How to Easily Make Bone Broth 5 Ways

The weather was cold, there was frost on the windowpane, and the sounds of sneezing and coughing could be heard through the house. We were in the throes of a blustery Michigan winter.

Now, for anyone who lives in the Midwest you probably know how frigid and wild the winter weather can be. On top of being freezing cold, winter in the Midwest is also peak cold and flu season.

Many folks think that the cold itself makes you sick, but it is actually being cooped up indoors with other people that makes you catch an illness.

So, the weather was cold, and the kids were all sick. I was giving them elderberry like nobody’s business but for some reason it just wasn’t kicking the cold bugs out of their system.

I called my best friend, and picked her brain. She had mentioned “bone broth” to me.

I was like, “bone broth”? What in the world was that? It sounded like something out of a horror movie.

My friend told me that making bone broth and preserving it is easy and she’d been doing it for quite some time. I asked her how bone broth could help my family fight off the cold, and she explained to me that it is full of gut healing properties.

When our guts aren’t healthy, we aren’t healthy… as 60% of our immune response resides there. Plus, bone broth is packed with nourishing electrolytes that keep us from becoming dehydrated and being well “watered” is wonderful for getting rid of an illness.

I never worried whether my kiddos would like bone broth or not because it is basically soup. A super-charged soup, but soup, nonetheless. After I made it I, put it into their favorite mugs and gave them spoons to enjoy it with. Everyone drank it up.

Benefits of Bone Broth

Bone broth has long been revered by cultures all over the world for thousands of years. These cultures have recognized its many health benefits, as well as its ability to help cooks make use of the entire animal. This way of living provided for very little waste, and also presented dozens of health benefits.

Due to our modern eating habits, most people tend to be deficient in a number of important nutrients. These include:

• Gelatin
• Chondroitin
• Collagen
• Proline
• Glycine
• Minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and sulphur

All of these minerals are found in food, and all of these are found in bone broth. Best yet, these nutrients occur naturally in bone broth in a form that is easy for your body to absorb.

Are you ready to reap the benefits of consuming bone broth? Let’s get to the recipe and canning instructions!

Store-Bought vs Homemade Bone Broth

As with anything, the main difference between store-bought and homemade bone broth is that you know exactly what has gone into your homemade version.

Bone broth doesn’t require many ingredients or much know-how to make, but when you look at the ingredients list on the packaging of the store-bought variety, you will see quite a few things that you won’t recognize – or even know how to pronounce.

In addition to many store-bought versions containing preservatives and flavorings, you can also never be quite certain of where the bones came from. Ideally, you want your bones to be from pasture-raised animals, as well as those that are hormone and antibiotic-free. This is hard to find in a ready-made bone broth.

In terms of quality, many store-bought brands of bone broth do not contain even nearly the same amount of nutrients as homemade versions. Plus, they are rarely as tasty!

While there’s nothing wrong with using a quality store-bought bone broth when you really are in a pinch, you can make bone broth with just two ingredients (water and bones) right at home.

Bone broth does not take long to make, so in most cases you are better off making your own and preserving it for future use.

Where to Source Bones

If you have a local butcher that processes grass-fed meat, then you are in luck. The majority of customers do not want bones when buying meat, and so not only are these discarded, but many butchers have to pay for the bones to be hauled away.

This means that they tend to be extremely generous with giving away free bones of various animals to customers who want them.

Of course, while grass-fed bones will be more nutritious, there is no reason why you cannot use bones from animals that have been raised in other ways.

Speak to the butchers and farmers around you to see what you can find. If you raise animals yourself, make sure you save the bones after butchering to boil down into broth.

For those who only have access to large-scale, department-style grocery stores, many offer  bones in the frozen section. These can be pricy, but there are also plenty of options to be found online.

If you eat meat on a regular basis, then this is another source of bones for you. Simply save leftover or unused bones from your meals, keeping them in a bag in a freezer, and then use them to make a broth once you have collected enough.

You do not even have to defrost the bones before using them, as you can just put frozen bones into your pot. Simply cook them on a higher heat for the first hour.

The Best Bones to Use

You can make bone broth from any type of bone, but if you want your final bone broth to gel when it has cooled, rather than remain a liquid, there are a few rules that you need to follow.

In general, there are two types of bones that you will come across when making bone broth:

• Joint Bones – these contain joints, and are rich in cartilage and connective tissues. They include feet, wings, necks, knuckles and tails.
• Meaty Bones – these bones contain meat on them, such as ribs, or they might also contain marrow, such as soup bones

For your bone broth to gel, you need more than half of your bone content to be made up of joint bones, as these contain the connective tissues that break down into gelatin.

The age of the animal that your bones have come from will also make a bit of difference in the final outcome of your broth.

For example, a younger animal, such as lamb or veal, will have much more gelatin in their bones, whereas an older animal, such as beef, will have more minerals, as these will have accumulated over the animal’s lifetime.

If possible, you should also try to cut your bones down, or have them cut down by someone else, into considerably smaller pieces.

This will give them a higher surface area, meaning that more nutrients will be able to leach out into your broth. Smaller pieces will also mean that you will be able to pack more bones into the broth when cooking.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using bones from various animals, such as chicken, beef and lamb, and this will often result in a more flavorful broth.

One final tip when it comes to your bones – many people choose to roast them in the oven first, as this adds some extra flavor, as well as a rich dark color, to the broth.

While this can be done on the stovetop, it is easier to do in the oven. This allows you to de-glaze the pan once the bones have roasted so that you can scrape all of the delicious caramelized residue into your broth.

This video will talk you through more of the benefits of roasting your bones before making a broth:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwGobAiKb6M

The Best Herbs and Spices to Include in Your Broth

You do not need to add in any extras when it comes to your bone broth, but there are some herbs and spices that can really add a new depth of flavor to your broth, while providing it with a few extra health benefits.

Here are a few to choose from, but remember not to go overboard, especially your first time around. Try sticking to just a few different ones for each batch of broth:

• Ginger – this spice has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties .
• Garlic – rich in antioxidants, garlic reduces oxidative damage and slows down the aging process. It has been used medicinally for centuries.
• Turmeric – an anti-inflammatory that also slows the formation of fatty tissue, helping with weight control. Make sure to include black pepper if you are adding turmeric, because the piperine in freshly ground black pepper allows the turmeric to be more easily absorbed by the body.
• Cumin – helps with digestion and with producing energy.
• Star Anise – has anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antioxidant properties, while also supporting digestion.
• Mint – aids in digestion and freshens the breath.
• Oregano – extremely high in antioxidants, and often used medicinally.

Many people also throw a few vegetable scraps into their bone broths, whether this may be onion peels, chunks of tomato or bits of carrot.

While these vegetables will impart extra flavor into your bone broth, make sure that you do not add in anything from the brassica family (such as cabbage), as this will make your bone broth taste bitter.

How To Cook Bone Broth 5 Ways

Bone broth is extremely easy to make, and does not actually require much of a recipe, especially if you like to experiment in the kitchen.

All you need to do is place your chosen bones into a pot, cover them with water, and cook it on a low heat until the bones have broken down. This usually takes around 24 hours, but can take longer or shorter depending on the bones that you have used.

Adding in some vinegar is also a good idea, as this helps to draw all of the minerals out of the bones, and into your broth.

While this is not essential, it helps if you want your broth to set. Apple cider vinegar is the best option, offering a variety of health benefits, but just about any vinegar will work.

Slow Cooker Bone Broth Recipe

Using a slow cooker is one of the easiest ways to make bone broth, as you can leave it to simmer away for a couple of days without having to touch it at all.

Give this recipe a try:

Ingredients

• 2 medium carrots, chopped into thirds
• 2 celery stalks, chopped into large chunks
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon fresh or dried herbs of your choice (optional)
• 5 pounds assorted bones
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• Water
• Salt

Method

1. Place the bones, vegetables and herbs into your slow cooker.
2. Fill the slow cooker with water, so that the bones are covered.
3. Add in a pinch of salt, then add the vinegar.
4. Cook on low for about 24 hours.
5. Once your broth is ready, strain it and leave to cool before packaging, canning, or freezing.

One of the benefits to using a slow cooker to make bone broth is that this method allows you to make a perpetual broth. This basically means that you have a pot of bone broth constantly on the go in your slow cooker, and simply take from it the amount that you need each time.

When you do take some out, make sure that you top up your slow cooker with extra water. You can do this for about three to five days. After this period, you will need to remove all the bones and broth and start a new batch. This is also a good time to clean the slow cooker, as it can build up residue.

This is perfect if you have been feeling ill, and need a constant supply of hot bone broth to help speed your recovery.

Pressure Cooker Bone Broth Recipe

Using a pressure cooker to cook your bone broth does away with so much of the cooking time, meaning that you will have your finished broth much sooner. This is the perfect method for emergency situations.

Here’s a simple recipe to follow:

Ingredients

• 2 onions, peeled and cut into quarters
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into three chunks
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or any herb of your choice)
• 5 pounds assorted bones
• 8 cups of water (this should be enough to cover the bones, but should not take up more than 2/3 of the pressure cooker’s capacity)
• 5 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Method

1. Place your vegetables and the bones into the pressure cooker.
2. Add the water and vinegar.
3. Lock the lid and then set the cooker to high pressure, placing the pot on a burner that has been set to a high heat.
4. Once the high pressure has been reached, lower the temperature to the lowest possible setting.
5. Set a timer for 30 minutes, or for up to an hour if you are using larger bones.
6. Once the time is up, take the pot off the heat and allow the pressure to naturally release, which should not take longer than 15 minutes.
7. Remove the lid and strain the broth.

Stovetop Bone Broth Recipe

If you do not have a slow cooker or a pressure cooker, you can use your stovetop to cook up a batch of bone broth, as the recipe below will explain:

Ingredients

• 5 pounds assorted bones
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 celery stalks, halved
• 3 carrots, cut into thirds
• 3 onions, quartered
• Bunch of fresh parsley
• Sea salt
• Water

Method

1. Place the bones, vegetables, herbs, vinegar and salt into a pot.
2. Add enough water to cover the bones, and then bring it all to a boil.
3. Skim the scum off the surface of your broth.
4. Once at a rolling boil, reduce the heat down to a simmer and cover.
5. Cook for around 24 hours.
6. Add in some extra parsley during the last ten minutes of cooking for extra minerals and flavor (if desired).
7. Take the broth off the heat and leave to cool before straining.

Many people do not feel comfortable leaving a pot of broth cooking on their stovetop overnight, as this can be quite hazardous. If you would rather not do this, there is nothing wrong with turning the heat off before you go to bed, leaving the broth to sit in the pot overnight, and then turning it back on the next morning.

Crock Pot Bone Broth Recipe

• 4 carrots, chopped
• 4 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 4 – 6 pounds of beef or chicken bones
• 2 teaspoons of mineral salt
• 4 tbsps. raw apple cider vinegar
• Water

Directions

1. Put your bones in the Crock Pot. If you find that your Crock Pot isn’t big enough to accommodate the bones, you can opt to use an electric roaster.
2. As you chop your veggies, leave the peelings on them for added nutrition and vitamins. Know that all of the vitamins and nutrition of the vegies are going to be leached out into your broth, making it a high-nutritious food.
3. Fill your Crock Pot or roaster with water and add in the salt.
4. Add the apple cider vinegar. Adding vinegar to the stock is said to encourage the extraction of gelatin and nutrients from the bones. Don’t worry, it won’t effect the flavor of your stock.
5. Allow the broth to simmer on the low setting for no less than 24 hours and no more than 72.
6. Once cooked, strain the broth using a mesh sieve or cheesecloth.

*Pro Tips*

• Many folks skim the layer of fat off the top of the bone broth once it has cooled. I do not do this. The fat is highly nourishing for the body and extremely satiating.
• Do you have eggs shells laying around? Toss them into the Crock Pot with the broth for added minerals. You’ll be straining everything at the end, anyway.

Making Bone Broth in the Oven

Another option that you have is using your oven to make a batch of bone broth.

First, place all of your ingredients into a cast iron or stainless steel pot, bringing this to a boil on the stove. Then, cover it with a lid and pace it into an oven that has been preheated to around 100 degrees Celsius, although you can feel free to experiment with different temperatures, as long as you keep them low.

Leave your broth simmering away in the oven, adjusting the heat as necessary, until it has cooked.

You need to ensure that the pot you use has a lid that is both tight fitting as well as heatproof, as this will prevent the broth from evaporating as it cooks.

What to Do With the Leftover, Cooked Down Bones

Once you have strained your bone broth, you will be left with the cooked down bones, as well as any vegetables that you have used. All of this will be extremely soft by now. Since these leftovers have been cooked for so long, it does not really contain many nutrients. Your compost bin is a great place for this to go.

Alternatively, if you have used larger, harder bones, such as beef bones, and these have not fully broken down yet, you could use them to make a second batch of broth. However, keep in mind that the flavor of this batch will be much lighter than your first.

Another option, if you have pets, is to blend all of the soft bones and vegetables together so that it forms a paste.

You can then use this as a filling for treat toys, or even dehydrate them and turn them into small pet snacks. However, you can only do this if your broth does not contain any ingredients that would be harmful to your pets, such as onions.

Storing Bone Broth

Bone broth can be stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to a week. After it has been refrigerated for a few hours, you may notice that a thick layer of white fat has formed over the top.

This is perfectly normal, and you can simply spoon the fat off and use this elsewhere in the kitchen. If you would like a clearer broth, you can strain it again through a cheesecloth.

Bone broth can also be frozen, either in resealable bags, other plastic containers. You can even use ice cube trays for easy access. When frozen, bone broth will keep for up to six months.

Another option is to turn it into a powder. To do this, you should first cook it down to reduce it until it turns into a thick syrup. Then, spread this concentrated broth onto sheets in a dehydrator, drying them until the sheets become brittle.

Break these sheets up and put the pieces into a blender, processing them until they form a powder. This can then be added to different foods for extra flavor and a boost of nutrients.

Finally, bone broth can be canned using a pressure canner. Never try to can bone broth using a water bath canner, like you might use to can pickles, as bone broth has low acidity and will spoil quickly.

Ways to Use Bone Broth in the Kitchen

Many people love the taste of bone broth on its own, and drink a cup of this first thing in the morning or for an energy boost in the afternoon.  

However, if this isn’t for you, there are many ways in which you can make use of bone broth in the kitchen. Here are a few ideas:

• Use it in any recipe that requires a stock.
• Use it as a base for soups and stews, for extra flavor and nutrition.
• Boil rice or pasta in it.
• Add a splash to mashed potatoes.
• When cooking beans, replace some of the water with bone broth.
• Dehydrate it to make a broth powder.
• Cook vegetables in it.
• Mix it into a marinade.
• Add some to poached or scrambled eggs for a meaty flavor.
• Mix it into some tomato sauce.
• Use it in a smoothie.
• Turn it into a dip or a pate.

Bone Broth for Pets

The benefits that bone broth brings to humans are just as powerful as those that it brings to other animals, such as your beloved pets. Whether you have dogs or cats, bone broth not only makes a tasty and healthy treat, but is also a great pick-me-up.

If you give your dogs marrow or soup bones to chew on, you can take any leftovers from those and also turn them into a broth.

If your pet is feeling under-the-weather, and has been advised to stay off food for a while, bone broth is a way to ensure that they are still consuming the nutrients necessary to help with the healing process.

It is also commonly used to prevent dehydration in sick pets, as well as to act as a meal topper for picky pets, as the meaty smell tends to be enough to tempt even the fussiest of eaters. Added herbs can also give a health boost to your pets.

However, when making bone broth for your pets, you do need to be careful that you are only using ingredients that are safe for them to consume. Make sure that you never use onions or salt, and, if you are using any herbs or spices, check that these are safe for animals.

Whether you make it for your pets or yourself, bone broth is such a nutritious food, and makes use of ingredients that would likely have otherwise gone to waste. If you have any favorite bone broth recipes, let us know in the comments section below!