How To Make Homemade Stock

Byprecy

Stocks are made by cooking the poultry, the meat and fish as well as vegetables and fresh herbs in the water for a long period of time which yields a flavorful liquid. You can also make stock from leftovers. Making stocks using leftover bones does not only saves you money, but also helps reduce waste products. Making homemade stock is pretty easy and simple that could turn leftovers into a fantastic ingredient to your dishes. Chicken stock is the most common stock in most cuisines that is why in today’s guide we will talk about how to make homemade chicken stock recipe.

What are the different types of Stock

The different types of stock includes the vegetable stock, poultry stock, meat stock and seafood stock.

Vegetable stock

Different types of vegetables can be used to make vegetable stock, although cauliflower and broccoli are sometimes not used because its aroma and taste could somehow overwhelm the flavor. Other than that, tomatoes can also overwhelm the flavor but you can still use it though but in small amounts.

Poultry Stock

Leftover bones for making turkey stock and chicken are commonly used to make poultry stock but raw poultry meat can also be used too. Leftovers can also be put to good use instead of discarding and throwing them away.

Aside from the poultry bones, vegetables are also added to the mixture.

Meat Stock

When making meat stock, make sure to roast chicken meat, bones and vegetables first for around 45 minutes to an hour in an oven that on 450 degrees heat to make your stock richer and darker.

Seafood Stock

In making seafood stock, you will be needing bones and fish scraps. In case you are wondering where to get these for making seafood stock, most of the grocery stores and seafood markets have pre-packed fish scraps and trimming for use in making seafood stock.

Crabs, shrimps and lobster shells can also be used as an addition to your seafood stocks to make it more flavorful.

Making Homemade Chicken Stock

There are three different ways on how to make chicken stock, you can either simmer the bones using a whole chicken, or simmer cut chicken parts. Making good chicken stock will be discussed here, read on below to know more.

What is in homemade Chicken Stock?

Homemade Chicken stock is usually composed of 4: Water, Chicken, vegetables (Garlic, onions, celery and carrot) and Herbs such as peppercorns, bay leaves, thyme and rosemary). Although you can add more vegetables and herbs if you like, but make sure the ingredients mentioned are included.

Making homemade chicken stock is a an easy process, all you need to do is to add the ingredients together with the chicken bones in a stock pot. The Stock pot is filled with water and bring to a boil. Allowing it to simmer.

Reasons why Homemade chicken stock is preferable

Rich Mouthfeel

When chicken bones and tissues of the chicken are simmered into stock it will result into increased amount of gelatin. With that, chicken stock are more rich and mouthfeel especially when it is used and added to stews and soups. Store bought stock do not have are that increased gelatin properties.

Unsalted

Since Homemade Chicken stock is unsalted, it can be used in different dishes as compared to stocks available for purchase or ready made stock bought from the store bought stock.

Much Better Flavor

Stock that were bought in the grocery store cannot surpass the real stock flavor that is freshly made homemade stock.

Bones used for making Chicken Stock

Chicken bones are the preferred and recommended part of the chicken for when making homemade chicken stock, but the most common is the Chicken carcasses or also called Chicken Frames.

Chicken Carcass are cartilage and bones from a chicken. The meat of the chicken were removed such as that of a drumstick, thigh, wings and or breast. Although it is not totally meat-free, but rather there’s still a few amounts of meat. The balance between the meat, the bones and the residual fats from chicken carcass would definitely gives the broth that perfect taste and flavor.

Vegetables and herbs used to make Chicken Stock

Aside from the Chicken, there are also other ingredients that is added for your homemade chicken stock recipe:

Onions, celery and Carrot

These root vegetables would definitely adds to that sweetness and fresh flavor of your broth

Bay Leaves, Thyme, Fresh Parsley, Black Peppercorns

Beef stock and vegetable stock can benefit from the aroma that is from the herbs and spices that are used.

Cider Vinegar

To help draw out nutrients from the chicken bones, cider vinegar can be a helpful ingredient. Though be careful not to put to much cider vinegar or your broth will taste sour.

What is the difference between Chicken stock and Chicken Broth

The main difference between Chicken broth and Chicken stock is that with Chicken broth more of the chicken’s meat parts are used while with Chicken stock it is made by simmering the chicken bones for a longer period of time (it is usually up to 24 hours(. The simmering will result to a more in depth of the broth flavor.

Important tips on how to make homemade chicken stock flavorful

  • It is recommended to add green leafy vegetables such as freshparsley, carrots and celery.
  • If you want to use raw chicken bones, you can roast it first with onions.
  • For leftover stocks and chicken meat parts, you can add it to your cooking pot.

Homemade Chicken stock shelf life

When making large batches of Chicken stock, you can simply freeze it to be used for your soups later on.

Generally, cooked chicken stock can lasts up to 5 days when put in the fridge or you can freeze the broth and can lasts up to 2-3 months.

Homemade Chicken Stock Recipe

This chicken stock recipe is good for 8 cups of Chicken broth. Here is the recipe on how to make chicken stock.

  • Preparation Time: 10 minutes
  • Cooking Time 3 hours
  • Total Time: 3 hours and 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 onions
  • 1 to 2 whole chicken
  • 3 carrots
  • 3 celery stalks
  • 4 sprigs of parsley (fresh)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp. black peppercorns
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 8-10 cups of water
  • optional: 2 thyme sprigs & 2 rosemary sprigs

Instructions:

  1. Cut into quarters: Onions, celery and carrots.

  2. In a large stock pot, add the chicken carcass. Then add vegetables and herbs.

  3. Add Bay leaves, peppercorns and salt.

  4. Add water to the stock pot.

  5. Cover the stock pot and bring to boil. Make sure to use medium high heat to bring stock pot with water to boil.

  6. Once water starts to boil, lower to medium heat to allow it to simmer. Stock pot is partially covered at this time for about 3 to 4 hours.

  7. Using a mesh strainer or a cheesecloth, strain stock.

  8. Throw away the bones and the vegetables

  9. If there are excess broth, refrigerate the remaining broth for a max of 4 or 5 days or you can freeze it for about 2-3 months.

Dishes that can be used with Homemade Chicken stock

Stock can be used with any recipe dishes that needs chicken stock. The stock flavor helps the dish more flavorful and delicious.

Here are some of the dishes that you can do with homemade chicken stock:

  • Clear soup
  • Stews and Braises
  • Rice Dishes
  • Sauce
  • Gravy
  • Vegetable soups

FAQs

What are the 4 main components in making a stock?

The 4 main components in making a stock included water, aromatic vegetables, bones and herbs.

Is it cheaper to make your own stock at home thank buying ready made pre-packed stock?

It is actually cheaper to make homemade stock but it also depends on the ingredients you use. If you are using leftover bones and vegetable scraps, then it is cheaper as compared to buying pre-packed stock in the grocery stores.

What liquid is usually used in making a stock?

The most common liquid used in making a stock is water. The herbs, spice and aromatic vegetables can make the water have its mild savory flavor and make it smell so good.

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