (and she's got Mrs MbW using it too) and it's really good, but I'm sure you'd find other brands doing the same thing.

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