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

Boxed or Canned Stock

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.