If you would have told me five years ago that I would be making homemade stock from leftover turkey, I would have laughed. Not only was I a kitchen novice, but the sight of a leftover bird of any type made me positively squeamish. If you are one those, read no further. But if you can handle a little gross factor and want to learn this valuable frugal skill, grab a stockpot and join me for some nourishing homemade broth.
Good stock is a cooking essential; homemade soups demand it, vegetables and rice appreciate it. And when you or a loved one is sick, there is nothing more soothing than warm broth. Wives tales aside, meat stocks are full of minerals and electrolytes. Keeping plenty of stock on hand during winter months is always prudent.
Supplies:
leftover cooked turkey or chicken
large stockpot
cold filtered water
apple cider vinegar
black peppercorns (optional)
vegetables
strainer
cheesecloth
glass jars, ziploc bags
Instructions for Homemade Stock:
To make a basic stock, start with your leftover bird; organic or free range is best if your budget allows. A little meat left on the bones is fine, and will enhance the flavor. It will fall off the bone during the cooking process and you can save it for stew.
A large stockpot is a worthy investment for the frugal cook. Grab your largest pot and place your cooked poultry inside, breaking apart as needed. Fill the pot will cold filtered water, leaving an inch or two of space at the top.
Throw in some black peppercorns (optional) and 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The vinegar step is important, as it will help to draw minerals out of the bones. Let it sit for about one hour. You can then add vegetables if you desire, for flavor and extra vitamins. Three to four coursly chopped carrots, onions and celery work nicely.
Bring the stock to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for several hours. For best results, lower the flame as far as it will go, and simmer overnight, covered. About 24 hours is ideal.
Finally, remove from heat and pour the stock through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. I strain mine directly into glass mason jars with a wide-mouthed funnel for storage. You can use the stock right away for cooking, or freeze them for later use.
If you do plan to freeze, let it cool completely and leave an inch or so of headroom at the top for expansion. Ziploc bags or containers also work well for freezing, properly portioned in one cup increments. Some prefer to freeze stock in ice cube trays then transfer to a bag for easy tablespoon portioning.
Your beautiful stock will keep for about a week in the fridge or four to six months in the freezer. It will add wonderful flavor to your cooking while saving you money.
Feeling really frugal? Reuse the bones and repeat this entire process up to three times!
Do you enjoy homemade stocks?
I’ve never tried making my own homemade stock. However, I have been eating gluten free for a few months now…and this would be perfect for me 🙂 🙂 Besides that, I like saving money on food 🙂 🙂 Have a good weekend. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
Heather 🙂 🙂 :)´s last blog post ..HAPPY THANKSGIVING
I just made turkey stock yesterday! I do it similarly, but add a bay leaf, some minced garlic, a bit of thyme, some celery seed and salt to the mix. (I recently read that the proper amount of salt in stock is important for getting just the right flavor). I don’t have cheesecloth, so I have to do a messy two-step process of pouring through a colander, then pouring a second time through a small strainer. One of these days I’m going to get a pot-sized sieve!
It’s not really all that much work to make homemade stock – just some extra dirty dishes! And it’s really worth the effort for an inexpensive, delicious start to soups, stews and our favorite – turkey pot pie!
I always make soup with the leftover turkey, but have never made stock. I really need to try it this time. And I can’t believe you can do it 3 times – fabulous to know!
Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates´s last blog post ..My Thanksgiving Menu ~ 2011