‘I could not find any answer’: Woman Googles simple cooking question about stock and broth, but the answer leads her down a rabbit hole she wasn’t ready for

If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store trying to decide between chicken stock and chicken broth, here’s some news: they’re basically the same thing. Store-bought stock and broth are nearly identical products, despite what the labels might suggest. This discovery has left home cooks frustrated after realizing the difference they’ve been relying on doesn’t actually exist in commercial products.

TikTok user Kaelin (@whatsinthekoolaid) uncovered this confusing truth after looking into a simple cooking question. According to Bro Bible, her investigation went viral with over 2.1 million views as she shared what she found. What started as a basic question turned into a deep dive that revealed some uncomfortable facts about the food industry.

Most people know the traditional difference between stock and broth. Stock is made by boiling bones and cartilage, and it’s usually unseasoned so you can use it in any recipe. Broth is made with meat and vegetables and typically includes salt and pepper. Real stock should have a jelly-like texture when cold because of the gelatin from the bones, which makes food taste richer and better.

Store-bought versions don’t follow the rules we think they do

But here’s the problem Kaelin’s friend noticed: store-bought stock doesn’t turn into jelly like homemade stock does. When Kaelin tried to find out why, she couldn’t get a clear answer. Every search result just explained the difference between stock and broth but didn’t address why commercial stock acts so differently. She said she could not find any answer anywhere online.

Kaelin eventually found an article by chef Noah Galuten who had the same question. When people ask big food companies how they make their products, the companies refuse to share details. They’ll just list “chicken broth” as an ingredient without explaining their actual process or where it comes from. This isn’t the first time food labels have misled shoppers about what they’re actually consuming.

Here’s the worst part for serious cooks: many products labeled as “stock” are made using pre-made starters from a German company called Symrise. While each company’s version is slightly different, they’re mostly made from the same basic ingredients. This means your fancy brand and the cheap brand are probably more similar than you think.

The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t help clear things up either. Legally, stock and broth are treated as the same thing. Any liquid that has 135 parts water for every 1 part protein can be called either stock or broth. Companies can choose whichever label they want regardless of how they actually made it. If you’re looking for real, bone-rich, jelly-textured stock, you won’t find it reliably in a box at the store.

Kaelin said Galuten concluded that it doesn’t matter if you buy chicken broth or chicken stock, and it doesn’t matter what brand you choose because they’re all basically the same thing. She never expected to discover this secret just from her friend’s simple question, but now she knows the truth. Similar label confusion has tricked consumers before, like when Reese’s changed their product description.