How to Make Slow Cooker Bone Broth

My last post was all about why bone broth is so good for you.  I think it’s a true ‘superfood’ because it can really benefit your health, and you don’t have to get it from a health food shop, or spend excessive amounts of money on it, you can make it yourself at home for pennies. Read on to find out my super easy, lazy person's way to make bone broth in a slow cooker.

At the end of the day, all you actually *need* to make bone broth, the ‘bare bones’ of the recipe (*badum tish!*), is bones, water and apple cider vinegar.  The other bits and bobs are all optional but will improve the flavour and add extra nutrients.  If we’re having a roast dinner I deliberately buy joints of meat with the bone in, or a whole chicken, and then throw the leftover bones in the slow cooker with the other ingredients and leave them to do their thing.  You can also get bones from a butcher (often for free), in which case the stock will taste better if you roast the bones first.  I also save chicken bones from drumsticks and thighs in the freezer and throw them in as well.

I always make stock in the slow cooker because it’s so easy! Slow cookers really are a busy person’s best friend. You can just leave it in overnight, or all day, and forget about it.  It really doesn’t need much attention, just a stir if you happen to be passing through the kitchen.  It also cooks the broth really gently.  Bone broth needs gentle handling as too high of a heat can destroy the nutrients.  I also love that when it’s done, you can crush the bones between your fingers! That way, you know you've got all the goodness out of it.

How to Store Slow Cooker Bone Broth

You can store slow cooker bone broth in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze it for up to a year.

I personally prefer to store my homemade stock in glass jars instead of plastic containers. Rather than rushing out and having a mason jar shopping spree, I save glass jars and wide-necked bottles that are 500ml or 1 litre. For example, from passata, pizza sauce, apple juice and so on. I find that I tend to use either of those two amounts in recipes so that's the most convenient for me.

Check out this post about How to Store Bone Broth by Nom Nom Paleo where she also shows you how to store bone broth in ladle-sized portions using a silicon muffin mould.

How to Use Slow Cooker Bone Broth

So you might be wondering, once you've made your bone broth, what do I actually do with it? Well, just use it wherever you would normally use a stock cube made up with hot water! You can also drink it as-is, or sneak a ladleful into stews and sauces.

Here are some of my favourite dairy-free recipes incorporating bone broth:

• Easy Dairy Free Risotto
• One Pot Sausage Casserole
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Pie

How to Make Slow Cooker Bone Broth

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 hours hrs

Total Time 12 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings 1 .5 litres

Ingredients

  

• 1 chicken carcass enough to fill the slow cooker, or use lamb or beef bones
• 1-2 carrots roughly chopped
• 1-2 onions peeled and roughly chopped omit if low FODMAP
• 1-2 stalks celery roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

 

• Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
• Fill the slow cooker with water.
• Turn the slow cooker on low and cook for 12-24 hours, stirring whenever you pass by and adding more water if necessary.
• Strain the broth (I use a colander) to remove all the bones and vegetables.
• Once cooled, can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or for longer in the freezer.