Bone Broth: How to Make It and What to Use It For

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

homemade bone broth in mugs on a cutting board

You’ve heard of chicken broth and vegetable broth, but what about bone broth? This nutrient-rich liquid is becoming popular these days for its potential health benefits and versatility in the kitchen. Here’s what to know and how to make it yourself.

What exactly is bone broth?

Bone broth is a soup base that’s made by boiling animal bones until the broth has soaked up the nutrients from the marrow. It can also be enhanced with additional ingredients like vinegar, tomatoes and spices to add flavor.

What makes bone broth unique is that it simmers for a long time, anywhere from 6 to 24 hours. This slow simmer is what allows nutrients like collagen, amino acids and minerals to leach from the bones into the liquid. It also creates a gelatin-rich, savory liquid that can be used in a variety of dishes and even enjoyed in a mug on its own.

How to make it

You can buy bone broth at your local grocery store or market. It can come in boxes on the shelves in the broth section of the store, may be in the freezer section and some places serve it deli style where it can be scooped out in a soup-like pot to your size preference. It’s also something you can make at home. If you cook meat and have some bones handy, that can be the perfect opportunity to make it yourself.

“Anytime I roast a chicken, have beef bones or pork bones left over, I will toss them into a freezer bag along with onion ends, carrot tops, celery leaves and also garlic scraps,” explains Jessica Randhawa, owner and head chef at The Forked Spoon. “I then transfer everything straight into a stockpot or slow cooker if it fits, cover it with water and let it simmer.”

That’s a great basic way to throw some together.

For a more regimented recipe, try this one from Candice Van Eeden, a holistic nutrition coach with Kuon Healthcare:

Ingredients

1 gallon (4 liters) of water
2 tablespoons (30 mL) apple cider vinegar
2–4 pounds (about 1–2 kg) of animal bones
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Place all ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer and cook for 12–24 hours. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor and the more nutrients are extracted.
Allow the broth to cool, strain it into a large container and discard the solids.
For optimal nutrition, use a variety of bones, such as marrow bones, oxtail, knuckles or feet.
Adding vinegar is essential, as it helps draw valuable nutrients from the bones into the broth.
You can also enhance the flavor and nutritional profile by adding vegetables, herbs or spices. Common additions include garlic, onion, celery, carrot, parsley and thyme. Add these at the beginning of cooking.

How do you use it?

“For me, bone broth is the ultimate basic kitchen element that adapts to many cuisines and nourishes the body,” says Bittly Louk, a recipe developer with No Dash of Gluten. Here are some ways in which she recommends using it:

Sipping it plain in between meals for some extra hydration and nourishment.
Making it your stock in soups and stews.
Swapping it for water to cook grains on the stove or in a pressure cooker to enhance the flavor and nutrition of the dish.
Adding it to mashed potatoes or sauces to make them richer in taste.
Put some broth in an ice cube tray in the freezer to just pop into a stir-fry or sauté.

You can also use bone broth in dishes like risotto, casseroles or you can even work it into savory smoothies for a nutrient boost.

What are the benefits?

Bone broth is said to have many health benefits, some of which are still being studied. It’s rich in amino acids like glutamine, glycine, proline, histidine and arginine, as well as minerals such as calcium, potassium, vitamin K, magnesium and zinc. It is also a nice way to add some protein into your diet. Some studies have suggested that the amino acids and collagen in bone broth may support the intestinal lining.

Bone broth’s collagen content has also been linked to potentially helping ease joint pain, improve your skin and boost muscle and bone strength. Bone broth’s amino acid content may also help it to reduce stress levels and even help with sleep.

It’s also a low-calorie snack that packs in some protein and can be consumed during meals or sipped during a cold day or when you’re feeling under the weather and have a limited appetite.

The average cup of bone broth contains:

50 calories
0.5 grams (g) of fat
9 g of protein
280 milligrams (mg) of potassium
450 mg of sodium
5 g of carbohydrates

Not convinced? Try it for yourself. Sip it by itself in a mug, work it into a recipe or make use of the byproducts of your latest meat meal by whipping up some yourself. You just may become a convert!