The Benefits of Bone Broth (And a Recipe)

This bone broth recipe is a cinch to put together. Simply gather the ingredients and simmer slowly in a crock pot or other slow cooker. 

Nearly every week, I have a batch of bone broth simmering so that I can sip on it throughout the week ahead. Because it has many amazing health benefits.

In the past, this was a regular routine for many households and is such a great way to use up every last item and practice frugality! Something that many of us seem to have forgotten all about.

Around here, we take cattle in for meat, so we have plenty of bones to use up for this purpose. I even save the scraps from veggies, like the ends of celery and onions for my broth.

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So, what exactly is bone broth and what are its benefits?

Bone broth is an incredibly nutritious and health-boosting food that is simple to make and tastes pretty good, too. I throw all of my ingredients in a crock pot and let it simmer for a few days. Ah, simplicity!

Bone broth contains minerals in forms that your body can easily absorb. Such as, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and many more.

It is recommended that when making your broth you use bones from animals that have been grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic free – if possible.

Bone broth is a nutrient-rich liquid made by simmering animal bones, connective tissues, and vegetables in water. Here are some potential benefits associated with consuming bone broth:

1. Rich in Nutrients: Bone broth is a good source of various essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. It also contains amino acids, collagen, and gelatin, which are important for joint health and skin elasticity.
2. Joint Health: The collagen and gelatin found in bone broth may help support joint health. These components are essential for the maintenance of cartilage, which cushions and protects joints.
3. Gut Health: The gelatin in bone broth may support gut health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. This can contribute to a healthy gut lining and may help with conditions like leaky gut syndrome.
4. Improved Digestion: Some people find that consuming bone broth can help with digestion. The amino acids in the broth may promote the production of digestive juices and enzymes, aiding in the digestion of nutrients.
5. Immune Support: The amino acids in bone broth, particularly arginine, may have immune-boosting properties. Additionally, the nutrients in bone broth can contribute to overall immune system function.
6. Hydration: Bone broth is a hydrating beverage, providing fluids and electrolytes that are essential for maintaining proper hydration.
7. Skin Health: Collagen, a protein found in bone broth, is a major component of the skin. Consuming collagen-rich foods like bone broth may contribute to healthier and more elastic skin.
8. Bone Health: The minerals present in bone broth, such as calcium and phosphorus, are important for maintaining bone density and strength.
9. Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Some proponents suggest that bone broth may have anti-inflammatory effects, which could be beneficial for individuals dealing with inflammatory conditions.

It’s important to note that while bone broth has potential health benefits, scientific research on some of these claims is still evolving. Individual responses to bone broth can vary, and it’s always a good idea to incorporate a variety of nutrient-rich foods into a balanced diet for overall health.

Additionally, if you have specific health concerns or conditions, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.

What are the differences between bone broth and stock?

Broth

Broth is water simmered with vegetables and meat, and can include some bones. It is cooked for a short period of time, usually 45 minutes to a couple of hours, then strained and seasoned. The goal of broth is to use a combination of ingredients to create a flavorful liquid that can be enjoyed on its own as a soup, or a soup base along with other ingredients.

Stock

Stock is water simmered with vegetables and bones, and sometimes with some meat still attached. It is cooked for a few hours, then strained. The goal of stock is to extract the collagen from the connective tissues and bones being simmered, which give stock its thick, gelatinous quality.

Bone Broth

Is cooked for a long period of time, more than 24 hours, and the goal is to not only extract the gelatin from the bones, but also release the nutritious minerals. It is then strained and seasoned to be enjoyed on its own, like broth.

Bone broth is incredibly easy to make. You could simmer it on your stove top in a large stock pot. Some even roast their bones beforehand, I haven’t found a need to do so. I’ve also found that using a crock pot works best for me.

On occasion, I’ve had to add a little more water as it has simmered down. I generally make beef bone broth, but this can be used on many other animal bones; such as, chicken, turkey, pretty much all poultry, fish, bison, etc.

This recipe should make approximately one gallon of bone broth.

It will keep in the refrigerator for no longer than one week. If you don’t intend on using it within the week, be sure to freeze it.

You can freeze to your preference, but I’ve found that filling ice cube trays and moving them to storage containers once frozen, works really well. You’ll be able to pull out however much you’ll need each time. 

We also like to fill these deli cups with bone broth and store in the freezer for later use.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is a nutrient-rich liquid made by simmering animal bones, connective tissues, and vegetables in water. This gut healthy bone broth is delicious and super simple to make.

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Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 12 hours hours

Total Time 12 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Serving Size 8

Equipment

• Crock Pot
• Dutch Oven

Ingredients

• 2 lbs soup bones
• 2 carrots rough chopped
• 1 onion peeled and halved
• 2 stalks of celery rough chopped
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• additional herbs to your taste optional

Instructions

• Add bones to your crock pot. Add apple cider vinegar (this helps pull the minerals and nutrients out of the bones). Cover with water and let sit for approximately 30 minutes. Now, you may hear some recommendations on roasting your bones first for added flavor. I don’t do this because I haven’t noticed a difference in taste. It’s just a preference.
• Add remaining ingredients (except for the garlic and herbs, if using.) to crock pot and fill with water. I try to get this as full as I can without having it spill over. Set to "high" until simmering.

  If using the stovetop version, add ingredients and water to a dutch oven and bring to a boil. Reduce to low and cover with lid. Simmer for 12-24 hours and follow remaining instructions.
• I then set my crock pot to “low” and let it do its thing for the weekend. By Monday morning, I have broth ready for the week ahead. You really only need about 48 hours or so to make a quality broth. And about 24 hours for poultry based broths. Make sure to check on it periodically and add more water as needed.
• With the last 30 minutes remaining, add in the garlic and any herbs that you’re using. I have added my bay leaves and rosemary to my chicken broth much sooner though. They seem to be much more hardy and hold up well.
• Allow to cool down before storing. Use a fine sieve to strain your broth.
• This should make approximately one gallon of bone broth.
• It will keep in the refrigerator for no longer than one week. If you don’t intend on using it within the week, be sure to freeze it. You can freeze to your preference, but I’ve found that filling ice cube trays and moving them to storage containers once frozen, works really well. You’ll be able to pull out however much you’ll need each time. 

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