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homemade bone broth in 3 quart mason jars
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Homemade Bone Broth

Bone broth is an important part of any gut-healing diet and is recognized worldwide for its nutrient-dense properties! Learn how to make bone broth today with this easy bone broth recipe!
Course ingredient, Soup
Cuisine American
Keyword beef bone broth, bone broth, bone broth recipe, how to make bone broth
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings 16 cups
Calories 33kcal
Cost $15

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs bones of choice (chicken or beef)
  • 1 gallon filtered water
  • 1 tbsp apple cidar vinegar
  • seasonings to taste (salt, pepper, garlic...)

Instructions

Bone Broth (Stovetop)

  • Add bones to a large stock pot and cover them with water. Then add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. This helps the bones release vital nutrients during the cooking process.
  • Add high-quality salt, peppercorns, and fresh garlic to taste.
  • Let the bones sit in the water without heat for 30-60 minutes. Then bring the water to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer (covered) for 8-10 hours. You can simmer for up to 36 hours, adding more water as needed.
  • If you cooked the bones long enough to release the marrow, knock the bones on the side of a bowl WHILE STILL HOT to release all the marrow.
  • After cooking, remove the bones and let them cool. Once cooled, you can freeze them for a second use (if you cooked them for only 8 hours), or you can then throw them away.
  • Strain the stock to remove peppers and any bone fragments that may have broken off during the cooking process.
  • Store in a glass container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 6 months.

Instant Pot Bone Broth:

  • Follow the directions above for stove top bone broth of your choice, but set the Instant Pot to "soup", low pressure, and 120 cook time.
  • Please note: Depending on the size of your Instant Pot, you may need to cut the recipe in half. So you would use only 1 pound of bones and only 8 cups of water.
  • Once cook time has been completed, be sure to let the Instant Pot depressurize naturally. Then process the bone broth as desired.

Crockpot Bone Broth:

  • Please note: Depending on the size of your Crockpot, you may need to cut the recipe in half. So you would use only 1 pound of bones and only 8 cups of water.
  • Follow the directions above for stove top bone broth of your choice, but set the crockpot to low and cook for 18 - 72 hours.
  • Strain and store the broth as indicated in the steps above.

Notes

Storing Bone Broth

To properly store homemade bone broth, follow these steps to maintain its freshness and quality.
  1. Strain - Strain the bone broth to remove any particles that may have broken loose during the cooking process.
  2. Cool - Allow the bone broth to cool completely before storing it. Leaving it at room temperature for an hour or two is advisable.
  3. Portion - Use appropriate storage containers. Glass jars with tight-fitting lids work best to prevent leaks and maintain flavor. Portion the broth into smaller jars (wide-mouth pint jars work really well). This allows you to thaw and use only the amount needed without repeatedly exposing the entire batch to air and potential contaminants.
  4. Label - Label the jars with the date of preparation to track their freshness.
  5. Store - Store the bone broth in the refrigerator if you plan to use it within 2 weeks. For longer-term storage, freeze it.
  6. Freeze - If freezing, leave about an inch of space at the top of the container as the liquid expands when frozen.
  7. Thaw - When ready to use, thaw frozen bone broth in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stove.
 
Can I microwave bone broth?
No! This will destroy all the benefits of the bone broth. Only heat your bone broth on the stovetop.
To do so, place your desired amount into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir occasionally to help melt the fat. Once you start to see steam rising from the broth, it's ready to drink!
 
How can I take bone broth with me to work?
Since you can't use the microwave to heat the broth once you are at work, the best solution is to heat it in the morning to boiling, then pour it into a thermos for eating later on.
While the broth will lose some of its heat as the day goes on, it should still be very warm if you use a good-quality thermos!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 33kcal | Protein: 9g | Sodium: 90mg