Is Turkey Stock Good For You? The Health Benefits of This Versatile Ingredient

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”middle” bg_type=”” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg__new=”id^3995|url^https://rhealthc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Inner-page-blog-1.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^Inner page blog 1|description^null” bg__repeat=”no-repeat” bg__size=”contain” bg__posiiton=”50% 50%”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1686794826123{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1686833535649{padding-top: 0px !important;}” el_class=”m-height”][vc_single_ source=”featured_” img_size=”800×600″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1699347226510{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]It’s likely that you will have to decide what to do with the leftover turkey carcass bones from Thanksgiving in November. Don’t throw away those bones even if you are tired and groggy after the annual feast, and swear you will never cook again. If you are at someone’s home for Thanksgiving, be that person who asks to take the bones home (you will thank us later for it). The bones are full of nutrients and make a tasty broth for a quick meal, soups, and recipes.

If it’s any consolation, tens of thousands of years before turkey became the bird of choice for Thanksgiving, cooks worldwide have been making broth and soup for its heartiness and warmth. Archeologists say the first known soup pots and bowls date back 20,000 BC to the Xianrendong Cave in Jiangxi Province, China. Though we do not know what was in the pot, these early humans were on to something. Soup is a cornerstone of nourishment and comfort that is still appreciated today. We’ve collected a treasure of tips to help you make the best broth ever.

Tips for Turkey Bone Broth

Homemade bone broth is satisfying on its own in a mug and versatile enough for soups or recipes that call for broth. The difference between stock and bone broth is the cooking time and taste. Typically, a stock adds liquid or moistens recipes and has a lighter flavor. Because bone broth cooks longer, it is flavorful enough to stand alone. Here are some reminders for making bone broth, followed by a recipe.

• Clean off the meat from the bones.
• Collect all the fruit and vegetable peels and trimmings from carrots, onions, celery, apples, and lemons from your Thanksgiving dinner for broth-making.
• Remove any stuffing, herbs, or other aromatics from the turkey cavity.
• Use the heart, neck, wings, and gizzard if you like, but set aside the liver for another use.
• Cut the bones with kitchen shears to fit the bones in a large 6-quart pot, slow cooker, or pressure cooker (instant) pot.
• If you don’t plan to make the broth immediately, freeze the bones in an airtight container.
• Always start with cold water, as the finished broth will be clearer.
• Include fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, garlic, peppercorns, and turmeric for added flavor and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Add an acid, like apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, to the broth to help release all the nutrients from the bones.
• Punch up the umami flavor of the broth by adding miso paste after the broth has boiled.

What are the Health Benefits of Bone Broth?

Bone broth is commonly recommended in functional and integrative medicine for gut health, immune support, and weight management. The benefits for gut health are particularly profound (learn more on the health benefits here). When the bones, vegetables, and herbs cook down into an aromatic and satisfying broth, while the amino acids and nutrients concentrate into all that goodness, including:

• Collagen reduces gut inflammation, improves digestion, and helps regulate stomach acid production.
• Gelatin helps promote a healthy mucosal lining in the stomach that serves as a barrier to protect the stomach from its digestive secretions (learn more about the importance of gut mucus here).
• Glycine, an amino acid and primary component of collagen, reduces the risk of inflammation throughout the body, including the gastrointestinal tract. Like gelatin, glycine can also promote healing of the stomach lining.
• Proline, an amino acid, promotes healthy intestinal and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), essential components of immune defense.
• Glutamine contributes to restoring the gut’s mucosal lining and closing the tight junctions in the intestines that may be associated with a leaky gut. It also reduces intestinal inflammation.

Get The Most Out Of Your Turkey: How To Make Turkey Stock

FAQ

How healthy is turkey broth?

Is Turkey bone broth good for you? Yes. Turkey bone broth has many great health benefits. The collagen in the bone marrows, cartilage, and other boney parts heals the gut and supports joint health. The bones are full of nutrients, and vitamins, released when cooked for a long while, healing and comforting for the body.

Which is better turkey stock or turkey broth?

Yes, turkey stock and turkey broth are the same thing. Some people argue that they’re different — but they’re made the same way and can be used interchangeably. Often, broth is richer than stock… but at the end of the day, bone broth, stock, and broth all mean the same thing: liquid made from leftover bones/scraps.

Does turkey broth have collagen in it?

The long simmering time breaks down protein — called collagen — that’s in the connective tissue of the carcass, turns it to gelatin. It will return to liquid once heated and give your stock a rich, silky texture that you can’t get with store-bought stock.

Which is better, turkey or chicken bone broth?

The same goes for chicken broth. Both are great options to use for soup, neither being significantly better for you than the other. When it comes to flavor, turkey has a more savory, earthy, cleaner, and less fatty flavor making it ideal for a simple, budget-friendly turkey soup recipe.

Is homemade Turkey stock good for You?

Homemade turkey stock is mineral-rich, easy to digest, anti-inflammatory, and gut-healing. Sipping this tasty broth is a savory and soothing way to make use of Thanksgiving leftovers while benefiting your health at the same time.

What are the health benefits of ground turkey?

Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.

Is Turkey stock worth it?

From gravy to risotto, grains to veggie braises, turkey stock truly elevates everything it touches. Making your own is simple, economical and so worth the effort. I like to stock my freezer so I always have this liquid gold on hand.

Is Turkey stock good for Soup?

Enhance Soups Homemade turkey stock is a wonderful flavor booster for any homemade soup. Try it in recipes like Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup, Turkey and Rice Soup, or Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup. The stock adds richness without overpowering other ingredients.

What is Turkey stock used for?

Turkey stock is the secret ingredient that can take your cooking to the next level. This flavorful broth made from turkey bones is easy to make, and has endless uses beyond just gravy. Here are 10 of my favorite ways to use turkey stock: 1. Make Turkey Gravy The most common use for turkey stock is, of course, gravy.

What can I use homemade Turkey stock for?

The most common use for turkey stock is, of course, gravy. I use this homemade stock in both my classic turkey gravy and my flourless gravy. It adds an incredible depth of flavor that store-bought broths just can’t match. 2. Enhance Soups Homemade turkey stock is a wonderful flavor booster for any homemade soup.