Tags

, , , , , ,

Bone broth has become very trendy and all the rage over the past couple-ish years for good reason. It is an incredibly healthy food that was all but lost from most homes. It’s back now and so very important for optimal health and longevity.

Just about every Paleo/Ancestral/Whole Food blogger has a post or multiple posts on the value and nutrition of bone broth.

You can also purchase pre-made bone broth. Other than Kettle & Fire Grass-fed Bone Broth which I do usually keep in my pantry at all times, I find that the others are pretty expensive considering it doesn’t cost very much to make it yourself.

Here are some of the folks I trust, if you are going to purchase instead of make it.

Be aware of boxes of “broth” you can purchase in the average grocery store, they are full of all kinds of yucky ingredients you don’t want in your body. Read your labels.

How I Make Bone Broth

I like using my large oval crockpot or Instant Pot on slow-cooker mode. I prefer the low-n-slow method. You can do my way in a stainless steel stock pot on the stove as well.

I am always collecting bones; large ziploc bag of bones in my freezer at all times. When I get a full gallon size freezer ziploc bag full of bones, I know it is time to make broth.

The quality of your bones is really important; get grass-fed beef, free-range pastured chickens and pork bones. You can also make stock from duck, turkey, lamb, or deer.

The bones that I collect are mostly from our dinners, I save all our chicken bones and steak bones, pork chop bones etc. These work the best because they were seasoned well and browned in the cooking process. I keep the fat on the bones if I can and save it too along with the fat that I cut off and don’t eat. I mix my bones and use all the different types in each batch.

If you buy a bag of bones from a butcher, store, or farm I suggest putting some salt and pepper on them and roasting them in and brown in the oven before making broth from them; it provides so much more flavor.

Bone Broth Instructions

I get my crockpot out and fill it with good filtered water, I turn it on high and let the water start getting really hot.

I add ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and some real salt. You can add additional salt to the finished product as well, should you not add enough at the start.

Then I pull out my very favorite secret – Regency Soup Socks I put all my bones in one soup sock and tie a double knot at the top. I put the bones in the water.

Timing: Some people like to cook their bones for 24 hours. I like to cook mine for 10 – 12 hours because that is how many hours on my crockpot and am able to plan ahead for. The longer you cook the more gelatinous the result should be; it also depends on your bones. The longer you cook it the deeper and richer the flavor will be.

Note: If you use the stove-top you want to get it to a good boil to start then lower the heat to a simmer. Watch to make sure your water doesn’t get too low; you may have to add water. You do not have to add water to the crockpot, since it is sealed, and it creates more of a gelatinous result.

In a second soup sock I add onion, garlic cloves, celery, a couple bay leaves, 1 – 2 lemons cut in ½ or ¼ – I squeeze the juice in and then throw them in the bag. I like to wait until around 4 hours before the broth is done cooking before I add this bag to the crockpot. You can also add fresh or dried herbs, but wait until a couple of hours before you are done before adding them.

Once it is done cooking, I pull the bags out and trash them.

I let the broth cool for a while, but not all the way.

Once it is cooler, I get my jars, strainer, and a ladle and put it in the containers.

I allow them to sit uncovered until completely cooled to room temperature.

I put them in the fridge and freezer and use them as needed.

Uses for Your Broth

It is awesome to warm up a mug and add some lemon and sea salt and drink it every day. The healing effects on your body over time will be very noticeable. I love to use it for my liquid to warm up foods. And naturally, making soup with the broth is a great way to get it in your diet.

Leave me a comment and let me know if and how you use bone broth in your life.

 

I purchase my Kettle & Fire Grass-fed Bone Broth from Thrive Market –

Thrive Market allows you to shop for all the healthy food items you know and love at discount prices, because they cut out the middle man, and it gets delivered to your door so it also saves you time. Not only to you save money, but for every paid membership Thrive Gives a membership to a family in need.

I’m currently projected to save $500 – $600 on my groceries in 2016 by purchasing from Thrive Market.