How to Make Your Own Beef, Chicken, or Veggie Stock (2024)

Making stock from your leftover scrapsis easy, saves you money, reduces food waste, and is a so-simpleway to transform ingredients you'd normally toss into a flavorful kitchen staple.

By Emma Crist Updated January 19, 2017

If you have leftover chicken or beef bones and/or veggie scraps from preparing meals throughout the week, do yourself a huge favor and don't throw them out just yet. Making homemade stock is a fantastic way to turn leftover produce and bones from meat and poultry, that you'd otherwise throw out, into an essential ingredient for rich, flavor-packed meals and sides. You'll never go back to store-bought stock once you realize how much more delicious the homedmade version is, and just how easy it is to make from scratch.

Below we've outlined the basic recipe framework for 3 types of commonly used, versatile stock (beef, chicken, and vegetable) but the ingredients and instructions are just that—a guideline. You can adapt each recipe a ton of different ways based on the ingredients you have on hand that week. Start saving all of your meat and veggie scraps and trimmings in a large container in the fridge throughout the week so that you can boil a big pot of stock on the weekend.

And remember, just because you wouldn't want to eat it, doesn't mean it doesn't belong in your stock bowl... in fact, if it's a part of a vegetable you don't want to eat, it probably does belong in the stock bowl (as long as it's not molding or rotten). This can include anything from the papery skin on garlic cloves and onions to wilted radish tops to carrot shavings. I would always suggest throwing some whole aromatic veggies, in addition to whatever scraps you have, into the pot for stock. Another great addition to include are Parmesan cheese rinds, when you have them. Once you've made your stock and let it cool, simply transfer it to an airtight glass or plastic container and store it in the fridge for up to a week.

To keep your stock for longer, try freezing it. It keeps in the freezer up to 6 months, and if you're making stock on a regular basis, freezing batches ensures that you will always be well stocked (sorry, I couldn't resist that one). Just be sure to mark the date somewhere on your bag or container before freezing so you know how long each batch has been living in the freezer.

3 quick and easy stock storage solutions to try:

  • Portion stock into zip-top plastic freezer bags, and then lay the bags flat on a baking sheet to freeze (so that each bag freezes in a thin flat layer). That way you can easily stack stack the bags for compact storage.
  • Freeze larger portions of stock in plastic deli containers, takeout containers, or freezer jars. When you're ready to use the stock, allow the containers to defrost on the counter or simply remove the top and microwave on low for a few minutes, or until the stock has softened enough to get it out of the container.
  • To freeze small portions, spoon the stock into ice cube trays. Once frozen, store the individual cubes in a heavy-duty freezer bag. When you reach for these little stock-sicles to cook with, just keep in mind that cube sizes in a standard ice cube tray are approximately one ounce, or about two tablespoons.

Roasted Chicken Stock

How to Make Your Own Beef, Chicken, or Veggie Stock (2)

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Homemade Beef, Chicken, or Veggie Stock

Ingredients:

  • Leftover beef or chicken bones (disregard if you are making vegetable stock)
  • 1 large onion, peeled and quartered
  • 6 large garlic cloves
  • 4 large carrots, broken into pieces
  • 4 large celery stalks, broken into pieces
  • Herbs and other spicesof your choice. We recommend any or all of the following:
    • 15 parsley sprigs (or just scrap stems)
    • 10 black peppercorns
    • 8 thyme sprigs
    • 3 bay leaves
    • Salt

Instructions

1. Combine the beef or poultry bones, veggies, seasonings, and spices in a large stockpot. Cover ingredients by about 2 inches of cold water.

If you'd like to simmer the liquid longer (think 6-24 hours) for more concentrated flavor and less monitoring, try using a slow cooker instead of a stockpot on the stove.

2. Place pot over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 3 to 4 hours, skimming off and discarding foam occasionally. Add warm water to pan, as needed, to keep ingredients covered in water. Strain stock through a fine sieve into a large bowl pressing down on the vegetables to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids. Cool stock to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate 5 hours or overnight. Skim solidified fat from surface; discard fat.

How to Make Your Own Beef, Chicken, or Veggie Stock (2024)

FAQs

How to Make Your Own Beef, Chicken, or Veggie Stock? ›

To make homemade chicken stock, place chicken bones, vegetables, herbs and spices into a large pot. Cover with cold water then simmer for about 3 hours. Let it cool, then skim the fat. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

How do you make your own stock? ›

To make homemade chicken stock, place chicken bones, vegetables, herbs and spices into a large pot. Cover with cold water then simmer for about 3 hours. Let it cool, then skim the fat. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What are the 7 ingredients in preparing stocks? ›

1 Prepare and cook stocks
  • Types of stock: vegetable, chicken, fish, game, beef.
  • Stock ingredients: meat, fish, bones, mirepoix (onion, carrots, celery, other vegetables), herbs and spices, liquid (water, wine)

What to do if you don't have enough chicken stock? ›

Vegetable broth is a simple one-to-one substitute that can stand in just about anywhere. This broth is made by steeping vegetables or vegetable scraps—and sometimes spices—instead of chicken in water.

Can you own 100% of a stock? ›

If you buy shares of a company's stock, does that mean you own a percentage of the company? Yes, it is possible to buy 100% of the shares of a company and own it privately.

How do beginners start stocks? ›

How to start investing in the stock market — A step by step guide
  1. Open a demat account. ...
  2. Open a trading account. ...
  3. Login to your demat account. ...
  4. Identify the stock you want to invest in. ...
  5. How much do you want to invest? ...
  6. Buy the stock(s) at their listed prices along with units. ...
  7. Executing the purchase order.
Feb 12, 2024

What is the easiest stock to make? ›

Vegetable stock is a relatively easy stock to make. No bones or carcasses to contend with, just crisper staples like carrots, onions, and celery.

What ingredient should not be added to a stock? ›

Avoid adding salt if reducing the stock later. Concentrate the flavors by simmering the stock further after straining.

What not to put in homemade broth? ›

Foods in the Brassica family, such as collards, are too strong for stock/broth and can impart a bitter taste. Corn doesn't add a lot of flavor and can make the stock/broth cloudy. Excellent for making stock/broth. Avoid bitter greens and members of the brassica family (kale, cabbage, Bok Choy).

Is it worth it to make your own broth? ›

Not only can you build your own flavor with homemade stock, you also have control over how much salt is added. Store bought stocks are often very high in sodium. While the reduced sodium varieties are a better option if you're watching your salt intake, even those can still have a lot of sodium.

Why should you not boil broth? ›

Just as when you're making stock for soups or stews, boiling will cause soluble proteins and rendered fat to emulsify into the cooking liquid. By simmering, you avoid emulsifying the fat and thus keep the stock clearer, and we found that the scum created simply settled to the bottom of the pot.

What is a good substitute for beef stock? ›

Like beef broth, chicken broth is a kitchen staple and makes a good substitute if you are all out of the meaty broth. This savory, salty liquid has a milder flavor than beef broth but is a good one-to-one replacement. Chicken broth also has a similar nutrition profile to beef broth, low in calories and high in sodium.

How do you mimic chicken stock? ›

Chicken Broth Substitute: Salted Butter + Water

If you don't have broth on hand and want a little more flavor than just plain water, try subbing in 1 cup of water plus 1 tablespoon of butter for every cup of chicken broth in your recipe. The butter will help create a richer flavor than just water alone.

What is a vegetarian substitute for chicken broth? ›

Mushrooms. For a vegetarian substitute for chicken broth, a handful of dried or fresh shiitake mushrooms will quickly transform a plain pot of water into an umami bath. After boiling for 20 to 30 minutes, this earthy liquid can replace broth and stock in a pot pie, vegetarian gravy, and Thanksgiving stuffing.

Can you own your own stock? ›

Owning stock will give you an ownership stake in your company and allow you to participate in its future upside. The good news is that there are a multitude of ways to invest in your own company's stock, although the process might vary, depending on whether or not it is public or private.

How much does it cost to start a stock? ›

You don't have to have a lot of money to start investing. Many brokerages allow you to open an account with $0, and then you just have to purchase stock. Some brokers also offer paper trading, which lets you learn how to buy and sell with stock market simulators before you invest any real money.

Is it cheaper to make your own stock? ›

Making vegetable stock costs virtually nothing.

You're using ingredients that you already have in the fridge, so, really, it just costs a little bit of your time to make a flavorful stock.

How much does it cost to own a stock? ›

Most full-service brokers charge 1% to 2% of the total purchase price, a flat fee, or a combination of both, for stock purchases.

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