Find out how easy it is to make Turkey Stock from your Thanksgiving turkey bones! All you need is a clean turkey carcass and some herbs and vegetables that you probably already had from cooking the turkey. You will love making your next soup with this tasty turkey stock! Originally posted November 21, 2012
The people in the apartment above us vacuum about once a week. (It’s pretty loud because the insulation in our apartment building is practically nil. “Are they vacuuming again?” I ask myself every time. Then I quickly remind myself, “Yes, Karen. Most people vacuum more than once every three months, like you.”
Anyway. Now that you’re feeling so good about yourself compared to me. We have news! We just found out we are having a baby BOY!! I’m still in complete shock. I was convinced it was a girl. (I think I just told myself that because I didn’t want to have to repaint Charlotte’s room. Also, I thought Charlotte was a boy, so my mom’s intuition might just be stuck in Opposite-Day mode all the time. We are so excited to have a little boy!.
For now I’m focusing on doing some toddler training before the baby gets here. It was someone else’s idea to let our toddlers sleep on small trampolines. Charlotte loves to jump in her crib, which makes it not quite as good of a place for a time-out. You would not believe the height she gets. I can tell she’s awake from her nap not by hearing her cry, but by hearing her mattress springs moving around. One of these days she is going to go sailing over the edge. I should start lining the floor with pillows.
Have you guys decorated for Christmas yet? I broke down over the weekend. There is nothing better than a lit Christmas tree, yes, even the week before Thanksgiving!!.
But don’t worry Thanksgiving, I am still SUPER excited about you. When I cooked my first turkey last week, I wanted to get as much as I could from it, so I made turkey stock. It was super easy. Throw everything in a pot and forget about it for a few hours. And man is it good! This stock makes the BEST soup. My favorite is to use the stock to make this Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup. Here’s what you’re going to need, hopefully you have most of this stuff leftover from your Thanksgiving shopping!.
Turkey bone broth is a nourishing, flavorful liquid made by simmering turkey bones and vegetables for an extended period of time. This mineral-rich broth has become popular for its potential health benefits and uses in recipes. Here is a complete guide on how to make turkey bone broth at home
What is Turkey Bone Broth?
Turkey bone broth is made by slowly simmering turkey bones, meat scraps, veggies, and herbs in water for at least 12 hours. This long cooking time extracts nutrients like collagen, gelatin, minerals, and amino acids from the turkey bones, creating a nutrient-dense broth.
Unlike regular stock whichsimmers for only 2-4 hours, bone broth simmers for much longer, allowing the nutrients from the bones and cartilage to fully infuse into the water. This gives bone broth more collagen, protein, and minerals compared to regular turkey stock. The collagen is what gives bone broth its signature jiggly, gelatinous texture when chilled.
Why Make Turkey Bone Broth?
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Nutrient-dense Turkey bones contain collagen amino acids like glycine and proline, and minerals like calcium phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Simmering bones for hours helps extract these nutrients into the water.
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Gut health The collagen gelatin and amino acids in bone broth can benefit gut health and integrity. The glycine in bone broth may also aid digestion.
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Joint health: Research shows collagen supplements can reduce joint pain. Turkey bone broth provides collagen which may support joint health.
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Immune function: Bone broth contains amino acids and minerals that support immune health. Chicken soup’s soothing effect may also come from bone broth.
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Versatile ingredient: Use turkey bone broth as a base for soups, stews, gravy, or just drink it plain. It adds a nutritional boost to any recipe.
What You’ll Need
- Turkey carcass, wings, bones (2-3 lbs)
- Veggies: onions, carrots, celery
- Herbs: parsley, thyme, bay leaves
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water (4 quarts)
- Large pot (at least 6 quarts)
- Fine mesh strainer
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for homemade turkey bone broth:
1. Roast the Bones
Roasting the bones before simmering deepens the bone broth’s flavor. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place turkey bones on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes.
2. Simmer the Bones
Place roasted bones in a large pot along with veggies (onions, carrots, celery), herbs (parsley, thyme, bay leaves), apple cider vinegar, and water.
Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 12-24 hours. Keep at a low simmer, skimming off any foam that rises to the top.
3. Strain the Broth
Once done simmering, strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer to remove all bones and veggie bits. Discard the solids.
4. Cool and Skim Fat
Allow broth to cool slightly. Use a ladle to skim off any fat that solidifies on the top. Transfer broth to storage containers.
5. Store Properly
Store broth in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze broth in batches for 4-6 months.
Extra Tips
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Use a whole turkey carcass for more collagen and nutrients. Break it down to fit in the pot if needed.
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Add chicken feet or turkey neck for more collagen. Wings also provide collagen.
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Use apple cider vinegar to help extract minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium from the bones.
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Keep heat low to avoid emulsifying fat into the broth. High heat can make the broth cloudy.
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Let broth cool before transferring to storage containers to avoid cracking.
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Freeze broth in ice cube trays for easy use in recipes later.
Common FAQs
How long does bone broth last in the fridge?
Up to 5 days in a sealed container.
Can I use a slow cooker to make bone broth?
Yes, cook on low heat for 12-24 hours.
Is bone broth the same as stock?
No, bone broth cooks much longer so it’s more nutrient-dense.
Can I use a leftover turkey carcass from Thanksgiving?
Definitely! Pick any meat off and use the bare carcass for bone broth.
Can I drink bone broth on its own?
Yes, you can drink it straight as a nutritious broth. Some even drink it daily.
Delicious Ways to Use Turkey Bone Broth
Turkey bone broth is very versatile. Here are some delicious ways to use your homemade broth:
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Drink it plain – Heat up a mugful and sip like tea.
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Make soup – Use as the broth base for soups like turkey noodle soup or turkey rice soup.
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Cook grains – Use to cook quinoa, rice or oatmeal for extra nutrients.
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Braise meat – Braise chicken, beef or pork in bone broth instead of water.
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Gravies and sauces – Thicken with a slurry to make gravy, pan sauces, or turkey pot pie filling.
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Marinades – Infuse flavor into meat and veggies.
The Takeaway
It’s easy to make nourishing turkey bone broth at home. Simmer turkey bones with vegetables, herbs, and vinegar for 12-24 hours. Strain, cool, and skim off the fat. Store broth in the fridge or freezer. Use this mineral-rich broth as the base for soups, stews, and more!
Ingredients for Turkey Bone Broth
- Turkey carcass, picked over. Mine was 12-15 pounds
- If you have turkey neck, great! If not, that’s fine too.
- Giblets, if you have them (it’s ok if you don’t)
- Extra turkey fat, if you have it (it’s okay if you don’t).
- Onion
- 4 cloves of garlic, smashed
- Large carrots
- Celery, leaves included
- Parsley
- Sage
- Fresh rosemary
- Thyme
- Bay leaves
- Whole peppercorns
How to make Turkey Stock
Not hard at all to make turkey stock. It’s one of my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving Day evening. Chill on the couch while this simmers in the background, you barely have to babysit it. Once you try it, you’ll want to make it every year. From now on, just remember to buy a little more celery, carrots, onions, and herbs than you need, and you’ll be ready to make turkey stock!
Heat your turkey carcass with any turkey parts you have: neck, giblets, any skin, or leftover turkey drippings. You start by shoving your picked-over turkey carcass into the biggest pot you have. No matter what size pot you have, you might have to cut the carcass up to fit. It’s okay if there’s still some meat on the bones, but know that after 4 hours of boiling, it will be tough and not very tasty. So gather up the meat that you want to eat now and set aside.
Next, add in all your veggies and herbs. Add roughly-chopped onion, carrots, garlic and celery. Add parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. (Feel free to sing along. (Do you know the Simon and Garfunkel song? If not, look it up right away!) Add the peppercorns and bay leaves. There’s no need to be overly particular here. If you are missing an herb or two, don’t sweat it. The onions, celery, and carrots are most important as far as flavor goes.
Add about 4 quarts of water, covering most of the turkey and vegetables. Cover all of it with water. I filled my pot all the way to the top!.
Simmer 2-4 hours.
You will see a small drop in the water level after two to four hours, and the turkey and vegetables will have softened and shrunk. This recipe is pretty easy. I let mine simmer for two to three hours, or until I’m ready to go to bed on Thanksgiving night!!! 2 hours is the minimum, 4 hours will give you a more condensed stock.
Pour the stock through a colander into a large bowl (or two) and separate out the fat. Drain through a colander into a large pot. I think it’s easier to use tongs to get the larger pieces out instead of dumping the whole pot of boiling hot stock all at once.
Put everything in the crock pot and set it to low for 10 to 12 hours. That’s how you make turkey stock! SO easy.