Store-Bought Shortcuts: What's Worth It, What's Not

Worth it. The day after Thanksgiving, you should absolutely use the carcass to make homemade turkey stock. The same rule applies to days when you roast a chicken. Aside from those instances, though, store-bought stock tastes good and will save you hours in the kitchen. It's true that many are sky-high in sodium and also contain MSG, so read the labels and choose low-sodium varieties. Weiss also looks for a short ingredient list that includes (for chicken stock) water, chicken, onion, celery and carrots. Freeze any leftovers.