There is something deeply satisfying about making broth from scratch. A pot of bones, a few humble vegetables, and some water can slowly transform into one of the most useful foods we can keep in our traditional foods kitchen.

A rich bone broth can be sipped warm from a mug, turned into a nourishing soup, used to cook grains, or tucked away in the freezer for future meals. And although traditional bone broth takes time, most of that time is wonderfully hands-off. Once everything is simmering gently, your slow cooker or stockpot does nearly all the work for you.

In this post, I’m sharing three helpful videos that will take you from choosing the right bones and achieving that beautiful gel to answering some of the most common questions about homemade bone broth. And if you’re looking to reduce carbohydrates in your diet, I’ll show you how to make a Keto bone broth with anti-inflammatory herbs and spices.

Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My content may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.

Table of Contents

Ensuring Your Bone Broth Gels

Have you ever placed a batch of homemade bone broth in the refrigerator, only to discover the next morning that it remained completely liquid?

Don’t be discouraged! Your broth can still be flavorful and nourishing even when it doesn’t gel. However, if you’re hoping for that wonderfully gelatin-rich jiggly texture, there are three important things to keep in mind.

First, you’ll want to use a combination of meaty bones, marrow bones, and high-cartilage bones. Next, add only enough water to cover the bones by about one inch. And finally, after briefly bringing your broth to a boil and skimming away any foam, reduce the heat and maintain a very gentle simmer.

Those simple steps can make all the difference between a thin broth and one that transforms into a beautiful, collagen-rich gel after chilling.

Homemade Bone Broth FAQs

Once you begin making bone broth, you’ll probably discover that one question leads to another!

Is homemade bone broth really worth the effort? Why do we add vinegar or another acid? Is a slow cooker better than a pressure cooker? Can the bones be reused? And what should we do when a later batch no longer gels?

In this helpful collection of frequently asked questions, I walk you through these topics and more. One of the most encouraging things to learn is that the same beef bones can often be used for several batches. This can make homemade bone broth considerably more economical than it may first appear.

You’ll also learn how to roast chicken carcasses, vegetable trimmings, and other ingredients that might otherwise be discarded, transforming them into delicious homemade broth. It is traditional kitchen thrift at its very best!

Make a Keto Bone Broth

If you enjoy making homemade bone broth and would like to try a version with a little extra flavor, you’ll enjoy my Keto Bone Broth with Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and Spices. This recipe starts with a rich beef bone broth and adds fresh ginger, turmeric, herbs, celery, green onions, and mushrooms for a deeply savory broth that is both warming and satisfying.

Marys Nest How to Make Keto Bone Broth with Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and Spices Recipe

I also show you how to make this broth with low-carbohydrate vegetables, making it especially helpful for those following a Keto way of eating. And because it is prepared gently in a slow cooker or stockpot, the finished broth can become wonderfully gelatinous once chilled.

The Comfort of a Pot on the Stove

Some of my fondest kitchen memories are not tied to elaborate meals or perfectly set tables. They are simply memories of a pot quietly simmering on the stove.

There is something wonderfully reassuring about that gentle sound—the occasional little bloop and the warm aroma slowly filling the house. I may be folding laundry, answering emails, or tending to a dozen other things, but all the while, something good is happening in the kitchen.

Caring for the Days Ahead

Maybe that is why making broth feels like more than simply preparing food. It feels like caring for the future. The broth you make today may become tomorrow’s soup, next week’s stew, or a warm mug offered to someone who is tired and needs a little comfort. And often, it begins with the humblest ingredients: a few bones, some vegetable scraps, and water.

Traditional cooking has a beautiful way of reminding us that the simplest things are often the most valuable. Nothing needs to be fancy. Nothing needs to be wasted. With a little patience and care, even the most ordinary ingredients can become something nourishing.

The Good Things That Grow Slowly

And isn’t life often like that too? Some of the best things grow slowly and quietly. Children are a wonderful example of this. They cannot be rushed. We simply tend to them faithfully, give them time, and trust that something good is taking place—even when we cannot yet see the finished result.

So the next time you have a pot of broth gently simmering away, pause for a moment and enjoy it. That humble pot is doing more than making supper. It is helping to make your traditional kitchen truly the heart of the home!

More Bone Broth Videos

See all →

Get Bone In Meats 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 nutritious meats and products to help you make the most healthy and gelatinous beef bone broth:

They also offer their products around Austin at farmers markets and at Local Pastures, a local grocery store chain. If you’re not in the central Texas area, they’ll ship their products to you across the United States.

Looking for Beef Bones?

If you can’t find beef bones in your neighborhood supermarket or farmer’s market, check out US Wellness Meats.

This post is not sponsored. I’m a long-time customer of US Wellness Meats because I have always been impressed by the quality of their products. Check out my US Wellness Meats unboxing video to see the types of products you can get, including bones for beef bone broth!

Fishwife

I love Fishwife’s thoughtfully sourced seafood, including their sardines, and appreciate the care they put into both quality and flavor.

Northwest Wild Foods

I enjoy Northwest Wild Foods for their delicious wild Alaskan King Salmon, Halibut, Cod, and more. If you’re not sure what to get, try their Wild Alaskan Seafood Sampler or Wild Alaskan White Fish Sampler Pack.

Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance

The Backwoods Home and Self Reliance printed magazines are two of our favorite publications, especially since they deal with topics of interest to traditional foods cooks and modern pioneers.

Mother Earth News

Order YOUR COPY Now!

The Modern Pioneer Cookbook

Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.

Order Now!

Order YOUR COPY Now!

The Modern Pioneer Pantry

Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!

Order Now!

Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.

The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy

Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

JOIN NOW
And become a Traditional Foods Kitchen Pioneer

Kitchen Academy Videos

See all →

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

  1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
  2. Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
  3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
  4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
  5. Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

Shop for My Favorite Items

Favorite Kitchen Supplies

Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide

Posted in: ,

About the Author

Read More About Me

You may also like:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *