I love reading other blogs for recipes and household tips. When I came across Gayle's technique for homemade chicken stock, I thought to myself, "I can do that too!"
Before now, when I deboned raw chicken, I wrapped the bones and skin in a grocery bag and tossed it in the trash. But now I use those bones and put everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work for me. It's too easy not to at least try it.
Homemade Chicken Stock ($.95 approximately for 8 cups)
bones and skins of 3 chicken breasts or 1 chicken carcass (Free because you were going to throw them away)
8 cups water (we'll just say free)
3 carrots (.15)
2 celery stalks (.17)
1 onion quartered (.50)
4 cloves crushed garlic (.10)
3 bay leaves (.03)
I toss everything into the slow cooker and set it on high and let it cook for hours. I check it about 4 hours later to make sure it doesn't need more water. When the water starts to take on a caramel color, you know you are done. I let mine cook for about 8-10 hours on high. Strain out the bones and vegetables and store in freezer containers in the freezer.
I use the same technique when I've cooked a whole chicken, chicken quarters or chicken breasts in the slow cooker. I remove the meat and then put the cooked bones, water and vegetables back into the slow cooker. Sometimes the stock is stronger when I use the leg quarters so I just water it down if a recipe calls for 2 cups chicken broth, I'll use one cup homemade stock and one cup water.
This works for me and my family. What about you? Have you tried to make your own chicken stock?
This has been linked to:
14 comments:
I have always wanted to make my own stock but it feels like it is a lot of work. You made it look easy:-)
Add a tablespoon of vinegar to your stock and it will pull the calcium out of the bones. Your stock will not taste like vinegar, I promise!
Thanks! I'll try it next time!
I made stock (and posted about it) this past weekend from leftover rotisserie chicken bones/skin. I made it on the stove, because I completely forgot about that post about using the crockpot! Duh. Oh, well, next time.
And I've got a turkey breast to play with, too (it was half price, as was the roti chicken) so I think I know what I'm throwing in the crockpot tomorrow, LOL! Thanks for the reminder!
I make homemade chicken stock, mostly because it's far more nutritious than canned. Plus it's nearly free. :)
Broth is a very nutritious food, if you google "Nourishing Traditions" you'll find some info about why it's such an important staple. The natural gelatin, for instance, is very good for the bones. And it has no MSG!
@Carrie - you are so right about the gelatin. In fact, when I "pour" the stock into a pot of soup or whatever, it usually "plops" out because of the gelatin. It's wonderful!
Here is an excellent article for your reading pleasure: http://www.westonaprice.org/Broth-is-Beautiful.html
I haven't ever tried this. It is on my summer list of things to try/learn!
Bookmarking this to use this later. I hate to pay for chicken broth and we eat a lot of chicken. Thanks so much.
~Amber
Bookmarking this to use this later. I hate to pay for chicken broth and we eat a lot of chicken. Thanks so much.
~Amber
Great minds must think alike!!! I posted my link to Thrifty Thursday, then noticed you had one too!
I sometimes even do it twice. That is right, I make the first batch, pour it in jars then add more water, maybe some new veggies and give it one more round. The broth isn't as rich but it is still free and is perfect for things like rice or soup.
I think I've just gotten lazy sometimes. If I'm making chicken and dressing,like we do home cooking south,I always make my own chicken broth,..but other times I get lazy and buy.It's a total waste of money, and the broth is not nearly so good
and rich. I need to snap out of my laziness. I've been reading some of the tip money saving, couponing..and ways to save money blogs,and I've been so inspired to try and do the same. I will become a follower and maybe I can learn more.
a p.s. I'm already a follower..
*big smiles. I think I need to get off the computer and go rest awhile..
Post a Comment