I currently have switched to making bone broth in my crock pot. Making Crock Pot Bone Broth is much easier and I love it because I start it the night before and then in the morning we just scoop out a couple of ladles full and strain through cheese cloth and have our first cup for the day with breakfast. I also will cook up breakfast with some fresh bone broth. If you are not aware of the amazing health and healing benefits of bone broth you can read more here: Bone Broth Benefits. In our house we call it cup of goodness, not only is it true because it is filled with some many healing nutrients for the gut and many other things but also because it just sounds better than saying “bone broth”.
Chicken bone broth (you can do the same procedure with turkey or duck)
1. There are two different ways I make chicken broth. One is I roast a whole chicken or chicken pieces and then shred the chicken off for dinner that night and then toss the bones in the crockpot to make broth. Roasting the bones first makes a better tasting broth. Or the second way is I take a whole raw chicken already seperated or chop into sections and place it in the crockpot. After it is done I shred the chicken off the bones and use it. It is a little soft and mushy and doesn’t have as much flavor after cooking so long in the broth.
Here is a you tube video with step by step on cutting up a whole chicken. Chopping the bones and cartilage enhances the nutrients and gelatin pulled out into the broth.
Cutting up a whole chicken
2. Set crock pot to low and set for 18-24 hours. Add 4 cups purified water and 2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar or Lemon Juice and let sit for 1/2 hour while you are gathering the other ingredients. The vinegar helps pull more minerals and marrow out of the bones, don’t skip the vinegar or lemon juice it is the most important.
3. Add all the other ingredients and add more purified water to about 1 inch below top of crockpot. I usually start mine in the evening. The following day we take broth and chicken off for each meal or as wanted throughout the day. After dinner I shred all the chicken of the bones and put them in a container. Then strain the rest of the broth through a cheese cloth and store in the fridge to use throughout the week. If you won’t use all of it store it in the freezer in small servings to grab for cooking with.
Other ingredients I like to use:
Black peppercorns
Kombu (usually just throw one section in)
Kelp
dried juniper berries
Dried Nettle
Any herbs or spices that you want to add
Any vegetables you want to add like carrot, kale, onions, squash, etc.
Beef bone broth
I am still learning on this one and came across a great site with lots of information on making successful great tasting beef bone broth below. We don’t eat a lot of red meat so I buy the bones usually from the butcher at whole foods. I will be starting to buy them from a local organic farm with grass fed beef. This is my second batch of beef bone broth in the crockpot and this time I browned the bones that had the meat on them. I do have to admit the smell of beef bone broth cooking does not smell good to me and the first time I was completely repulsed by it. It doesn’t bother me so much now and it tastes really good and is so healing. Below is a great blog on making bone broth.
The Nourishing Cooks Beef Stock directions
