Taking Stock After Thanksgiving Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long can I keep turkey stock in the refrigerator? ›

Turkey stock can be refrigerated for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 4 months. Note: If your turkey was brined or heavily salted, you may need less salt. Taste the broth when it is close to done. You can always add more salt towards the end!

Tips for How to Make Turkey Stock:

Start with turkey scraps, including things like skin and bones. Don't add turkey “giblets” which often come packed inside the turkey. Add a generous amount of onion, celery, and carrots.

Now let it simmer for 3 to 4 hours, stirring every once in a while. I much prefer letting it reduce down to where I'll only get 7 or 8 cups of stock; I find the flavour much better and stronger, even if I have to add water when making the soup.

Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper.

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

Some people go wrong by not simmering the stock long enough to extract maximum flavor from the turkey bones. Others overdo it and end up with an overly concentrated or bitter stock. The key lies in finding the balance and knowing when the stock has simmered long enough.

Save those vegetables that may have lost their crunchy appeal for a flavorful veggie stock. Even if stored properly, celery and carrots may become floppy after some time, but don't let them go to the compost. Throw in your onion skins, potato peels, and other veggie scraps from cooking to add more flavor to the mix!

Do you simmer this stock uncovered? A. Yes, but don't let it simmer too hard (a bare simmer is best) because you don't want the liquid to reduce too quickly. In fact, if you have the time, you could partly cover the pot with the lid.

While we generally use the terms interchangeably, turkey stock is cooked with only bones for a longer time. It becomes jelly-like when cooled because of the collagen-packed bone marrow that is extracted during the longer cooking process. Don't worry, it becomes liquid again when heated.

Why did my turkey stock turn white? ›

Generally speaking, the cloudy nature of stock is simply due to impurities or particles in the stock. Stock should always be started with cold water and cooked, uncovered, at a simmer, without ever coming to a full boil. If the stock does boil, some of the fat will emulsify into the liquid, which can make it cloudy.

Finishing the Stock

Then gently simmer it for a few hours to extract as much flavor and gelatin from the bones and aromatics as possible. When strained and chilled, the stock should set like jelly, a sign you've done it right.

Turkey Stock is made from primarily from bones while broth is made from more meaty pieces. I find broth usually has more flavor and to be honest, I make both the same way. Either can be done on the stove or in the slow cooker.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, meaning that TURKEYS are in season! Yay! I love turkey stock. It is more robust in flavor than chicken stock, but not quite as intense as beef stock.

Can you overcook turkey stock? Yes, the culprit is high heat. A really long simmer time (even up to 4-5 hours) is totally fine, as long as it's a gentle simmer and not a fast boil. High heat deadens the flavors of all those wonderful herbs.

In the refrigerator, your homemade broth will last 3-4 days. To extend your broth's freshness, store the broth in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Can you overcook turkey stock? Yes, the culprit is high heat. A really long simmer time (even up to 4-5 hours) is totally fine, as long as it's a gentle simmer and not a fast boil. High heat deadens the flavors of all those wonderful herbs.

If you follow a typical recipe, then bone broth will last around 5 days in the fridge and up to 12 months if stored in the freezer. However, there are some things you can do to extend the best-buy date to 7-8 days in the fridge and 24 months in your freezer.

Leftover turkey lasts for up to four days. So, I'd recommend making this soup a day or two after Thanksgiving, so the soup is still good for at least a day.