Stock and broth. More an more people are discovering the power of this food, given it feeds us so much of what is missing in a modern diet. This is why people notice such quick health improvements soon after starting to incorporate them into their diets.
A few years ago I wrote a sort of mini manual on the why we should be incorporating stocks and the ‘how’ of basic stocks – chicken, fish and beef. It’s here.
And I’ve been asked a whole bunch of questions in between on facebook. I thought it would be a good thing to collate all of the FAQs into a post to help anyone on the stock making road – new or veteran, as we can always pick up new tips and ideas. The most important thing to remember is HOW EASY STOCK IS!!! Some bones, some veg, some herbs. Simmer either an hour for fish, couple of hours to 12 for chicken to 2 days for beef, pork and lamb… Filtered water if you can. Done. But, because we do like to indulge a little obsession into ‘doing it right’…
Here we go!
1. What is the difference between a stock and a broth?
Stock or “bouillon”, according to cookery mecca Larousse Gastronomique, is the liquid obtained from either simply Mirepoix (carrot / onion / celery) and bouquet garnis (bay leaf / thyme / parsley) OR a soup made with those things and meat pieces. Some say the broth is the bone stock fine strained and fat separated, for utmost clarity of liquid, able to be served alone. Stock is ladeled here and there into sauces, stews, soups and not as ‘refined’ looking / texture as a broth. Then, some say that broth is the meat / veg / herb flavoured water simmered, but without the bones. Stock is then a broth made with bones also and not really with meat. It is then argued that ‘vegetable broth’ doesn’t exist as there are no bones… And so the arguments go on. So, I like to keep it simple and just call everything stock that has bones in it and is cooked long enough to extract all the good things out of the bones. I don’t love argument for arguments’ sake, because in the time it takes some people to argue about this stuff, they could have got a batch of stock on the stove – THAT is far more important, don’t you think? So, stock is without bones and broth is with, and depending on your gut health, you will either cook it briefly (2 hours-3hours) or longer to extract the most goodness from the bones (GAPS note: Check question 26 for specific GAPS definitions / what to do if following that protocol).
2. Do I have to use organic bones for broth?
I’d say this one is a non negotiable, yes. Bones store a lot of body toxicity – heavy metals, antibiotic residues… You want the animals to not only have had a lovely life while alive which for me is also a non negotiable, and you also want them to have been disease-free and free from pesticide from grains, genetically modified grains, excess vaccinations and antibiotics… “Clean eating” means a clean food system and I encourage you to explore ethical, organic meat in general. The great thing about it is if you learn some good slow cooking, then you move into being able to buy secondary cuts. With stock, bones are the most economical way that exists, to benefit from organics, returning about a litre of nourishing, healing goodness for around $4.
3. So how long do I need to cook it for?
It depends on the broth and depends on your sensitivity to histamines which increase slightly as cooking continues. If you have anyone in your family who has a propensity towards hives, skin reactions and issues, hayfever or feeling ‘wired’, it’s best to do short cook broths of 1-2 hours. With lots of meat, veggies, onion and herbs in there, there’ll still be plenty of flavour and plenty of goodness from the bones.
Fish 1-2 hours is all it needs to extract the gelatin and mineral goodness. Longer, and it turns bitter also, which isn’t great for flavour.
Chicken – 1-12 hours depending on whether doing short or long cook.
Beef / Lamb / Pork – 2 to 24 hours depending on short or long cook.
4. So how long does it last in the fridge?
Provided you have a good, thick layer of fat that has solidified on top of the liquid, then you can keep it in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
If you don’t have a good fat layer on top, 3-4 days. Best is to keep a couple of jars in the fridge and the rest in the freezer.
5. What should I freeze it in?
Glass jars of a few different sizes are the best solution. Always leave a good inch off the top of the liquid level from the top of the jar. This means when the liquid slightly expands when in the freezer, you won’t risk a cracked jar.
6. How long can it be frozen for?
3 months fish
6 months meat
7. Can I use bones we’ve eaten from?
Yes. It’s just about to spend hours in a pot bubbling away. I really don’t think you need to worry about having chomped at the drumstick! USE IT ALL UP. While we’re at it, I keep all scraps from cutting raw onion, carrot, celery or ends of herb bunches in the freezer in a big pyrex, ready and waiting for the next broth batch. Waste NOTHING!
8. Can I use raw bones?
Yes, you can. I do personally pan fry them (say chicken carcasses) for a couple of minutes if they’re raw, to get a little flavour on them before the simmering starts. In a little coconut oil, butter, tallow or ghee is fine. For beef knuckle, I roast those first on high 220C / 450F temperature for 45mins before adding to the marrow bones… Read the original post for details.
9. Can I do anything with the cooked veggies after the stock has been made?
Absolutely. I use them in a mashed veggie ‘something’ over the next couple of days. They’ve got so much goodness in them with all those amino acids from the broth and it helps lengthen the uses. Great trick for a limited budget PLUS you create less waste. Win Win.
10. Do I throw out the fat?
NO keep the fat. The fat is great for both preserving the jars when keeping in the fridge and then for sauteeing onions / garlic / mushrooms / green leafy veggies down the track. It also prevents freezer burn when freezing your stock. Healthy fat from healthy animals is super good for your brain and body. If you feel challenged by that idea, Nourishing Traditions or Primal Body Primal Mind are both excellent, well researched and well backed up books with a wealth of information on traditional diets for healthy, strong bodies.
11. Do I have to use apple cider vinegar? Why is it added to some recipes and not others?
You don’t have to. It does help draw out minerals from particularly thick bones, so for pork, lamb, beef (especially marrow) I’d say yes, a couple of tbsp – 1/4 cup is a great idea. If you don’t have any however, it’s way better to make a stock than not make one because of not having ACV. It aids the process, but it’s not essential to the process itself, if that makes sense.
12. Which are the best bones to use?
There are certain bones that have more gelatin in them, so while all bones will provide amino acids and gelatin, these will provide the most benefit to them all. Make no mistake though… put ’em all in the pot anyway. It’s all good!
Chicken – wings, necks, feet
Beef – Knuckles, marrow
Pork – Knuckles, trotters
Lamb – shanks, knuckles, neck
Fish – White non oily fish, try not to get ones from too big a fish though to avoid mercury/radiation build up. I love using 3-4 leftover baby snappers after oven roasting them.
13. Can I use cooked bones?
Sure can. They add depth of flavour.
14. Why is it so important to have a gelatinous broth?
Firstly it’s not ‘super important’. BUT: The sign of the ‘jelly’ is what lets you know you’ve cooked the bones long enough, you’ve not used too much water, and you’ve used bones that have high gelatin in them. Gelatinous bone broth is the visual sign (when it’s wobbly once cooled in fridge) that you’ve got a great amount of gelatin in there. If you have any issues around bone / joint health, preparing for childbirth, recovering from surgery – especially joint / bone surgery, leaky gut, ibs, autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s, issues with hair / teeth / nails / skin… that’s going to be gold! That’s why knuckle bones and trotters / feet are used in stock in so many traditional cultures for recovery. They’re not silly, they’re wise.
15. Isn’t leaving a pot on the stove for 12 hours / overnight dangerous?
I don’t want you to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Play it by what feels right to you! Personally, I put the pot on the smallest gas element, and the lowest heat and that makes for a super slow simmer. I’ve never had an issue and have done this for years. A low oven on 100 could be a solution if you feel more comfortable with that. The alternative is to get a slow cooker (ensure it is teflon / “non stick” free and go for a ceramic one) and use that.
16. Does vegetable stock have the same benefits?
Unfortunately not. While you can get a beautiful flavour from veggie stock which is lovely to use in vegetarian dishes, you won’t be getting gelatin, the range of amino acids, the high levels of minerals (although there will be some!), the glucosamine or the colloids that set a bone broth apart.
17. Where can I source organic, pasture raised bones from?
This can be tricky out of the big cities but where there’s a will there’s a way. Try our organic directory in your country (for Australia it’s Australian Organics Directory) or google things like cow share, organic butcher, grass fed beef, organic co-op and your suburb/town name, ethical meat, pasture raised chickens… another place you could ask is at the local health shop, as people who work at health shops tend to ensure they have a supply of ethical, pasture raised meats if their meat eaters. My butcher is Ethical Farmers if you’re Sydney based. They deliver statewide.
18. Is there an optimal time to consume stock?
Best time is empty stomach or pre meal or during meal… so, as you can see, it’s always a good time, hehe. Stocks have something called hydrophilic colloid which attracts gastric juices and heals and seals intestinal lining. The reason it’s so great to add stock to cooked meals, is that cooked food doesn’t have those colloids and stock is the only cooked food that does (to my knowledge thus far in research). It really means you get much better absorption and utilisation of your foods if a little stock is ladled through here and there. I often give my son a little 1/3 cup a couple at breakky or before dinner, with sea salt.
19. If I have joint pain, how much do I drink?
This is not an exact science and most evidence is anecdotal, ie, loads of people across the interwebs with miracle stock/broth stories. I know someone who had an MRI showing zero cartilage left on his knees. He discovered traditional eating, got stuck into stock making and drinking, and has since been re scanned, with full recovery of cartilage – no supplements other than all the minerals, gelatin and glucosamine in stock, and a high quality fermented cod liver oil. I’m serious. He was as shocked as the next person to see the results! To think of all the pharmacy supplements and anti inflammatories for joint pain out there… Nature more often than not, has the answer! Of course, there are many different types of cases, so if in doubt see your health professional.
20. Is fish stock as rich in all the good stuff as meat stocks?
Oh yes! Fish stock is amazing. Only need to cook an hour or two at the most though, or it goes bitter. Rumour has it it’s wonderful for childbirth preparation and logically, I’d say that’s because it’s the most gelatinous of all the bone stocks thus preparing your ‘frame’ the best. Many traditional island cultures give it to the women in the lead up and to repair postpartum. Other cultures feed the women chicken’s feet and pork knuckle soups through Asia.
21. Does concentrating the liquid, ie reducing it down, make it better for you?
It does make it more concentrated and therefore more nutrient density per millilitre. If you’re short on space, reducing it is a great space saver, and you can thin it later with water to taste for your cooking.
22. What about the water you add?
The water must be filtered. At the very least chlorine/pesticide, which your standard filter will do. Best case scenario, however, is a filter that removes excess metals, as much bacteria as possible, endocrine disruptive chemicals and fluoride. Metals and fluoride accumulate in being heated, and you don’t want heavy metals present in water to intensify. You can get under the sink solutions but for a simple countertop solution, my water filter at home is the big benchtop one from the WatersCo team. So good! My parents have this beautiful water filter and they’re also super happy with it.
23. How long before I see benefits?
It depends on you, your physical state, what other dietary factors might be hindering healing… Best to see a practitioner if you’re concerned about your health in any way. Hair, nails, skin you will notice the difference within the week from a cup of day. That I can guarantee. When it comes to cartilage repair, that’s a longer term journey of a year +, and the gut if severely damaged, while you will feel soothed very quickly and less discomfort, the healing can take up to 2 years if you had a severe issue. Again, Doctor Natasha Campbell McBride’s GAPS book is a wealth of information for gut problems.
24. What can I do with the leftover bones? (And an important note on pets)
You could use the bones again for another batch IF you’re doing a short cook 1-2 hour batch. Or compost for chicken bones and for the larger, more dense bones, see if they’re soft enough to grind up into a bone meal – amazing garden fertiliser. If they’re still too dense, then you could try dehydrating them and turning into a powder in the blender after fully dried out OR you could give them to a lucky pet! BUT NOTE: Please do not give your pets cooked bones OR bone broth with onion in it. No good for them and potentially dangerous!
25. Do I leave the lid on or off while cooking?
On. Towards the end if you’re wanting to reduce your liquid for more intensity of flavour or for space saving in the fridge/freezer, then yes, take the lid off for 30 mins-1 hour at the end.
26. What if I am doing GAPS. Do I have to prepare my stock a special way?
If you’re doing GAPS then meat stock is where you cook the meat attached to bone for a couple of hours to make soup and bone broth is where you simmer meat free bones. For those with histamine issues or extremely sensitive digestion, it’s good to start with bones that are only cooked for a couple of hours. Chicken is a good choice to introduce first as it has a much milder flavour, especially for kids. (Thank you to my friend Kitsa Yanniotis, GAPS educator exceptionelle for sharing this specific GAPS information)
27. What if I’m on a FODMAP diet? Can I still make stock?
Absolutely. Depending on your sensitivity, leave out the onion altogether, OR chop into it a few green spring onion tips for the flavour if you can manage those.
28. Can I feed my baby stock?
As with all things, best start a little teaspoon or two mid morning and check for any reactions but stock is a seriously awesome thing to include in a baby’s diet, given the building blocks it provided the whole body! Cooking meat in it to make it soft and mixing with pumpkin will make a wonderful meat/veggie puree, for example. Have a little try from 6 months and be sure to leave out the salt for their tiny, precious kidneys. Include a little stock – a tablespoon or two into veggie purees too to make them a million times more nourishing and satisfying. Contented babies who are deeply nourished while they’re growing so rapidly? YES PLEASE!!
29. Can I use raw and cooked bones together?
No one’s going to know the difference! Yes! In fact I like a mix, the cooked bones give the stock/broth a great, deep flavour.
30. Can I re-use bones to make another batch of stock?
Yes. There’s even a name for it – Remouillage – A French term for ‘re-wetting’. This works especially well if you’re making shorter cook time stocks/broths. Just freshen up the veggies and herbs for the 2nd batch and voila – a ridiculously good way to stretch the budget.
31. Do you have a question we’ve not yet covered???
Then leave it in the comments. If it’s about how it’s made, times, amounts etc, don’t forget to check back to my original post here.
Enjoy making stock a regular part of your cooking prep. Once you’ve got it, it will take very little time to make and it will add flavour and nourishment to everything – sauces, stews, soups, warm dressings, roast tray deglaze, gravies…
Fancy getting SUPER confident on all things real food, cooking, food prep and the power of food for disease prevention? I’d love to invite you to check out our On-Demand (meaning you can start literally right this minute!) e course REAL FOOD ROCKSTARS. If you’re over the food overwhelm, confusion, guilty feelings, not being able to truly give up the junk, and want to know how and where to shop, what to do to get super confident in the kitchen, how to explain to others your whole food choices, what to eat and how best to build a strong body to ward off disease and feel vital and energetic, then maybe it’s time you jumped in!
Real Food. Happy Bodies.
Comments 223
You can give the bones to your dog too, (if you have one!) since after cooking that long they’re soft and have no sharp bits.
Author
Fab Ari – of course! I will add that to that answer. Thanks for sharing x
I can’t find anything to tell me if I can just leave my bone broth in a slow cooker on low for days as I eat it.
Author
Hi Teresa, I usually cook it and then strain it and either freeze in jars or store in the fridge for later use.
I find leaving in the slow cooker any longer than 24 hours does not produce a thick gel once cooled.
It tends to stay runny…
Took me awhile to work out the perfect bone broth.
Now 7 years of making it I get a thick gel everytime.
I also use lemon juice instead of acv….
Cooked bones should always be off-limits. They become brittle and easily break into sharp shards that can do a lot of damage when they pass through the gastrointestinal tract. Never feed your dog cooked bones. This includes those that originate in your kitchen and those that can be purchased. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that between Nov. 1, 2010 and Sept. 12, 2017, it received accounts of 90 dogs who became sick after eating commercially-available smoked or baked bone treats. Fifteen of the dogs died.
Make sure it doesn’t have onions or garlic. Honestly, if you are planning on giving it to your dogs, you should skip on herbs and veggies, or at least look up any herb or veggie you add to make sure it is dog-friendly.
And 100% NO POULTRY BONES, especially for cats.
The bones break into shapes that are long and splintery and get stuck in their throats.
If these bones just crumble between my fingers into a paste type bone meal, can I not mix some of that into my cat or dog food? There aren’t any sharp pieces.
Author
Hi Teresa, this might be a question for your vet as we would hate to give you the wrong advice here x
the burning question:
Its late, I’m tired, and the pot with shrimp broth is still warm… I shouldn’t leave it out if the fridge, but its too warm for in the fridge, so what can i do??
Author
Hi Vera, I usually strain it all once it has cooled down a little bit and then pour it into my jars. If it is late, and the pot is still warm, I would put a breadboard underneath it in the fridge. Definitely not something you would want to leave out. x
My fish stock is very watery tasting, is it still healthy?
I’ve been making stock for a couple of years now, but even so I found this post very useful. Thank you!
One thing I don’t think you mentioned was to what extent boiling can damage the nutrients in stock. I take care not to let mine go past the stage where a bubble or two is rising to the surface every few seconds, but my dilemna comes when a pot of stock has been in the fridge maybe a day or two longer than I’d like and the rest is frozen. It’s probably absolutely fine, or maybe just on the turn, but my stomach is still recovering so at those times I’m tempted to boil the stock to get rid of any potential pathogens before I drink it. Do you have thoughts on that (other than to chuck the stock, which I know I should probably do)?
Author
Thanks PP. Yay to a fellow veteran stock maker! Yes, very slow bubble is essential. It’s mentioned in the original post in the recipe making but thanks for mentioning here also 🙂
Can you blend the chicken carcass and put it in the broth to eat?
This is brilliant!! thank you so much for popping this into a blog post and also for answering all the questions on my FB page! Love your work. xxxxx
The link to your original post takes me to NNAMs Facebook page…
Author
Thanks for reaching out on that Felicity. Have corrected that link now 🙂
Thank you for posting this, have you made a FODMAP friendly bone broth? Is the flavour still ok without onion?
Author
Brooke – yay. Thanks for that question. I have added it into the main post to help other Fodmappers with the answer. No 27 🙂
Love this! It’s inspired me to start making broth! But my one question is, I have a 7 month old & and am planning to introduce protein into his diet soon. Can I purée stews & soup made with bone broth & give that to him or would it be too much for his digestive system? I am presuming this would be great nourishment for my two year old.
Thanks
Author
Thanks Renee – I’ve popped an additional question in – no 28 – re babies and answered it. Thanks for the question! 🙂
Thanks for answering my question. Appreciate it. I’ve got my first lot of bone broth simmering away. Looking forward to incorporating it in to my whole family’s diet. I use so much stock in my cooking that this is going to be such an easy change. Now to convince my husband I need a chest freezer so I can stock up on bones & freeze my broth.
Hello! I was wondering if the stock is still beneficial for gut healing if instead of drinking it you use it for cooking. Soup, stew, risotto etc
Author
Absolutely Brooke – just as beneficial, PLUS the added benefit of making your cooked foods more digestible, given the stock has the colloids that attract gastric juices and promote healthy digestion 🙂
I will be forever grateful for Collette from COTC and you Alexx ❤️ I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis and have done for nearly 20 years. I am literally GOBSMACKED how I have been feeling since starting on beef bone broth. I have only made 4 batches so far and I am IN LOVE!! This article has really helped though as I think this batch I added too much water as it didn’t go as jelly like. I thought by adding more water I would simply get more stock, so happy days but clearly that was not the right thing to do. I look forward to a happier less painful future following you amazing women and your wealth of knowledge ❤️ Thank you thank you thank you xxxx
Author
Emma – You have made my day. This is what it’s all about. Real food for real change. So glad you are feeling the benefits already. Just fantastic xx
I also emailed this BRILLIANT article of yours to my Mum for her joint pain. After reading this the penny dropped that this could benefit her also 🙂 I believe it can benefit us all xxx
Author
It will be brilliant for her joint pain yes! Commit to a couple of cups a day, or 1 cup and then a good little ladle here and there into soups, stews, sauces etc and report back. Should make a huge difference 🙂
Hi, I didn’t see this issue covered.
6 hours into simmering my chicken bone broth, something came up and I had to throw the pot in the fridge for 2 days. Today i wanted to cook it for the other 6 hours. After doing a little research, it should have been cooled before i put it in the fridge. Is it still safe to continue?
I’m very excited to learn you can get great results with fish since I don’t eat other meats and wanted to try broths as I’m expecting my first child. What is the best fish to use?
Author
Yes – Enjoy it and its benefits Catherine. Pop back and let me know how you go! 🙂
I have a fish allergy (not molluscs or crustaceans), but am able to eat TINNED tuna/salmon due to the high temps in the canning process
(http://www.allergy.org.au/patients/food-allergy/allergic-and-toxic-reactions-to-seafood)
Do you think it would be safe for me to have fish broth?
Author
I can’t say for sure Donna. You need to make fish stock with white, non oily fish. Why not taste a little teaspoon or rub some on lip and seee? An alternative is making a stock with crustaceans which is amazing flavour wise – prawn heads and crab carcasses 🙂
Thanks so much for another great ‘broth’ post. As you know, you got me onto broth a while back and I now have it daily. I love it and I think I am obsessed with it just quietly 😉
I will be sharing this info for sure. Keep up your amazing work x
Author
Thanks so much Collette – I too am obsessed and glad to have you in ‘the circle of broth’. Heheh!xx
Hi Alex,
I LOVE your stock info – thankyou so much! I was a stock convert before seeing this, but your website really helps refine the process so we are getting the most out of each batch. I have a question around freezing the stock – how would you best freeze a whole batch of stock (with a small fridge) so that you can easily get two cups a day defrosted? With my seven month old I have been freezing it in ice block containers which is great for defrosting for him, but a bit tedious for my husband and I who would be wanting a cup each. Any suggestions appreciated,
Best,
Katherine
Author
You’re so welcome Katherine. I do into jars for that very reason. Easy serve size defrosting. You could do rectangular pyrex platters also to take up less room OR you could reduce your stock down with the lid off to a more concentrated solution and then simply add half water to the stock when heating to drink 🙂
Hi how much should you have a day? My partner has no cartilage in his hip so I’m giving it to him daily for that purpose, how much should he have? And how much should I have just for general health purposes?
Thank you
Author
There is no recommended dose perse Stacy, however a couple of cups a day for recovery is wonderful. I’ll usually have half a cup at breakky, and then add a splash to dinner most nights somehow through a dressing, sauce, stew, soup etc for easier digestion. Your partner is going to love the healing benefits!
Brilliant information. Only wanted to know how long I could keep stock in my fridge, and I have learnt so much more in the process. I usually use it to make soups with left over veg from a roast dinner, but I will now be using it a lot more!
How long can I keep cooked beef bones in the fridge for reuse before they go bad?
Author
Up to 4 days no problems 🙂
I’m wondering how long bones will keep by themselves? Can I freeze or refrigerate them until I use them for stock? If so, do we know if freezing them will cause them to lose any flavor or nutrients?
Author
I freeze them for up to 3 months and use up all together once I have enough for a batch x
If I am going to reuse my beef bones for a new batch of broth can I store them in the fridge or freezer for later use or is it necessary to make a new batch right away? Thanks Alexx
Hi…Is it still healthy and safe to blend all the cooked broth with the bones to a fine consistancy to consume together for added bone consumption nutrients?
Author
Hi Dianne, I haven’t done that. I would be concerned about small splinters which may not do any favours to the mucosa of your oesophagus.
When stockpiling bones to make broth, where is it best to keep them, in refrigerator or freezer?
Author
Hi Char – sorry I missed your comment. Fridge for the first week and freezer if you’re keeping thereafter x
Hey, great article and thanks for the link to the butcher in Valcluse. I’ve been getting my beef bones and chicken feet for stocks from Paddy’s Market as I live down the road, but will go for the guaranteed pasturefed bones from now on.
Quick question: I don’t have a lot of fridge space. If I sterilize IKEA jars with a rubber seal lid AND my broth has a good layer of fat that will set in the fridge will the broth then survive OK for a few weeks at room temperature? What are the dangers here?
Cheers,
Dave
Author
So sorry I missed your comment – and GRUB are closing up shop (to be delivering directly soon from their new farm). I keep our stock jars in the fridge with a fat layer on top for 2-3 weeks no issue. It’s a personal choice but I’ve never had an issue and key is to bring back to the boil for over 10 mins.
Hi Alexx, I think David was asking if the broth could be made shelf stable, as he doesn’t have much fridge room. The answer is yes, but it has to be canned properly to do so. I am not experienced with canning, but I believe you need a good pressure canner to insure a sanitary, tight seal on the lids. Bone broth can be kept shelf stable for a few years this way.
Author
Hi Joanna – yes exactly but you’d need to ensure you were well versed in canning methods so that it was safe. I’d definitely attend a canning workshop first.
I cooked smoked cod with Spanish onions in water (bring to boil then simmer for approx 20 min) water changed colour from the onions, can I use this as a base for soup?
Author
You sure can – it would be delicious!
Hi thankyou for all the GREAT tips. I’ve been on the broth journey for a few months with great results. I have broth daily and use it as my sole source of food when fasting intermittently.
I have often wondered whether it’s helpful to blitz the meat from the bones in the vitamix which produces a very strong pâté paste and then add it to the clear broth. Would this defeat the purpose and benefits of clear broth for gut healing? Seems a waste of dense protein nutrients not to use that meat.
Cheers Susan
Author
I always pull meats off bones before making a stock – so I’ll roast a chook / lamb leg etc, we’ll eat the meats, and then we’ll make a stock once we’ve collected a few bones. No disrupted benefits if you had the meat, blended in the broth, but possibly just a nicer thing to eat the meat as is cooked and then make broth / stock with the bones x
Hello Alexx, ah I see we are speaking of two different things here, but thankyou. I was referring to the marrow from the martow bones & the meat from the neck bones after they’ve been cooking in my crock pot to make the stock. The meat & marrow is soft & juicy and I make the pâté by blitzing it in the Vitamix with a quantity of the stock. It’s a very strong flavour & I’m assuming also a rich source of protein. It’s SO rich that a tablespoon added to 2 cups of stock make it a very substantial heavier soup.
Alternatively my understanding around consuming the clear stock is that the combination of the distilled nutrients together with the healing value for the gut not needing to digest heavy protein.
It seems as though there may be two different uses & possible outcomes. What are your thoughts around this notion?
Kind Regards (& hopefully not confusion) Susan Das
My beef bone broth has been in glass jars in the fridge for five days. Can I reheat after removing the fat? Can I freeze what I don’t use up immediately. I’d like to be a regular on this site. How do I do that?
Author
Hi Estelle – Not sure how I missed your comment. Yes absolutely – reheat and bring to a good boil for safety. Then freeze what you don’t use up, no issue. Being a regular is easy – just subscribe which you’ll see you’re able to do on the side bar of the blog / any recipe. x
My beef bone broth has been in glass jars in the fridge for five days. Can I reheat after removing the fat? Can I freeze what I don’t use up immediately. I’d like to be a regular on this site. This is the first time on this site. It won’t let me submit my information.
Author
Yes you can reheat after 5 days – keep the fat to saute veggies. You can freeze what you don’t immediately use for up to 6 months, yes. I’m not sure what you mean by not submitting any information? When you’re in a blog post, there’s a side bar that lets you pop your email down to become a subscriber. Hope that helps x
Hi,
Made bone broth from chicken wings yesterday … for first time using a slow cooker (first time use). Put on low as indicated and left overnight for 24 hours………… the whole process never bubbled or any sign of a simmer although cook pot was hot. I rang maker of slow cooker and they said normal not to bubble in slow cooker. At end I decided to bring to boil for safety …..
Ate small bowl yesterday and have reserved another few bowls in fridge which have formed layer of fat.
However, today noticed slightly loose bowel movement (unusual for me)and wondering if any connection to broth ??
Maybe just coincidence…………….. I was scrupulous in every way possible.
Any tips or advice much appreciated.
Regards,
Hilary
I took my bone broth out of the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge over night. I forgot to drink it the next day. It’s been 3 days in the fridge. Can I still drink it if I boil it?
Author
I’d absolutely still use it Michelle – A good boil for at least 10 mins and you’ll be fine x
I had a power outage last night about 6 hours after I started my beef bone broth in a crock pot. The power was out for 7 hours before returning and the cooking continued. Is it safe to consume?
Author
Hi Carrie – If it were me I would absolutely just give it a good half hour boil and yes, I’d consume it x
Hello! I have a large amount of stock that I want to make into soup but it’s 2 lots from different batches, one has been in the freezer for a couple of months. Am I ok to mix them together or should I keep them separate? Thanks very much!
Ever heard that drinking on an empty stomach two cups might cause diarrhea?
Being time poor, I often wonder if it would be OK to make bone broth using frozen bones. I buy mine from the farmers market in bulk and freeze them. I cook the broth in a slow cooker – maybe just add a couple of hours to the cooking time?
Author
Hi Helen – I almost always go straight from frozen (as we stock pile our bones from roast chook leftovers for a couple of months) into the pot with water, veg, herbs and off we go. I never wait for them to thaw first x
Hello…..I wondered if making stock in a pressure cooker was a good idea ……it would save time, but I wonder if it would be as nurshing ? thank you.
Author
The jury is out on that one with conflicting findings, but honestly if it’s a difference between not making it at all? Then absolutely make it in the pressure cooker, yes.x
Hi Alexx,
I have been making bone broth for a few months now and absolutely love it. The last 2 batches I made, I had to throw away as the smell was so horrible. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the meat and I roasted the bones first. Would it be possible the onion or garlic could be the cause? I have read you should only add the veggies the last 5 hours. Has this ever happened to you?
Thanks
Natalie:)
Author
I wouldn’t do a stock with garlic as it can turn it very bitter cooking garlic for extended periods of time – I’d say that was it, yes. Onion fine, garlic no no x
Hi and thank you for all the info. I have one question; are there any nutrients left in the meat after making broth from bones with meat on? I bought some grass-fed, organic beef shin with lots of good meat on and made the broth from the whole cut. The meat is like ‘pulled beef’ so I have saved it but I can imagine it has little left in it as far as nutrients go. Many thanks.
Hi Christine
So normally if there were a lot of meat on the bones, I’d scoop it off an hour in, and save for a soup so it doesn’t go tasteless… It’s still going to be protein and soaked with the broth so plenty of goodness, but next time just take it off and leave aside in the fridge to use x
Do you also recommend using the pressure cooker for making broth/stock & if so for what length of time please?
Would canning the bone broth ruin the gelatin?
Hello Alexx,
thank you for this post!! I have been using a 7 day refrigeration rule for years with chicken stock/broth whether it has a layer of fat or not. Can you please comment on reasons for 3-4 day rule? Is it that it looses its nutritious value or something more sinister? tia
I have a freezer full of lamb bones… lambs we raised ourselves and had processed. I want to make bone broth for my dogs but they’ve been in the freezer for years. Is that a problem? They are probably freezer burned but i don’t think my dogs will care 😉 If it is ok…. no health issues…is it safe for human consumption? I added some pork feet and the ACV but no spices or other flavors.
Why is it only 3 days in the fridge. Will the broth go bad? I make my broth and drink it for the rest of the week. I hope that’s ok and I’m not making myself sick.
I put my broth in the glass pitcher containers. They both have fat on top and I drink it everyday. I find the mason jars crack in the freezer.
If you have the layer of fat on top, does that mean if it is untouched, it can stay in the fridge and not be spoiled until you remove the fat?
Thank you.
Author
It builds up histamines in the fridge so 3 days is perfect. If you want to keep beyond that best freeze it. If you feel excitable, have any pounding heart, itchy skin, then you know it’s a histamine sensitivity and to freeze and defrost from there to use. Mason jars only crack if too full when you freeze them. Leave a full inch off the top of the liquid and don’t screw jar fully tight. Just loose and placed. No crackage I promise. Yes the fat will be protective of bacteria and histamine levels rising x
Should I roast pork knuckle (like you recommend for beef) prior to popping it in the stock pot?
Author
Always great if you have the time to roast knuckle bones, yes x
Hello Allex.. thanks for the informative post. I will pin this.. But I have a question, I did simmer my bone broth for 8 hours already yesterday and added water last night before I turned it off. this morning it’s not gelatinous anymore. Can I simmer it again like yesterday aftee it has cooled down overnight?
Thank you,
Author
At this point I would pop into jars into the freezer and use jar at a time, as needed. Plenty of health benefits from an 8 hour stock, whether you’ve added water or not… no issue x
But after adding water last night I simmered it again but not for a long time. so yes is it safe to start simmering it again or will it lose it’s healthy benefits.
Hi there! Maybe this was answered already but is it o.k to add beef, chicken and fish stock together to have? Either as to eat or drink doesn’t matter. Just wanted to know if maybe it might be too much for the stomach to handle and if it would add different nutrition value to the stock. Thanks!
Author
Hi Tim – Sorry I missed your comment. Nope I’d keep the fish separate definitely – that would taste a bit funky mixed with beef. Animal bones together to make a stock are fine though as a mixed bag.
Thank you for all your research! One thing I wonder about is whether there is ANYTHING useful you can do to old stock if you forget to use it before it spoils, or even freezer stock that has been in there longer than recommended. I threw out so much old stock last year and felt tremendous guilt, becasue as you know, it took so much time to make and wow what a waste of great nutrition…….
Author
Hi Dee – you’re super welcome. I would pop stock in jars in freezer straight away except for 1 or 2 that’ll last a week or two if there’s a fat layer on top. And then for freezer stock just try and manage your stocks (pardon the pun) a bit better. Look at your next couple of days cooking and if there’s a soup or casserole in there, pull out your jrs and get using them more regularly. Too dangerous to play around with old stock due to bacteria but stock before spoiling when all else fails, to use it up, heat, add salt and enjoy a warm cuppa x
my slow cooker turned off for a few hours overnight and the reduction went to room temperature. is my reduction ruined now?
Author
Hi Shaun – Sorry I didn’t catch this. If it’s winter I’d just in future give it a good boil, otherwise unfortunately yes – I’d ditch it, if it was not very cool where you are x
Crock Pot or stove top?? Crock pot seems to leave a bitter taste .
Would welcome feedback.
Author
Susan I tend to use a big Le Creuset French oven on the stove top. That’s my fave method x
Thanks Alexx. I agree that the results & the wonderful aroma of stock on the stove top is unbeatable.
I have been making beef bone broth for a couple of years and processing quart mason jars in the pressure cooker. Has been working great and very available as needed. This year I forgot to cool the broth and remove the fat. Do you know if there is a health reason I should open the bottles and reprocess without fat?
I have been making stock and freezing it using my pressure cooker for many years =doubt if any of it was organic meats tho’…..(didnt know about that….) am I wasting my time, or is there still goodness in how I do it..?
Author
Making stock is better than not and doing the best we can is the most important thing so if pressure cooker and whatever bones you can access is what you can do, then that’s awesome in my opinion x
I made beef bone broth, simmered on the stove for 4 days and then froze it. I took it out yesterday to defrost and forgot to put it in the fridge so it’s been on the counter for a little over 24 hours. Is there any saving it or is it best to pitch it and start over? P.S. I live in FL.
Author
Hey there Susan – sorry I missed this. In a hotter climate absolutely no I wouldn’t reheat if it had been on the counter for a day. Such a shame I know, but not worth it x
Hello blogger, good morning. Gorgeous blog post. You have gained a new reader. Pleasee keep it up and I look forward to more of your incredible articles. Regard
how much fat is still in the pork stock after the top layer is removed. Stock being cooled in the fridge.
how much fat remains after top layer has been removed by cooling?
Oh no – i had a my stock on tonight but had the heat setting higher to get the fluids hotter quicker as time was of the essence. Got distracted caring for the kids. Got back to my stock boiling in the pot for a number of minutes. Not sure how long but i guess about 8min or so. Is the stock still any good for gut health?
Alexx, your an ANGEL!
Thank you greatly for this webpage
God bless❤️
*Libby
If I recently made bone broth in my slow cooker, but then left everything as is (didn’t get around to straining it off yet), just put in the fridge for a couple days, is it ruined? Do I need to throw out the whole batch? Or is it still ok to strain off now?
Author
So sorry I didn’t see this Mimi – For safety reasons, unfortunately, I’d say no, can’t reheat that. x
Wait, she didn’t leave it out to get warm, she put it right into the fridge. It would be the same as any soup, wouldn’t it? It should be safe I should think!
Alexx – I’m confused on the above answer. We just made our first batch of bone broth in the slow cooker. We did not get a layer of gel on top. Why are you saying the batch in the above comment is not good if they moved it to the refrig immediately – just didn’t strain it and take off the gel?
Hello, I left my beef bone broth on the counter yesterday to defrost. I forgot to put it back in the fridge before I went to bed. Is it still safe to consume? It has been out for 16 hrs or less.
Thank you!
Rebeca
I am wondering if I can drink Chicken bone broth that has a slightly fermented it tastes good, it has just a slight fizz to it. I drink water Kiefer so to me it’s pleasant but I want to make sure it’s safe
Author
Hi Adelaide, personally I wouldn’t given the possibility of bacteria contamination but feel free to check with a local avid fermenter… never know, but for the purpose of safety, I won’t recommend it, no x
Hello Alex I will crockpot my organic beef bones for the first time today. I am wondering if 24 hours or maybe 48 hrs on low is suitable. My crockpot has low and high.
I use your recipes, ideas,podcasts as an amazing resource to change how we live for ourselves and our environment.Thankyou . Regards Lesley
Can I still get all the benefits of bone broth if I only cooked it for 7 hours (chicken or turkey), and it wasn’t gelatin looking? And I kept adding some water to the pot? Does it still also have collagen?
Author
Yes you absolutely can! Non jelly appearing broth, usually just means the water to bone ratio was a bit on the water side, so don’t worry – it’s all still in there x
Great narrative on bone broth. I’ve been “playing around” with it for a year. Some thoughts and comments: you didn’t mention collagen which is the gel. It is so good for all the reasons you discuss. A main benefit for me is weight control/loss as the protein and fat suppress my appitite. My nails are stronger than they have been in my 76 year old life! I prefer pork bones. I freeze my batch of broth in quart size freezer bags. They lay flat in the freezer. I pull two out at a time, put one on the fridge and one in hot water bath to defrost quickly then in cup in microwave. I drink it prior to eating anything in the morning. (Also have my coffee). When any recipe calls for chicken broth I use my bone broth. Also the vinegar helps the collagen release from the bones. I add and then drain out onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf, clove, salt and pepper with the 1/3 cup vinegar. I roast bones for 1 hour at 350 with EVOO, salt pepper and garlic powder before putting them in good water in large crock pot for 24 hours. House smells wonderful!!! Sorry for my random thoughts but I LOVE bone broth and recommend it for everyone. It is “gold”.
Author
It sure is gold – you’re clearly totally across it. Enjoy! x
I have been making bone broth for several weeks for myself and my 15 year old daughter.
She has ulcerative colitis, diagnosed 4 years ago, and I’ve been struggling alot and virtually not able to tolerate much food at all in the past six weeks. Expecting a diagnosis of IBD when I finally see a GI doc in a couple of weeks.
I started the SCD diet 6 weeks ago and thankfully have started to feel much better. Bone broth is a staple in the diet, and some days that’s I all could tolerate.
So thankful for bone broth!!
This time our lives got busy and I kept the broth cooking on the stove for over 3 days, on low. It’s quite dark and the taste is different, although I don’t mind it. Could this be unsafe to use?
What about using New York City tap water rather than filtered water?
Author
Water in urban areas tends to have heavy metal, antibiotic and pesticide residues, so a water filter at least for the daily drinking water is a great thing to do 🙂
I’ve just begun reading and learning about bone broth/soups/stews/etc. I have digestive issues so it appears bone both could be very beneficial. However, I haven’t the energy or strength to make (just got out of hospital due to stomach issues), and I wondered if – until I am able to do so myself – is it possible to purchase well made ready made bone stock anywhere?
Lori,
there are a lot of commercial bone broths out there, I’m sure they are all probably very good. My assumption is that they will be much more expensive than making your own, but definitely much more convenient!
Thank you, Joanna. It will only be temporary until I can actually start doing things.
Would they be found at a health store, a grocery store, where exactly? (My hubby won’t let me drive, so I don’t want him coasting around…)
Author
Hi Lori – Absolutely you can buy it. Just look for pasture raised / organic source and the best option is in glass jars or frozen cubes, before choosing plastic pouches or long life cartons. Hope you get better soon!
Thank you, Alexx. I will look for some at my local Health Food store. I can’t wait to try some!
My question, I cannot seem to find the answer to, is: How long can you KEEP COOKING the bones? I seem to recall my Grandma having the pot on the stove on low all week long, and kept adding to, and taking from, as needed, all week long. As long as it is rolling/boiling, isn’t it safe to do this all week?
Author
HI Sherry – That’s how many Asian cultures do it “A master stock” concept… I think though given the issue of heavy metals today and bones leaching more over time especially if non organic, grass fed, I would just do 12-24 hours for beef/pork/lamb and 2-5 hours for chicken and 30-1hour for fish as a general guide and be done. x
Hi, living in a city, I do not know anywhere to buy organic chicken bones, so I buy the whole organic chicken and slow cook it. Should I be using the chicken first and only using the bones to make the broth?
Also, I was under the impression that the layer of fat on top of the broth was important for healing the gut, so have been consuming it as part of the broth…..is that incorrect?
Author
Hi! I would make the most of the chicken by roasting / eating it first and then making the broth with the bones. And yes – go for it and enjoy the fat too… We use it for cooking often ie, frying onions when starting a recipe, otherwise we throw it straight in with the soup / broth when re-heating. Some people find the beef fat just too much in quantity, so I recommend keeping as much / little as you want or like and save the rest for cooking. Hope that’s helpful x
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Can I make soup with bone broth immediately after simmering for 24 hours? Everything I am reading says you have to cool it and refrigerate after.
I read that 70% of meats nutritional value is lost when freezing it. Is the same true of bone broth?
hi iwas wondering if re-using bones, how long can the bones be kept in the fridge until they are re-used? thanks for this web page v informative. i’ll be passing it on for sure thanks again. Stock on!!
Author
Hi Daithi
That would depend on how long they were kept the first time. All up, 5-6 days, but if you want to reuse and not quite yet, you could freeze them until you want to use them again x
When roasting a beef roast, i added beefy onion flavor packet. Is it safe to can beef broth with leftovers?
I am roasting abbe and potatoes in a crock pot. I have added a beefy onion flavor packet. Can i can the beef juice? Would it be safe?
Author
Yes you can – they’ll add to the flavour of the broth for sure x
a beef
How about using breastmilk storage bags freeze them flat and store them upright like how u store ring files? More costly but really great for saving space.
Author
Unfortunately those being plastic and with the potential for plastic compound leaching in cold storage, I’d not advise this. Flat pyrex rectangular glass boxes are great as another option if you don’t do / have jars and also super space-saving…
I have just made my first bone broth and wish I’d read your blog! I scrapped off the gorgeous fat layer 🙁 just today. The broth is lovely and jelly like and I am wondering how long I can leave it in the fridge? And …. how many cups a day do you suggest to drink? Thank you!
Author
Hi Colette – Oh yes keep that fat for sure! Next time… You can leave the fatless jelly for 3-4 days in the fridge, so if you have more than you can use a cup a day of in that time, just freeze it and defrost as needed x
Hi Alexx,
How long can you freeze bones for until you use them for stock ?
🙂
Author
3 months is the general freezing meats / bones rule x
Hi i have cooked my broth on low for 72 hours in my slow cooker using grass fed marrow bone and a knuckle.
After leaving it in the fridge overnight in portions it hasn’t turned to jelly and i dont have any fat solidified on top.
I want to use my broth to heal leaky gut but i think something has gone wrong 🙁
Author
Hey Michelle – it will just mean that the water to bones ration was too high in water but it doesn’t mean you won’t get benefits. It’s all in there just in a slightly lower concentration per cup. All good x
Thanks for getting back to me, i cant believe after a 3 day fast with my broth it has cured all my leaky gut symptoms, im back eating a varied diet and feeling full of energy. Cant wait to make another one for a little top up 🙂
I am not cooking chicken stock, I am cooking chicken feet soup using a slow cooker setting at “high” for 2 hr, then I ate the skin, ligament, and cartilage, discard the bones and the hard tendons
my question is am I getting any collagen benefits? how long I should cook the chicken feet soup to get the collagen benefits?
Author
You absolutely are Tony! Enjoy 🙂
Can I add beef or chicken bouillon cubes in place of salt to enhance the flavor?
My lamb stock has a greenish cast. Is something wrong.
Hey, if you can only source frozen chicken carcasses, can you then freeze the broth once made or do you have to keep it in the fridge and eat it without freezing it?
Author
Yes absolutely. I do it all the time as my extra carcasses come frozen too when I do a big batch. I also freeze bones from our meals and then use them later to make broth and then freeze a few jars and defrost as needed. Happy broth making! x
Is anyone freezing their broth? I was wondering what it was like after defrosting as im thinking about freezing it in ice cube bags for my cats
Author
absolutely. Totally fine to freeze and use on defrosting within 2-3 days x
when using marrow bones, do you take the marrow out of the bones at the end? So i did just marrow bones in my instant pot for 1.5 hours – then I scooped the marrow out of the bones and into the broth – when I strained it I used a sieve and pushed on it with the back of a spoon to push through the softer parts. Is this ok? Good? Bad? Lol, this is only the 2nd time I have made brouth
Author
Hi Sue-Anne. I’d take the marrow out and EAT separately. Too much goodness to waste it or have it potentially get lost. Enjoy x
Hello, thank you for your blog post. I made my chicken stock last night and it’s jelly like in the fridge. My recipe for a salad dressing is saying just bring out what you need from the fridge to get it up to room temperature so that it is liquid for the dressing. Is this safe or should I reheat it and let it cool again before I use it for a dressing as it’s not going to be boiled through the cooking process of the salad. Looking forward to using lots of stock in my cooking!
Hey Alexx 🙂
I plan to make pho over the next 2 days and nights (essentially the same process as broth). I feel comfortable leaving it on low overnight ocassionally getting up to check on it, but not when I leave the house for a few hours at a time during the day. Could I turn it off and leave it on the stove then turn it back on when I return? How many time do you think I could do this and for how long?
Thanks
Can I drive k bone broth as soon as it’s finished.
Author
Of course you can. Enjoy x
Hi! I’m really trying to get my kiddos to drink bone broth all year for gut health and to keep the germs at bay during the winter months. They are 5 and 8 years. How much is needed at their ages to reap the benefits? Thank you for all the great info!
Hi alex,
Great post! I’ve defrosted some broth which in a sealed container on the counter. I meant to drink it tonight but forgot and it was on the counter defrosting in a container of water for about 6 hours. the broth defrosted completely and was only slightly cool to the touch when I put it in the fridge. Is it still ok to drink?
Just made my first batch of beef bone broth – from big grass-fed bones, in the IP. When finished there is still the marrow in the bones. Should I push that out & into the broth? Is the goodness already extracted from the marrow? (I’m guessing that it is.)
How long can you store the bones? Should you freeze them if you don’t have enough to immediately make broth?
When pressure canning beef broth from bones, is it ok to have a thick layer of fat that has solidified on top of the liquid? How can one make a clearer broth?
Is there any nutrition left in the meat that is left from my turkey bones after 24 hrs of simmering? I hate to waste it.
Hi there! You talk about not taking off the fat, however I was always told that you need to remove the scum from the top of your stock. How am I meant to know the difference between fat and scum, or are they the same thing? If I am working with a particularly fatty type of animal (i.e. duck) do you think your rule of not removing (at least some of) the fat still applies?
Also, the phrases ‘fat is flavour’ has stuck with me ever since reading Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Kitchen Confidential’ several years ago. If I were to remove all the fat from the stock therefore (for example by putting it through a particularly fine sieve in order to make consumme), would this have a negative impact on the flavour of the stock?
Thanks
Author
Yes remove the scum but it won’t remove much of the fat, don’t worry. Having your fat layer cool and set on top means you then have it to scoop from and use to do baked veggies or start your soups or casseroles with and then stock to flavour it / make sauces / soup liquid etc. Enjoy!
Hey Alexx! One quick question. I am not comfortable with a continous 8 hrs. simmering time. Can i cook for 3-4 hrs in the morning and then keep it in the fridge and re cook it 3-4 hrs in the evening?
No cooked bones for pets!!! I’m a vet tech and worked at a vet clinic for 15yrs now and have seen so many pets almost die and die from it.
Author
Absolutely agree! I will bold this to ensure no one considers it x
Can you re-use chicken bones again to make bone broth after you had made meat broth with them before, even if the bones are mushy if they were to be pinched?
Author
I’d say you’d already got the best of them by that stage x
My home made origanic bone broth with a small amount of fat on top ( all veggies strained out) has been in the refrigerator for a week. Can I boil it for an extended time to make it safe to eat?
Author
That’s totally safe to eat. Just cook well as you would normally on the boil for at least 10 mins and you’re good to go. Any left you just pop that in the freezer x
Hi Alexx,
Thanks for your detailed inputs on broth making. I have a knee injury with cartilage damage in one of my knees . Iam making chicken feet broth and consuming 1 cup of it daily for the past 3 weeks. In your blog, you have mentioned that you know a person who had success in regenerating his cartilage with broths. Iam just wondering if you know what bones the person used for broth ? Is Chicken bones alone enough ?
Author
Hey Siva – he did a mix of knuckle/marrow beef stocks and chicken’s feet/necks all for really high gelatine content. Happy healing! x
Hi. If you use a whole chicken in the pot as well as bones, do you need to remove the skin first?
Author
Hi Yael – no, no need to remove the skin first. All in! x
When using broth that is stored in the fridge can you just warm it up or do you have to boil it to kill any potential pathogens that have developed?
If you have to boil it elsewhere it says that you shouldn’t boil it at all when you’re making it because it destroys the beneficial bacteria – which is contradictory. Thanks.
I’ve heard of restaurants using master stock to braise meat for years and years..
Is that safe to do at home or no?
Author
I wouldn’t do this at home, no. They leave them on the heat 24/7 and that’s not safe at home I don’t believe x
Hi,
Can bone broth be kept in a slow cooker for days in the keep warm function so no extra time is needed to heat, but just scoop and drink?
Thank you for your time.
Author
As long as it’s over 60centigrade to prevent bacteria growing then sure x
Hi, just wondering as I am a newbie at this stock making deal…I have used chicken necks to make some stock, in my slow cooker (I let it cook on low for 12 hours). How do I separate the meat from the bone? And do I have to separate the meat from the stock before I freeze it? I was just going to pour the stock through a strainer, but there is meat floating around in the stock, with the bones. What do I do with the meat? Wouldn’t all the flavour be gone out of it?
Sorry for all the questions, I’m not a very good cook. TIA
Author
Hi Marianna, usually with bones and chicken carcasses you don’t keep any sinew/meat or bones in the stock once cooked (unless cooking whole pieces of edible chicken/beef with the bone in). The goal is to have a nice clear stock free of sediments. Sometimes this requires a double strain situation. Once cooked, gently remove the bones and any offcuts of veggies, discard those, and strain the remaining liquid multiple times until clear. Discarding any sediment or meat offcuts as you go.
Hope that helps!
Hi Alexx,
Thanks for all your patient information. I just wondered why it was important to discard any meat offcuts and sediment? As I didn’t bother. I just assumed it all would contain goodness of some sort. Are there unhealthy elements to the scum?!
thanks
Jessica
I made bone broth which did not gel. I put it in the frighted and defrosted chicken feet however I was unable to cook it until 6 days later. Is it okay to throw the feet and the broth in my Instant Pot and recook it? Thx!
I noticed a typo:
I made bone broth which did not gel. I put it in the refrigerator and defrosted chicken feet. However, I was unable to cook it until 6 days later. Is it okay to throw the feet and the broth in my Instant Pot and recook it? Thx!
Author
Hey Tammy, I probably wouldn’t recommend that from a food safety perspective. Broth is still fantastic and nutritious even when not super gelatinous, so in future, you can drink it regardless. Hope that helps. x
I cooked
My chicken carcass last night and put pot
In fridge with carcass still in pot was told that that’s not safe carcass should have been pulled out right away? Is that right is it still safe to use?
Author
Hi Dwain, as long as the bones are thoroughly cooked in the stock they are safe – ideally best to take them out before sitting in the fridge but if it’s just overnight that should be fine.
I recently brought my hogs to the butcher. I asked for the bones but didn’t recieve them. Now after chasing them down, I finally got a couple bags full but they weren’t frozen or refrigerated. Is it still safe to make broth from them??
Author
Hi Rebekah, best to check how fresh they are with your butcher before cooking with them, but generally we boil these bones to bits so you should be safe with non-frozen bones, however bones that haven’t been refrigerated could be a bit of a risk, unfortunately.
Why is lid lest off while making brown stock?
left*
[email protected]
If I boil the prepared broth when making a soup later will that ruin the benefits of the broth?
Or do I avoid wasting the broth ( and drink this at mild temperatures) and add normal bought stock to a soup?
Author
Hi Lynne, you can use your broth to make soups and stews, still beats buying the packaged stuff 🙂
Hi,
Someone gave me some bones lamb that they had from dinner last night and she didn’t refrigerate them afterwards. Will they be okay to use if I make bone broth tonight?
Author
Hi Brenda, good on you for trying to use up the bones. As a general rule lamb should only be left out for 2 hours once cooked, just to be safe, probably best to discard these this time around x
I saved the stock from corn beef to reuse. We have used it to make another corn beef and it turned out amazing but my question is can I save the new stock now that it has the old stock in it?
Hi,
Do you think it is safe from a health point of view to give a 17-month-old child a frozen chicken broth ice cube? He’s sick and teething as well, and doesn’t want anything hot or even warm.
Thanks!
How long can cooked beef bones be in the fridge and still okay to use for making stock or bone broth?
Author
Hi Steph, I would go longer than 3 days to be safe x
Put my broth in an ice bath and the temp went down to 56 degrees before I put in fridge, is the broth okay? Thank you
Author
Hi Rikki, if you mean that you made the broth fresh and then allowed it to cool and go into the fridge, then it should be fine 🙂
Hi, I often make bone broth overnight in an aga. Sometimes however I forget about it fir a day and it stays cooking fir 24 hrs or more. It is quite dark. Is this still safe to use?
The longer the better, the darker the more concentrated and richer it is surely?
I cook my bone broth in a slow cooker for no less than 70hours for maximum health benefits:)
Hi Alexx,
I cooked turkey in a pressure cooker, this left a couple of cups of juice.
I stored the turkey and juice in fridge. Next day I used the juice which turned to gelatin and turkey bones in pressure cooker to make more flavoursome broth which I’m planning to use for gravy for lunch on Christmas Day….just checking that this is safe to use to make gravy seeing I’ve recooked juices and bones. Thanks
I am on a 3 day bone broth fast & I was wanting to know if it is ok to eat the softened gelatinous chunks that come off the bones during the fast..
Whenever I make bone broth the liquid evaporates and I’m left with virtually no broth. In order to cook for long periods of time do you add water continually during the process?
The chicken I boiled for broth .( i bought a homegrown 6 pounder) had considerable mo
re blood left in it than I’d seen before…
Will the broth and meat still be good?
Ok so I have a nice sized bowl of gelatinous beef stock …It smells amazing… now what I need to know is the ratio of stock to water for making ramen soup please?
Thank you
I simmered a ham and left the juice in the pot overnight. Is the juice still good to use for making ham and beans?
Can you mix frozen stock with new batch of bone broth? so more stock than water?
Hi Alexx,
Thanks for all your patient information. I just wondered why it was important to discard any meat offcuts and sediment? As I didn’t bother. I just assumed it all would contain goodness of some sort. Are there unhealthy elements to the scum?!
thanks
Jessica
After making the stock, is it bad to leave the bones in the liquid for longer tgsnn24 hours or is it important to get the bones out of there?? Does it effect the quality of the stock??
I just wanted to thank you for the great article! It’s a great reminder. I make my broth in the InstantPot and it’s the best I’ve had – in 2 hours. 🙂