Stock Cube and Water Calculator
Choose what you are using and how much stock you need.
Answer
1.5 cubes in 750ml of water
The details
Next step
Worth knowing
- Stock cubes and pots are salty, so taste before you add any more salt to the dish.
- This is the strength printed on the packet, which suits soups and casseroles.
- Half a cube in 250ml is the same strength as a whole cube in 500ml, the ratio is what matters, not the number of cubes.
Source: Classic sauce ratios as taught in standard UK cookery references · Reviewed 2026-09-10 · Guidance version 1.0.0
Reference and detail
It is a ratio, not a number of cubes
Half a cube in 250ml is exactly as strong as a whole cube in 500ml. Once you think in ratios, awkward quantities stop being a problem.
Stock is already salty
Cubes and pots carry a lot of salt, so season the dish at the end rather than the beginning. This matters most in anything that reduces down.
Match the strength to the job
Risotto and gravy want a stronger stock because they concentrate as they cook. Poaching and cooking rice want a lighter one so the stock supports rather than dominates.
Questions and answers
Questions about diluting stock
How much water do I add to a stock cube or stock pot?
One stock cube or stock pot makes around 500ml of finished stock. Enter how much stock you need above to work out how many cubes or pots to use.
How much stock powder or liquid concentrate do I need?
Enter the volume of stock you want above. Stock powder is normally measured by the level teaspoon and liquid concentrate by the tablespoon, and each makes a different volume of finished stock, so check the figure the calculator gives rather than assuming it matches a stock cube.
Why does my stock taste too weak or too strong?
Too weak usually means too much water was added for the amount of cube, pot, powder or concentrate used; too strong means too little. Adjust the water rather than the stock, tasting as you go.
How much stock do I need for a soup or sauce?
That depends on the recipe rather than the stock itself. Enter the volume the recipe calls for above and the calculator will tell you how much cube, pot, powder or concentrate to use.