Golden beef bone broth simmering low in a large stock pot
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A Pot of Bone Broth, Done Right

Roasted bones, cold water, time. That's the whole recipe. The knuckles and marrow bones from a pasture-raised animal will give you a broth that gels solid in the fridge — the sign of collagen done right. This is the foundation of a winter kitchen. Make a gallon. Freeze half. Thank yourself in February.

Prep
10 min
Simmer
18–24 hr
Makes
~1 gallon
Keeps
5 days / 6 mo frozen

Method

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spread the bones in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast 30 to 40 minutes until deeply browned. This step is not optional — it's what makes the broth taste like beef instead of water.
  2. Transfer roasted bones to your largest stockpot. Pour off the fat from the pan, then deglaze with a cup of water, scraping all the dark bits loose. Pour that liquid into the pot too.
  3. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, tomato paste, peppercorns, bay leaves, and herbs. Pour in cold water to cover by 2 inches, about 4 to 5 quarts. Add the apple cider vinegar.
  4. Bring to a bare simmer over medium heat — this will take 30 to 45 minutes. Do not let it boil. You should see lazy, slow bubbles at the surface.
  5. Skim off any gray foam that rises in the first hour. After that, leave it alone. Reduce heat to low (or transfer to a 200°F oven if you want to sleep through the night).
  6. Simmer a minimum of 12 hours. We usually go 18 to 24. The longer it goes, the richer and more gelatinous it gets. Top up with water if the level drops below the bones.
  7. When done, let it cool 30 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a large container. Press the solids to get every drop.
  8. Refrigerate overnight. The fat will solidify on top — lift it off in sheets and save it for cooking (beef tallow is a treasure). The broth underneath should be a solid golden gel. Season with salt now.
  9. Portion into quart jars or zip bags and freeze what you won't use within 5 days. Leave an inch of headspace in jars for expansion.

What to do with it

Use it as the braising liquid in your Sunday pot roast. Heat a mug of it with a pinch of salt for a mid-morning drink that keeps you warm for hours. Build a French onion soup base. Cook your rice in it. Add a ladle to scrambled eggs. Once you have a freezer stocked with real bone broth, you'll understand why the grandmothers never threw away a carcass.

Soup bones used to be the best-kept secret of a thrifty kitchen. We sell them cheap because we want you to know what you've been missing. Sunset Farms
Cook the rest of the week

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