Have you heard of bone broth? Maybe you’ve heard it mentioned but aren’t quite sure what it is and why it is so highly praised by many. Bone broth is simply the liquid obtained from boiling the bones from chicken, turkey, pork or beef in water.
The biggest difference between bone broth and regular stock is that bone broth is cooked a lot longer. The end result is a tasty liquid that’s delicious on its own, but also makes a wonderful and nutritious base for soups and stews.
Speaking of nutrition, it’s one of the main reasons people make and consume bone broth regularly. Of course, it’s also very tasty, but more on that in a minute. When you boil bones for a long period of time, you leach out all sorts of nutrients, minerals, and other things that are good for you, like glucosamine and collagen.
Better Than Grandma’s Chicken Soup!
It’s also good for your immune system. Remember grandma making a big pot of chicken soup anytime someone would get sick? The same principal is at work here. Think of bone broth as a more concentrated version of Grandma’s healing soup. The broth may even help you sleep better at night. Sip a cup of the tasty liquid before bed. It’ll work better than the hot milk your mom used to bring you.
To make bone broth you take bones, like those from that leftover chicken or turkey carcass sitting the fridge, for example. Cover them with plenty of water and simmer for several hours.
How Long Do I Cook Them?
How long you cook your broth is up to you. 12 hours gives you a very decent broth, but cooking it even longer makes it even more nutritious. If you’re using the bones from a roasted chicken, consider tossing them in a large crock pot and making your broth right in there. They can safely bubble away as you go about your day.
How Do I Use It?
You can drink the finished hot broth as is, season it up with your favorite herbs and spices, or use it to make a pot of soup or stew. The cooled broth can be stored in the fridge for about 4 days or in the freezer for up to a year.
The next time you pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or roast that Thanksgiving turkey, don’t toss out the bones when you’re done. Use them to make a batch of delicious bone broth that’s so good for you. Once you try it, you’ll be surprised just how easy it is to make and how truly wonderful it is.
