Learn How to Make Meat Stocks
Why Make Meat Stocks?
Making homemade meat and poultry stocks is not only easy, but smart. Homemade stocks can later be used in soups, rice, casseroles, and many other dishes to add flavor. It tastes so much better than canned broth or bouillon. Homemade stock is much healthier than store bought. Store bought stock has lots of sodium, msg, and lots of other additives. Plus, it is cheaper than buying canned broth and a way to use leftover meat and bones.
When making meat stock, it's better to not use just meat and bones if you want rich flavor. Adding a few vegetables enhances the flavor a lot. You don't have to use fresh vegetables. It's okay to use vegetable scraps or vegetables that are past their prime. As a matter of fact, making homemade broth is a perfect use for them.
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How to Make Meat Stocks
The basic way to make homemade meat stock is to use equal amounts of
meat and vegetables to water. You can use any type of meat or bones-
beef, pork, lamb, pork- they all work fine. Some of the best vegetables
to add for great flavor are carrots, onions, and celery. Add your
favorite seasonings if you like. Some of my favorites are bay leaves,
thyme, pepper or whole peppercorns, garlic, basil, and oregano.
To make homemade meat stock, just throw it all in a stockpot and add the
water. Cook it on low all day, or at least 3 or 4 hours. Check on it
occasionally to see if it needs any more water and to stir it. Then
drain it with a colander, removing all of the meat and vegetables and
being left with rich, flavorful homemade meat broth. Put it into the
refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Then skim off the layer of
fat which will have congealed on top. Now you can use your stock however
you like or freeze it for later.
How to Make Chicken Stock (or Turkey)
You can also make homemade poultry stock from either chicken, turkey, or
both. It's a perfect way to use up those leftover carcasses from
rotisserie chickens or the holiday turkey. You can even buy cheap
chicken parts, like the necks, and it still costs almost nothing to
make.
Adding vegetables makes chicken stock taste more vibrant. Just like the
meat stock, use scraps or less than fresh vegetables for your stock. You
don't even have to chop up the vegetables. Just throw them in whole!
You pretty much make turkey or chicken stock the same way as homemade
meat stock. Some recommended vegetables to add are onions and celery.
Recommended spices are pepper, garlic, and thyme. Add the poultry pieces
and bones, any vegetables and seasonings, and water to a large stock
pot. Let it simmer for a couple of hours. Then strain it and
refrigerate. Skim the congealed fat off the top, and your homemade stock
is ready to go.