If you’ve ever stood at the butcher counter wondering which bones to choose for beef bone broth, you are not alone. The good news is that making rich, nourishing broth is much simpler—and more affordable—than you might think.
Be sure to watch the video below where I walk you through the different types of beef bones, which ones I prefer, and how to get the most value from them. Then scroll down for more detailed guidance and helpful tips.
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Table of Contents
- A Quick Glance: Best Bones for Making Beef Bone Broth
- Understanding the Different Types of Beef Bones
- Best Combination of Bones for Beef Bone Broth
- A Secret Ingredient to Make Your Bone Broth Gelatinous
- Can You Reuse Beef Bones?
- Making Bone Broth Affordable
- What Is “Perpetual” Bone Broth?
- Let’s Make Some Beef Bone Broth!
- More Bone Broth Recipes
- Beef Bones from Shirttail Creek Farm
- Beef Bones from US Wellness Meats
- Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
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A Quick Glance: Best Bones for Making Beef Bone Broth
- The best bone broth combines meaty bones, marrow bones, and collagen-rich bones.
- Yes, you can reuse beef bones multiple times.
- You can often get at least three batches of gelatin-rich broth from one set of bones.
- Bone broth becomes very economical when you reuse the bones.
- When your broth no longer gels and the bones begin to break down, it’s time to replace them.
Understanding the Different Types of Beef Bones
Before we choose our bones, it helps to understand what each type brings to the pot. Some bones provide deep, rich beef flavor, while others are prized for the collagen that gives broth that beautiful, nourishing jiggle.
Beef Shanks
Shank bones are excellent for both flavor and protein and produce a wonderfully hearty broth.
Short Ribs
Short ribs are meatier and add deep beef flavor to your broth. If beef shanks are unavailable, short ribs are an ideal option.
Marrow Bones
Marrow bones are a rich addition to your bone broth. They contribute nutrients and some collagen to your broth. You can stir the marrow back into your broth or enjoy it spread on toast points. However, on their own, they don’t always produce the most gelatinous result.
Tip: Also try this Easiest Roasted Bone Marrow Recipe
Oxtails
Oxtails are a favorite because they offer the best of both worlds—meat for flavor and collagen-rich connective tissue, which becomes gelatin once cooked. They tend to be more expensive, but including them helps create an exceptionally rich, gelatinous broth.
Knuckle Bones and Patella Bones
If you want that lovely jiggle when your broth chills in the refrigerator, and oxtails are out of your price range, then joint bones are your best friend.
Knuckle bones and other joints, including patellas, are rich in collagen. As they simmer low and slow, they release collagen into the broth, which becomes gelatin, giving it that thick, nourishing texture we all love.
Neck Bones
Neck bones are often overlooked, but they can be a budget-friendly option that still provides good flavor and collagen-rich connective tissue similar to oxtails, knuckles, and patellas. They’re an ideal choice when you’re trying to keep costs down. But I recommend that if you use neck bones, you source those from grass-fed cattle.
Soup Bones
“Soup bones” is a broad term and can include a mix of marrow bones, joint bones, and meaty bones. They are often one of the most affordable options at the butcher counter.
If you’re not sure which bones to choose, a good-quality mix of soup bones is often a perfect starting point.
Best Combination of Bones for Beef Bone Broth
If you remember just one thing about selecting bones for your bone broth, include these three types of bones when making beef bone broth:
- Meaty bones
- Marrow bones
- Collagen-rich bones
That balance creates a broth that is both nourishing and deeply satisfying. You don’t need every variety—just a thoughtful mix.
A Secret Ingredient to Make Your Bone Broth Gelatinous
Even with a good mix of bones, if you want to help ensure your beef bone broth is gelatinous, be sure to add in a few chicken feet. Yes. You saw that right. Adding chicken feet to your ingredients will ensure your beef bone broth comes out gelatinous.
Chicken feet are the “secret ingredient” for achieving a bone broth that gels beautifully when cooled. Even when working with beef bones, which can vary in their collagen content, including a few collagen-rich chicken feet helps guarantee a more satisfying, mineral-rich broth with the nourishing body and mouthfeel, the gelatin you’re looking for to support your digestive system, and more.
Can You Reuse Beef Bones?
The Answer Is Yes!
One of the most common questions I receive is whether you can reuse bones after making a batch of bone broth. The answer is a happy and hearty yes!
I can usually get at least three good, gelatinous batches from the same set of bones when using my seven-quart slow cooker. Some folks even go much further and create what’s often called “perpetual bone broth,” continually adding water and simmering the same bones over multiple rounds.
While the bones won’t last forever, reusing them makes bone broth surprisingly affordable.
Making Bone Broth Affordable
Bone broth becomes truly economical when you:
- Reuse your bones for multiple batches
- Choose budget-friendly options like neck bones or soup bones
- Combine higher-cost bones (like oxtail) with more affordable cuts
When you realize you can get several batches of bone broth from one purchase, the cost per quart becomes very reasonable.
What Is “Perpetual” Bone Broth?
Some home cooks keep the same bones going for many batches of bone broth, topping off with water and continuing to simmer. While the bones will eventually give up all they have to offer, it’s amazing how long they can last. Over time, they’ll begin to soften and break down.
That’s your cue that they’ve given you their best.
How to Know When It’s Time for New Bones
There are two clear signs that it’s time for you to use new beef bones:
- Your chilled broth no longer gels.
- The bones begin to crumble or lose structure.
When that happens, you’ve extracted most of what the bones have to offer, and it’s time to start fresh.
Let’s Make Some Beef Bone Broth!
Making beef bone broth is one of the simplest traditional kitchen skills—and once you understand which bones to choose, it becomes second nature. With a thoughtful mix and a little patience, you’ll have a rich, nourishing broth that beautifully supports your traditional foods kitchen.
Here are recipes to help you make bone broth depending on your kitchen equipment:
- Instant Pot: Instant Pot Beef Bone Broth That Gels Every Time
- Slow Cooker: How to Make Rich and Gelatinous Beef Bone Broth
- Stovetop: How To Make Stovetop Beef Bone Broth
More Bone Broth Recipes
What is the Difference Between Broth, Stock, and Bone Broth?
Learn the difference between these three nutritious liquids.
How to Make Affordable Bone Broth Using Beef Feet
Learn how to make an affordable and gelatinous beef bone broth!
How to Make Collagen Rich Bone Broth for Under $2
Learn the secret ingredient to making the most gelatinous bone broth!
Beef Bones from Shirttail Creek Farm
I’d like to introduce you to Shirttail Creek Farm, located in Brenham, Texas. They offer a wide range of grass-fed and finished beef, pastured pork, chicken, and eggs, and lots more through their online store.
In addition to Bone-In Chuck Roasts and Pastured Stewing Hens, you can find lots of Grassfed Beef Bones and other ingredients to help you make a healthy and gelatinous beef bone broth:
- Knuckle Bones
- Marrow Bones (Canoe cut)
- Neck Bones
- Pastured Chicken Feet (Secret ingredient for a gelatinous bone broth)
Beef Bones from US Wellness Meats
If you can’t find beef bones in your neighborhood supermarket or farmer’s market, check out US Wellness Meats.
- Use discount code MARYNEST and my link for a one-time 15% savings off regular-priced items on your US Wellness Meats order. You can shop for a variety of products, including:
Check out my US Wellness Meats unboxing video to see the types of products you can get, including bones for beef bone broth!
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