Published Date: September 16, 2021 | Last Updated: September 4, 2023
Bone broth is one of those super trendy health foods lately and a lot of people are asking ‘WHY’?
Why use Bone Broth?
One of those foods that are getting a lot of attention lately is bone broth! Is it all quack or is there actually a reason to incorporate this into your cooking?
There actually is a lot of health benefits to using bone broth:
- It’s super high in minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur.
- It has lots of anti-aging COLLAGEN!
- It is high in amino acids- which decrease inflammation and help digestion
- It contains glucosamine
- It boosts the immune system
- Some research shows that bone broth can actually HEAL allergies, asthma, and arthritis (crazy, huh!)
What to Use Bone Broth For?
Bone broth can be used in anything that you would use chicken broth for:
- soup
- gravy
- rice
- quinoa
- used in sautéed veggies
- just enjoyed plain!
Why Homemade?
Why make your own bone broth? Well, mainly because it’s actually super easy!! AND you can use your leftover rotisserie chicken bones and vegetables instead of wasting them.
Instead of throwing them away, throw them into the instant pot and it’s really hands-off from there!
How To Make the Bone Broth
1. SAVE THAT CHICKEN CARCASS! If you’ve made a roasted chicken (or turkey!) or you have a rotisserie chicken, then don’t throw that precious carcass in the trash! Make nutritious bone broth for pennies! If you aren’t ready to make bone broth right away, toss the bones/carcass into a gallon size ziplock bag and throw it into the freezer – then you can make bone broth another day!2. GATHER YOUR VEGGIES! Veggie scraps work amazingly in bone broth and create less food waste, so feel free to toss your onion, carrot, and celery tops in here as well. (Or freeze them for your next bone broth making project.) The veggies that I always love to use are: Onion (with the paper!) Carrot, Celery, and Garlic, (paper on, cut in half).
3. OTHER INGREDIENTS: besides the carcass and veggies, I like to season the broth a little. I add a few peppercorns, a teaspoon or two of salt, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. A bay leaf or some dry herbs would also be a fantastic addition.
4. WATER! Once you have the previous ingredients in the bottom of the pot, fill the pot with water right up to the “MAX” line of the instant pot.
5. COOK! You really only need a minimum of 120 minutes to create bone broth, but I find that going up to 4 hours (240 minutes) is even better. So if all you have is two hours, then great, but if you have 4 hours, then try and go for that!
6. Natural Pressure release. Let the instant pot release its pressure naturally, then strain (or use this instant pot basket) and viola! You have delicious nutritious bone broth.
I really love to use THIS INSTANT POT BASKET that makes making bone broth so much easier. Then I love to use these SOUPER CUBES to freeze the broth in cubes.
Storing The Broth
If using a 8 quart instant pot, then this recipe will make about 5 quarts or 20 cups of broth, so you will have some for later!
I like to store mine in glass quart jars. They can stay in the fridge for up to two weeks, or you can freeze the broth! I love using these handy silicone SOUPER CUBES. (These are seriously awesome) They freeze the broth in cubes and then it’s super easy to pop a frozen cube into some soup or defrost it in a pot to make rice, etc.
It can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks or frozen. One of my favorite ways to store this broth is in an ice-cube tray that way anytime I am cooking something that needs a little liquid I just add a frozen cube of bone broth to it!
Other Surprisingly Simple Homemade Recipes
Instant Pot Applesauce
Kefir Water
Fruit Wash
Bone Broth
There's good reasons for bone broth's popularity right now. You can make your own, nutrient-rich bone broth super easily!
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Servings: 5 quarts
Ingredients
- onion (or you can use the leftover nubs of onions and freeze them until you are ready to make broth)
- celery just a few stalks, roughly chopped
- carrots just a couple, roughly chopped
- 1-3 cloves garlic smashed
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper (or a few peppercorns)
- 1 T apple cider vinegar
- spices such as bay leaf, parsley, or anything that sounds good!
- bones (I usually use a carcass from a rotisserie chicken)
- water
Instructions
- Combine bones, vegetables, vinegar, and seasonings into your Instant Pot and cover with water. Don't go above the "max" line. (In my Instant Pot this is 8 quarts).
- Cook on manual/high pressure for a minimum of 120 minutes, or up to 240 minutes if you have time. Natural pressure release it.
- Strain and refrigerate until you are ready to cook with it.
- This can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks, or you can freeze it.
Should this have onion in it? I feel like it should and there is a purple onion pictured, but no mention of any in the recipe… 🤔
Author
Hi Sarah good question, yes you can absolutely throw onions in here! I used onions when taking the pictures but they aren’t required so sorry for that confusion! Thanks for bringing this up!