Stroll the supermarket and you’ll likely see a whole wall of different bone broths and stocks. This may leave you wondering a few things. What’s the difference between stock and broth? How does bone broth taste and what benefits might it bring? Read below to learn more about bone broth, including how to make it and how it may help support skin and overall health.
What Is Bone Broth?
Bone broth is made by slowly simmering bones in water for 12 to 24 hours. You can use any number of animal products such as chicken, beef, pork, turkey, lamb, and fish. Depending on the flavor you want, you can also add vegetables and aromatics.1
Bone broth is distinct from a regular broth or stock in two important ways.
- Bone broth cooks longer than a regular broth, which allows for additional collagen and nutrients from the bones to release into the broth.2
- Bone broth includes the addition of a vinegar during cooking to bring out extra minerals.3
What Does Bone Broth Taste Like?
The flavor of bone broth depends on a number of factors:
- The types of bones used in cooking create different flavors.
- Ratios of meat to bone can change the gelatin level and thickness of the broth (which may alter the flavor).
- Longer cooking times can deepen flavors.
- The addition of vegetables to a chicken or beef broth may lighten the broth (and potentially the flavor).
- Roasting the bones may change the richness of the broth.
Chicken Bone Broth
This golden elixir tastes mildly of chicken. The flavor will vary based on the bones, vegetables, and aromatics that you use. For the most part, chicken stock is mild and savory in flavor. It can be enjoyed on its own or added to many different soups and sauces.4
Beef Bone Broth
Beef bone broth has an amber hue and tastes meatier than chicken broth. The thickness of the broth depends on the meat-to-bone ratio that you use. A broth made with lots of collagen-rich bones will make a thicker broth with a richer flavor. More meat will produce a lighter broth with less gelatin.5
What’s So Great About Drinking Bone Broth?
The long and slow cooking of bones in water extracts important nutrients like collagen, amino acids, and minerals. As such, bone broth has become a popular snack or meal for certain diets and health enthusiasts. Some people even drink it instead of coffee in the morning.6
Some enthusiasts believe that regular cups of bone broth can support the following:
- Weight loss
- Skin health
- Bone and joint health
- Digestive health7
Speak with a doctor to get the most qualified information on the nutritional value of bone broth and whether it’s right for you.
Bone Broth And Skin Health: A Closer Look
Collagen is an important protein that the body produces to maintain skin and joint health. As we age we begin to produce less and less collagen, which is why skin wrinkles over time.8
Collagen provides a majority of the structure in the connective tissue of skin. It is like the building block and glue combined. Along with elastin, it is responsible for keeping the skin elastic and smooth.9
As such, some doctors suggest adding bone broth to your diet to help support skin health and deter the effects of aging. Reason being is because as the broth simmers, it breaks down tissue and bone which releases collagen into the liquid.10,11
The levels of protein and collagen levels in pre-made bone broths can vary. Some contain as much as 11.5 grams of collagen, while others only have 2.5 grams.12
Making your own bone broth will allow you more control over how much collagen is in your broth. Learn more about how to make your own collagen-rich batch below.
Bone Broth Recipes
Chicken and beef bone broth are easy to make at home. All you need are some quality ingredients and a bit of time. A broth can take up to 24 hours to make. So, the only major challenge might be waiting for the deliciousness to finish.
With a little bit of patience, and some tasty ingredients, you’ll soon have a rich broth to call your own. You can drink it on its own or use it as a base for soups.
Quick Notes On Ingredients And Process
One of the great things about bone broth is that it’s hard to overcook. So, you don’t have to worry much about leaving it in the slow cooker or pressure cooker for too long.13
Check with your local butcher or at the supermarket for good, quality bones. Grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken bones contain more nutrients than other options.14
In the kitchen, a Crock Pot or Instant Pot can make these long cooking periods more manageable as they require little supervision. Or, you could use a pressure cooker to expedite the process.
Chicken Bone Broth Recipe
This recipe is for a slow cooker or Instant Pot. If you’re using a pressure cooker, just alter cooking time to 3 hours on high pressure for bone broth.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken bones (uncooked)
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and whole
- 5 sprigs parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 quarts water
Instructions
- Put the bones and all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Fill with water and turn on the heat.
- Cook for 12 hours for regular stock and 24 hours for rich bone broth. When the broth is done, the connective tissues and tendons of the bones will dissolve and the bones will be soft.
- Let cool, then strain into a large container or bowl with a fine mesh sieve.
- Transfer to containers and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Or, serve immediately. Makes about 2 quarts of bone broth.
Beef Bone Broth Recipe
Beef broth requires that you roast the bones and veggies first to add depth and flavor. This recipe is done on the stovetop so you can skim the surface to remove fat and foam.
Keep in mind that the ratio of meat and bones will greatly affect the thickness of the broth. More bones and less meat will result in more gelatin and a thicker broth.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs beef bones (increase meat-to-bone ratio for a lighter broth)
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 head of garlic, cut in half
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 400 degrees. Place your bones and vegetables on a sheet tray or roasting pan. Cover well with olive oil.
- Roast bones and vegetables for 20 minutes. Remove and rotate the contents of the tray. Return to the oven for another 20 minutes or until the bones are golden brown. Use caution when you remove the hot tray.
- Place the bones and vegetables in a 12-quart stock pot. Add the remaining ingredients. Fill with water until the bones are covered.
- Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cover with the lid slightly ajar. Skim the fat and foam as it collects on the surface (about every hour).
- Cook on low for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours. Never leave the stove unattended. You can turn it off and resume cooking the next day.
- Add water throughout cooking to keep the bones submerged underwater.
- Let cool, then strain into a large container or bowl with a fine mesh sieve.
- Makes about 4 quarts of broth. Use right away, or store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tasty And Easy To Make
You can do any number of things with your delicious bone broth. Use it as the base for a soup or add it to a pasta sauce for extra layers of flavor and nutrients. Or, simply pour it in a mug and sip it for a warm snack.
So, fill up a pot or pressure cooker with some bones and water, and let time do the work. The result will be a hearty liquid that tastes great and provides you with valuable nutrients like collagen.
Learn More:
Why You Should Exfoliate Body, Face, Lips, And Hand Skin (Plus Exfoliation Tips For Softer And Smoother Skin)
Boost Skin Health with These “Anti-Aging” Foods
How To Apply Sunscreen With Makeup On: Smart Skin Care
Sources
1 https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/cooking-ideas/8-reasons-try-bone-broth
2 https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018861-pressure-cooker-bone-broth-or-chicken-stock
3 https://www.food.com/how-to/how-to-make-bone-broth-251
4 https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/difference-stock-broth-bone-broth-article
5 https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/10/how-to-make-rich-flavorful-easy-chicken-stock.html
6 https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/07/dining/bone-broth-evolves-from-prehistoric-food-to-paleo-drink.html
7 https://foodrevolution.org/blog/bone-broth-benefits/
8 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881#roles
9 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/09/style/self-care/collagen-benefits.html
10 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323903#nutrition
11 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/are-collagen-and-bone-broth-the-keys-to-youthful-skin_b_5910a946e4b046ea176aedc3
12 https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/how-much-bone-broth-for-benefit/how-much-bone-broth/
13 https://www.seriouseats.com/2018/11/how-to-make-pressure-cooker-beef-stock.html
14 https://www.bonappetit.com/story/difference-between-bone-broth-and-stock