Homemade Chicken Stock
September 30, 2009 { }
There is something alluring about making stock – not in a flashy way, but a subtler, quieter appeal that pulls me into the kitchen. The way the rich smell of the stock fills our home, the simple ingredients that come together to create a nutritious, flavorful base for so many different dishes, the sound of the hot liquid as it simmers. The entire process grounds me and brings me joy.
If you’ve never made stock, it’s not difficult at all. Everything goes in a pot, you let it simmer for a long time, and then take the stuff out of the pot. It’s impossible to mess up. I put it in jars and freeze it until I need it for a recipe. Homemade stock tastes much fresher and there is satisfaction for me in knowing that the entire dish was made from scratch, even the stock.
You can make stock out of a roasted chicken carcass, which I do. This recipe, though, uses a whole, uncooked chicken. I pull all the meat off of the chicken once the stock has finished cooling and use it in other dishes. Tomorrow I’ll post one of our favorite ways to use it – a simple and delicious chicken bake you can make even on busy nights.
This is also a money-saver, which I love – if I bought stock at Costco, it would be $10 for 6 quarts. For about $3.50 I can make 4 quarts of stock and have meat from a whole chicken that will feed us for two nights plus leftovers. Also, If I know I’m going to be making stock I save my carrot peels, onion tops, and ends of celery and throw them in my stock pot, too.
Here are some ways to use all that stock you’re going to make:
- Shirley at Gluten-Free Easily’s Tasty Tortilla Soup
- Gluten-Free Homemaker’s Why I Love Soup
- My Meatballs with Fresh Veggie Sauce & Peas
Winners from this week’s Slightly Indulgent Monday:
Next week’s featured blogger will be Shirley at Gluten-Free Easily and her Flourless Chocolate Banana Honey Walnut Cake.
The winner of bon appetit’s fast, easy, fresh cookbook is Iris at The Daily Dietribe, as chosen by Random.org.
Congrats! Come back on Monday for more great recipes and another fabulous prize!
This post is linked to What Can I Eat That’s Gluten-Free at The Gluten Free Homemaker and Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop.
Update 10/8/09: This post is linked to Kitchen Stewardship’s October Fest of Super Foods.
Chicken Stock
makes about 4 quarts1 whole chicken, about 3 pounds
2 large unpeeled carrots, cut into 3 pieces
2 stalks celery, cut into 3 pieces
½ head of garlic, unpeeled and cut in half
1 large white or yellow onion, unpeeled and cut in quarters
5 stems fresh flat-leaf parsely
5 stems fresh thyme
3 stems of dill (sometimes I leave this out)
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon whoie black Tellicherry peppercornsRinse chicken and remove any giblets. Place all ingredients in stock pot and fill pot with water leaving and inch and a half at the top. Bring to a gentle boil, uncovered, and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 4 hours, skimming any scum that rises to the top.
Let stock cool. Remove chicken to a large plate. Discard the vegetables and herbs. Place cooled stock in refrigerator overnight. Remove any solidified fat, strain through a fine mesh strainer, and place in glass mason jars. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.
For the chicken:
Remove skin and discard. Take meat from bones and use anyway you choose.
Enjoy!
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30 Responses to “Homemade Chicken Stock”
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Meet Amy Green
Nearly 6 years of living free of refined sugars and gluten has stopped my food cravings enabled me to maintain a 60+ pound weight loss. Today I live with enormous freedom. Join me as I create healthier food that's SS&GF and delicious. I hope to help you do the same. Read more about my story here.
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September 30th, 2009 @ 9:26 am
I didn’t know I could just freeze it in jars. That is a big help. I didn’t want to mess with putting it in bags, so I would store it in the frig but often have to throw some out. Thank you, thank you for that tip. I usually make mine with a chicken carcass and cook it in the pressure cooker.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
September 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am
When freezing in jars – use widemouth jars and leave more than enough space for the stock to expand. It doesn’t always expand evenly – sometimes it gets a little bump. You don’t want to crack a jar. (I’m telling you this from experience!!) I used to do the plastic bag thing and it’s always a big mess. The bags get little rips and then when I thaw it the stock leaks everywhere, plus it soaks up unwanted freezer flavors.
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 @ 10:21 am
I love to have homemade stock. I don’t always do it, but usually, if I have a whole chicken, if I’m cutting it up (a lot of the time, when I roast a chicken, I cut the back out of it to roast it flat – spatchcocked – cooks faster), I save wings, backs, necks, and freeze until I have enough for stock. Never use a recipe, I’m more of a “dump and simmer” kinda gal. I have heard that using the rinds of Parmesan cheese adds a lot of body to the stock, I forgot last time!
And I do want to ask you, when you’re using a whole chicken, and you pick the meat off, is it not dry? I have that trouble with the meat when making stock.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
September 30th, 2009 at 10:24 am
No, the meat is so incredibly moist and delicious. I start with a raw chicken and cut off any huge hunks of fat, throw it in the pot, let it simmer for about 4 hours and the meat just melts in your mouth.
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
I’m learning something primative and new everyday. Is that an okay word to use??
I mean it in the nicest way, in fact the more “pioneer-ish” in my book the better. Once I cooked stew over a wood stove it was awesome. I’m going to try this I knew it was simple but have never completely done it (I use the drippings from the crock pot for stock). Can you can it?
I’ve been freezing bags but I hate it, as you mentioned, it makes a mess and always leaks when thawing.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
September 30th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I am sure it’s possible to can it but I’d consult a canning book about the method. It’s so much easier for me to just freeze it.
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September 30th, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
I absolutely love cooking with homemade stock!
Did you know that adding a tablespoon or so of vinegar will help draw the marrow out of the bones and make the stock even MORE nutrient dense? I pulled that tip from the book (and website) “Broth is Beautiful.”
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
September 30th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
No, I didn’t know that tip but thanks so much for sharing a great tip and another great book. I don’t have that one – yet.
[Reply]
Melody Joy Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:32 am
No problem. I had a friend let me borrow it, and since then we’ve been making fresh stock on a regular basis (once a month or so), it tastes soooo much better than anything you could buy at the store!
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September 30th, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
[...] of comfort foods, check out Amy’s Homemade Chicken Stock post. OMG! I have to make this [...]
September 30th, 2009 @ 7:42 pm
I used some stock a couple days ago that I had in the freezer for some soup. Does it get kinda slimy, or was it because of the container I had it in?
I like the jar idea. Thanks for sharing, Amy!
~Liz
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
September 30th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
My stock has never gotten slimy. If it was slimy could it have been fat that didn’t get strained? It’s hard to get every last bit of fat – maybe it was room temp chicken fat?
[Reply]
Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Liz,
Is it possible by “slimy” you mean the whole thing sort of “gelled” like loose jello? If so, you’re golden! That’s the gelatin from the bones, and it’s a signifier of super-healthy, can’t-buy-it-in-the-store-this-way, immunity-boosting stock! Well done.
Katie
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Amy Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I didn’t think of it that way – I thought she meant slimy like nasty gross, not in the sense of gelatin from the bones. Thanks for that connection.
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Liz@HoosierHomemade Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Thanks, yes, it was jelled, kinda yellowish golden, I never thought of it being from the bones. I’ve made stock tons of times, but never froze it. Now, I know just what to do.
Thanks much girls!
~Liz
[Reply]
Cheri Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
This is a great tip, because I made this stock for the first time and put it in the fridge. The next day it jelled and I was afraid to use it thinking I had done something wrong. It should still be good, so I’ll try using it tonight and freezing the rest. Thanks!
October 1st, 2009 @ 6:06 am
Wow, Amy, thanks so much for all the love! A link to my tortilla soup recipe (which I have to say is so easy and can be made with just about any veggies on hand) and being featured on your blog–that’s extremely kind of you. I am truly honored … thank you so very much!
I make homemade chicken stock all the time. I usually do start with a roasted chicken carcass. It always amazes me how much wonderful meat one gets from the effort, too … meat that would have been missed othewise. I add vinegar like Melody Joy mentioned to pull out the calcium. I love simmering a carcass on the stove. Such heavenly smells and using every bit of the chicken! I don’t add much to mine, if anything, because the roasted chicken already has seasonings and great flavor, but your recipe looks incredible.
It’s definitely stock/soup weather here right now … quite nippy this morning!
Thanks!
Shirley
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October 1st, 2009 @ 10:26 am
This is awesome, Amy! Yo know how much I love making stock too – I agree about it making you feel grounded and joyful. There is just something so wonderfully wholesome about it!
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Amy Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 10:28 am
I know – it’s one of those things that you don’t understand until you actually make the stock and then cook with it.
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October 1st, 2009 @ 3:09 pm
Fresh stock is great. I think I’m just too lazy to do it. There is a local company here in Oregon that sells a pretty good chicken stock. In fact, I think it’s available at Costco. http://www.pacificfoods.com/ Pacific Foods makes several GF soups and stocks.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 4:33 pm
That’s what I buy if I’m in a pinch. I love that it’s organic, has a nice, clean flavor, and, when I do have to buy it, it’s much cheaper at Costco than anywhere else. It’s good but not as good as homemade, though.
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October 1st, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
You’re right. There is nothing like homemade stock. And it’s so easy to make. Homemade stock (any type) enhances every and anything I make. Love the idea of freezing in the jars. I’ve been freezing my stock in freezer ziplocks and haven’t been happy, so I will try the jars. Thanks for the tip! Love your blog!
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:25 am
So glad you like my blog – and thrilled to meet another like-minded stock maker. The ziplocs just don’t cut it when it come to frozen stocks or soups. I’m sure that there are good plastic containers to freeze it in, but I love the jars.
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October 2nd, 2009 @ 11:09 am
I am curious if anyone has a gluten, dairy and soy-free chicken pot pie recipe, that’s delicious!
Tina
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Amy Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I don’t but many people use coconut milk instead of dairy – it would give your pot pie a really unique flavor. Or check out godairyfree.com – you’ll find tons of fabulous dairy free recipes there.
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October 2nd, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
chicken soup is just such a treat. it looks delish!
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October 5th, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
Amy,
What gorgeous photos you take. Please come to my house and photograph my food for me!
Actually, come on over to my blog on Thursday and link this post or your other stock posts up to my carnival – it’s homemade stock recipes this week, and I’d love to have you participate!
Thanks
Katie
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I will – thanks for the invite. And while we’re exchanging invites please drop in on Mondays for Slightly Indulgent Mondays- fabulous food made healthier. Anything a little healthier in any way goes – doesn’t have to be gluten-free or sugar-free.
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Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 2:04 am
Amy, thanks! I almost linked up this week, but I wasn’t sure if it had to be GF or not. I’ll add it to my list o’ carnivals! Thanks for coming on over to KS for a visit. Hope to see you back again next week for the Super Foods carnival (which include basic things like garlic, onions, and apples). I’d love more GF recipes linked in b/c so many people struggle with gluten, and I often don’t know where to direct them (now I’ve got your blog!).
Thanks a bunch!
Katie
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Thanks, Katie. Yes, please do link! And I appreciate the invite to include me in. For me it’s not about gluten-free or not gluten-free, sugar-free or not sugar-free but all about good food, good friends, and sharing our love for these things together.