From soups to stews, chicken soup is the essence of many cuisines, making the difference between a mediocre meal and an amazing meal. But with so many types of chicken soup on the market, choosing the right one can be a bit difficult. Delish reported that recipe inventor Francesca Zani said that she most often uses chicken soup when cooking. Although homemade chicken soup is very delicious, it is troublesome to prepare, so most of the time she chooses to buy ready-made chicken soup in the store. Because there are subtle differences between each brand, she shares several factors to consider when choosing chicken soup.

Zani said that although the terms bone broth, chicken broth and chicken stock can be used interchangeably, there are some differences between the three. The raw materials of bone stock include water, chicken bones, vegetables, and spices such as onions or garlic, and are usually stewed for 12 to 24 hours; chicken stock is made by simmering the meat from the bones with carrots, onions, and celery for 45 minutes to an hour; chicken stock is made by simmering the bones and vegetables for about 3 hours. Bone broth is rich in protein and various nutrients, but it is also more expensive, so you need to evaluate whether it is worth the extra money.

Zani said that she used to sprinkle chicken stock powder on creamy shell noodles to make a simple and filling lunch. Although she no longer does this, she still uses chicken stock powder when preparing meals. Chicken bouillon powder and chicken bouillon cubes are affordable and durable, so she always has a few packets in her cupboard. However, chicken bouillon powder and chicken bouillon cubes may contain "other" ingredients, such as high sodium content, so people who are concerned about their salt intake may want to skip this option. Low-sodium chicken broth can contain up to 800 milligrams more sodium than regular chicken broth, which can completely change the taste of your meal.

Zani said that organic labels are often linked to health. In fact, organic does not mean that products are necessarily better than non-organic ones. Organic chicken soup may be pesticide-free, but it may still contain unwanted ingredients; for example, some organic chicken soups may contain sugar, but non-organic chicken soup may not. Whether or not there is an organic label on the package, you should check the ingredient list.

Zani said that the darker the color, the more ingredients the chicken soup has, which sounds reasonable; but in fact, it is possible to cook a dark chicken soup using only chicken, vegetables and salt, while a lighter-colored chicken soup may contain additional ingredients such as turmeric or carrots.