If you’ve never made bone broth before, you might be a little intimidated by the process. The good news is that even though it does take quite a while to cook, the actual preparation process is simple. Another great thing about bone broth is that you have a lot of freedom to add different spices and ingredients that you love. All that being said, it’s still helpful to have an actual recipe on hand to make bone broth – especially if you’re a beginner. So here are a few recipes for bone broth and everything you need to know to make it yourself:
How to Make Bone Broth
There are a few methods that you can use to make bone broth. You can either use your stovetop, an instant pot, or a slow cooker. The method that you choose is up to you since the cooking times vary significantly between them. You will need to start off with a few pounds of bones – either from a meat product that you’ve already made at home or purchased directly from a butcher. No matter the cooking method, we like to blanch the bones before cooking – so put them in the oven at 425 for 25-30 minutes.
- For stovetop cooking, use a large Dutch oven and fill it with your bones and additives. Then add water up to one inch above the bones. Initially bring the broth to a simmer over medium-high heat, but then lower the heat to the lowest possible level and cook for 24 hours for poultry bones and 48 hours for red meat bones.
- For an instant pot, fill the pot with your bones and additives. Then add water up to one inch above the bones or to the maximum pot fill line. Seal the pot and cook on low pressure for 3 hours for poultry bones or 4 hours for red meat bones. Allow the pressure to release naturally once the cooking is done.
- For a slow cooker, fill the basin with your bones and additives. Then add water up to one inch above the bones. Place the lid on top of the basin but don’t lock it. Cook on low heat for 24 hours for poultry bones and 48 hours for red meat bones.
After the broth is done cooking, you will need to strain it with a fine strainer and transfer it to the fridge or freezer in storage containers. You may find a layer of fat on top of the broth after it chills – just scrape it off and your broth is finally ready!
Chicken Bone Broth
For a chicken bone broth, you will need:
- 2-3 pounds of chicken bones
- Filtered water
- Chopped carrots, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and celery
- Apple cider vinegar
- A few cloves of garlic
- Parsley, thyme, peppercorn, and bay leaves to taste
Beef Bone Broth
For a beef bone broth, you will need:
- 2-3 pounds of grass-fed beef bones
- Filtered water
- Chopped carrots, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and celery
- Apple cider vinegar
- A few cloves of garlic
- Parsley, thyme, peppercorn, and bay leaves to taste
Turkey Bone Broth
For a turkey bone broth, you will need:
- 2-3 pounds of turkey bones
- Filtered water
- Chopped carrots, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and celery
- Cranberries
- Apple cider vinegar
- A few cloves of garlic
- Parsley, rosemary, peppercorn, and bay leaves to tastes
All of this does sound like a lot of work – but it is so worth it! However, if you don’t have a day or two to make broth at home, there are places where you can purchase high-quality bone broth that is already made. That way, you can enjoy the benefits without all the work!