Thursday, April 28, 2011

Homemade Chicken Stock

I made chicken stock for the first time the other evening. I have been saving chicken carcasses in the deep freeze since last Summer when we butchered our birds. I had plans to make stock for the winter but never got it accomplished (that's what having a new baby does to you, takes all your spare time!) I finally was able to make my first batch the other night and it was so easy.

First I put the chicken carcass in my large 15 qt pressure canner pot. I had about 3 bags, necks and other random pieces. Next I added 4 carrots, some fresh celery leaves and pieces, an onion, quartered, salt, pepper and parsley. I turned the heat up to high.Once it started boiling I turned it down to simmer and left it. I did skim some of the yuck off the top a few times. I let it simmer all night (about 12 hours).The next morning I let it cool and then pulled out all the chicken bones and veggies. Once I did that I strained the broth through a tea towel to get all the extras out. This left me with a beautiful clean broth.
I was able to then can the stock. I ended up getting 9 pints and 5 quarts. I am so excited to add this to our pantry and it was so easy to do.
This post is linked to Simple Lives Thursday at A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa.

5 comments:

  1. I am almost out of the stock I canned last fall, so I have been saving my chicken "parts" too. You have inspired me to get busy and get this done before I get too busy outside!

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  2. You can also use your crockpot to make stock overnight. Bonus is that it uses less energy than the stove!

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  3. If using your crockpot would you cook on low overnight? Also how did you can your chicken stock? Pressure canner? How long?
    Thanks!

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  4. Hi.. Thanks for the great info.. I too am wondering how long you took to actually can the broth.. I would like to try this as I have been given several bags of necks...
    Thanks...

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  5. I processed them in a pressure canner at 10lbs. Pints 20 minutees and quarts 25 minutes.

    Erlene a crockpot would work great. I would leave it on all day or all night. Good luck!

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