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Better Than Bouillon Mushroom Base, 8 oz
$15.43
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Product Details
Better Than Bouillon Mushroom Base is a concentrated paste in an 8 oz jar, spooned out and dissolved in water in place of stock cubes or cartons of broth.
It is made with mushrooms, and the brand describes it as richer and more robust than ordinary bouillons or soup stocks. Better Than Bouillon lists it among its Original bases and classifies it as vegetarian.
Ingredients
Nutrition Information
| Servings per container | 38 |
|---|---|
| Serving size | 1 tsp |
| Calories | 10 |
| Total Fat | 0 g (0% DV) |
| Sodium | 680 mg (30% DV) |
| Carbohydrates | 2 g (1% DV) |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Note | Not a significant source of other nutrients. Percent daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. |
Directions & Storage
Better Than Bouillon Mushroom Base, 8 oz
$15.43
Questions About This Product
The things people actually want to know before they cook with it.
Is Better Than Bouillon Mushroom Base vegan?
No, and this is the single most common mix-up with this jar. The ingredient list includes cultured whey powder, a dairy ingredient, so Better Than Bouillon classifies the Mushroom Base as vegetarian rather than vegan and does not carry vegan certification on it. Shoppers looking for a fully vegan option from the same brand usually go to one of the bases the company does label vegan.
Does it contain MSG?
Better Than Bouillon states that no MSG is added to its products. The Mushroom Base does contain yeast extract and the flavor enhancers disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which are not MSG but work on the same umami receptors, and mushrooms themselves are naturally rich in free glutamate. People who avoid MSG for sensitivity reasons often prefer to know that before buying.
How much broth does one jar make?
An 8 ounce jar is rated at about 38 teaspoon servings, which works out to roughly 9.5 quarts of finished broth. The brand's ratio is one teaspoon dissolved in 8 ounces of hot water, or about a tablespoon and a half per quart of stock. That makes it far more compact than carton broth for the same yield, which is much of its appeal.
Can I use it in place of beef broth in vegetarian cooking?
That is one of the most common reasons people buy it. Mushrooms carry a deep, meaty savoriness, so the Mushroom Base is a frequent stand-in for beef broth or beef base in vegetarian stews, gravies, pot pies and braises where the recipe wants dark, roasted depth. It is not an exact flavor copy of beef, and it reads distinctly mushroomy, which some cooks lean into and others temper with soy sauce or tomato paste.
How is this different from the Seasoned Vegetable base?
They solve different problems. The Seasoned Vegetable base is a general-purpose, comparatively neutral vegetable stock replacement, while the Mushroom Base is a single-note umami booster that pushes everything toward earthy and dark. Mushroom is the one to reach for in risotto, mushroom soup, gravy and beef-style braises; vegetable is the safer default when you want the broth in the background.
What kind of mushrooms are used?
The label simply says mushrooms and the company does not publish the variety or blend on the product page, so any claim you see online that it is specifically porcini or shiitake is unverified. What it does list alongside the mushrooms is salt, hydrolyzed soy protein, sugar, onion and garlic powder, soy flour, corn oil, cultured whey, natural flavors, yeast extract, xanthan gum, caramel color and the two umami enhancers.
My soup came out too salty. What went wrong?
Almost always the fix is measuring the base and salting last. It is a concentrated paste, so a heaped spoonful instead of a level teaspoon per cup of water makes a big difference, and reducing a broth made from it concentrates the salt further. Dissolve it at the brand's ratio, taste the finished dish, and only then add any additional salt the recipe calls for.
Do I have to dilute it, or can I use it straight?
Cooks routinely use it undiluted as a flavoring, stirring a small amount straight into gravies, pan sauces, risotto, mashed potatoes, stuffing or a burger mix rather than making broth first. Since it is a paste rather than a dry cube it blends in without needing to be reconstituted. Start with well under a teaspoon when you do this, because the concentrate carries the salt of a full cup of broth.
Is there a gluten free, organic or reduced sodium version of the Mushroom Base?
Better Than Bouillon offers organic and reduced sodium options across parts of its lineup, but those variants do not exist for every flavor, and this jar is the standard Mushroom Base rather than an organic or reduced sodium product. The company has also been reformulating various bases toward gluten free status over time, so the statement on the jar in front of you is the one to trust rather than an older listing. Check the label of the specific jar for any current claim.
Can I use it where a recipe calls for dried porcini or mushroom powder?
It can stand in for the savory depth but not for the texture or the soaking liquid. Dried mushrooms rehydrate into actual mushroom pieces and give you a soaking liquid with its own character, while this is a smooth salted paste that only contributes flavor. If you swap it in, cut the recipe's added salt and consider adding fresh mushrooms for body.
Does the paste darkening or drying out in the jar mean it has gone bad?
Not on its own. The base naturally darkens and can dry at the surface over time, and the high salt content makes obvious spoilage uncommon, so appearance alone is a weak signal. The date printed on the lid is the one to go by, and the brand treats it as applying whether or not the jar has been opened.
Who actually makes Better Than Bouillon?
The brand belongs to Summit Hill Foods, a family-owned food manufacturer based in Rome, Georgia, which has sold the Better Than Bouillon line for decades. It is not a Kraft, Nestle or Campbell brand, despite how widely it is stocked. The company makes the full range of bases, from roasted chicken and beef through mushroom, lobster and the vegetarian options.
What Shoppers Say
Honest reviews from people who actually bought it.