liemikuutioita

Liemikuutioita are small, solid blocks of dehydrated stock used to quickly create flavorful broth. They are typically made by concentrating meat, poultry, or vegetable stock, removing moisture, and compressing the concentrate into cube form. To use, one cube is dissolved in hot water to form a ready-to-use broth that can serve as a base for soups, sauces, stews, risottos, and gravies. The intensity of flavor depends on the cube size and the amount of water, and instructions usually suggest one cube per 500 ml to 1 liter of water.

Variants include meat-based liemikuutioita (beef or chicken), fish-based varieties in some markets, and kasvisliemikuutioita (vegetable or mushroom). Some brands offer vegan or vegetarian options; high-flavor varieties may include flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate and hydrolyzed proteins. Common ingredients besides stock include salt, fat, herbs and spices, and sometimes palm oil or starch binders. They are usually sold in sealed, moisture-proof wrappers in boxes or tubes.

In Finnish cooking, liemikuutioita are a convenient option for quick day-to-day meals and are used to season soups like hernekeitto, as well as sauces and gravies. While convenient, they contribute substantial sodium, so many manufacturers offer low-sodium or no-added-salt options, and cooks can substitute homemade stock for greater control. They remain widely available in supermarkets under various brand names as an easy stock alternative.