Homemade stock vs boxed broth

Boxed broth is fast and often very salty. A pot of unsalted chicken and water is slower and easier to budget.

If sodium is the project, do not start from regular boxed broth. Use water and the ingredients, or a carton that you have read and that fits the day.

Sodium

Unsalted pot: Mostly what is in the meat and vegetables

Boxed broth: Often 600–800 mg per cup for regular broth

Time

Unsalted pot: 20–40 minutes beside dinner

Boxed broth: Open a carton

Flavor

Unsalted pot: Milder, and you can finish it

Boxed broth: Louder, sometimes only from salt

Low-sodium cartons

Unsalted pot: Still worth comparing

Boxed broth: Better than regular, not automatically low

Feature	Unsalted pot	Boxed broth
Sodium	Mostly what is in the meat and vegetables	Often 600–800 mg per cup for regular broth
Time	20–40 minutes beside dinner	Open a carton
Flavor	Milder, and you can finish it	Louder, sometimes only from salt
Low-sodium cartons	Still worth comparing	Better than regular, not automatically low

Choose Unsalted pot if

The chicken soup and the pot roast on this site start with water on purpose. You can salt a bowl at the table if that person is allowed salt.

Is low-sodium broth zero?

No. Read it. 'Lower' and 'no salt added' are different claims.