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Does anyone else notice that “bone broth” is all the rage right now? It comes in drinks, powders, soups, boxes, cans, etc. The funny thing is, this is the good stuff that used to be in our grandparents’ soups. It’s nothing new at all. Just good ol’ real food made using the whole animal. Nothing goes to waste, just like it used to be.

Broth Versus Bone Broth

So, what’s the difference between broth and bone broth? Broth is made by cooking meat or vegetables in water to create a delicious broth full of the nutrients from ingredients it was boiled with. Bone broth is the very same thing except that bones, tendons, organs, feet, skin, and nearly every part of the animal are cooked in water for an extended amount of time, or under high pressure, to create a more nutrient dense broth.

A good bone broth should congeal and become like jello as it cools (that’s because gelatin is made from the bones of animals). Plain ol’ broth will not congeal as it doesn’t have the collagen present that bone broth does.

Pressure Cooker Versus Slow Cooker

Have you heard that it’s better to make bone broth in a pressure cooker, like the Instant Pot, instead of a slow cooker or simmer on the stovetop? I’ve read up on this and found some interesting information from The Paleo Mom about slow cooked bone broth and pressure cooked bone broth. Basically, the final thought is that pressure cooked is healthier as it allows for less oxidization in the broth. But, you can certainly achieve mostly the same result by slow cooking chicken bones in water for 20-24 hours.

Does the Quality of Meat Make a Difference?

This is a question I’ve had for a very long time. If I’m leaching out nutrients at a high pressure from the WHOLE animal, I’d really like it to be uncontaminated and as healthy as possible. I did some reading on this awhile ago and found some I interesting and even scary information (thank you Google). I read an article about organically raised chickens leaching lead into the broth. Wow, that got me thinking maybe organic isn’t always better? Well, once again, The Paleo Mom did the hard work and addressed this concern. Read about it here. I still try to use cage free or organic meat when making bone broth, but I also make it without at times.

Hopefully I’ve addressed many of the questions or sent you in the right direction to find more scientific, research based information about bone broth. Obviously, I am a huge fan of The Paleo Mom. Her writing is thorough and scientific.

What Do You Add to Bone Broth?

I add whole pieces of celery, carrots, and onions. I also splash some apple cider vinegar which helps with leaching out all nutrients from the bones (according to some). Of course, I also add about 5 cups of water and chicken bones. Sometimes I add spices like rosemary, thyme, and sage. And that’s it!

Is Bone Broth Healthier For You?

Bone broth is healthier for you. It’s especially good for gut health and gut healing. It also has more protein in it than broth. The good stuff in the bone broth comes from the collagen which is leached out of the bones. The collagen helps YOU grow stronger hair, bones, joints, and has healing properties for the lining of your stomach. Read The Paleo Mom’s article on bone broth for more information. She also has some great podcasts and other insights into making your own bone broth.

What Are Some Ways To Use Bone Broth?

There are a million and one ways to use this super food! First of all, I typically make bone broth from chicken bones. I usually do this after making a whole chicken for dinner. I save the bones in the freezer until I’m ready to use. You can also save chicken thighs and other bones from other meals. Here is my quick list of ways to use chicken bone broth.

1. Brothsicles- I freeze bone broth in silicone cupcake inserts and use them in recipes or to deglaze a sauté pan. I got this idea from Cook By Color Nutrition.
2. Fresh or frozen bone broth in smoothies. The Whole Smiths has a great “Cold Buster” smoothie in her recent cookbook which uses bone broth.
3. Use it in soups.
4. Use in casseroles.
5. Drink a glass plain.
6. Create a sauce or gravy with it.
7. Soak your kids’ bread in it for a healthy and nutritious meal.
8. Add it to the sauté in my Healthy Chicken Pasta Dinner in 30 Minutes recipe.
9. Add it to my One Pot Sausage and Veggie Meal.

Can I Get My Broth To Be More Congealed?

If you find your bone broth is too thin after cooling, be sure to keep the water content at minimum on your next attempt. I put about 5 cups of water into my pressure cooker and yield about 4 cups of broth.

So, there you have it. Homemade Healing Bone Broth! Hope you give it a try!