The Best Instant Pot Bone Broth

Learn how to make the best bone broth in the instant pot with this simple tutorial. Bone broth is nourishing, gut healing and the perfect liquid, in which to simmer away vegetables and meat into a delicious homemade soup. 

It is known to be an effective immune booster, which is the reason mom reached for the chicken noodle soup when you were sick as a kid.

Homemade bone broth is not liquid when made properly.

Unfortunately, the liquid chicken broth you find in boxes on grocery store shelves, doesn’t have the same healing properties as bone broth.

When bones are simmered for long periods of time, gelatin is pulled from them, causing the jello like consistency.

The stuff you find in the grocery store simply isn’t made with the health benefits in mind.

Bone broth has a special place in the meal rotation here at the farmhouse. I love the simplicity of a homemade soup.

From cheeseburger soup, to pumpkin, roasted red pepper and tomato soup and more. It is a staple, no matter the season.

Packing so many vegetables an broth into a cozy, nourishing one-pot meal is a no-brainer for me. Less dishes. More nutrition. I’m all there.

Plus, I love being able to use every part of the chicken. I pay good money for organic, pasture raised chickens.

The last thing I want to do is throw away the leftovers bits of meat and bones, when they are still packed with nutrition.

Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth

I have been making chicken broth on the stovetop for years now. The process is simple. Simmer bones in water for at least 24 hours.

The problem is I always need all my stovetop space.

As a family of 8, it isn’t practical to have one large stock pot and burner constantly occupied with simmering broth.

Also, I didn’t really like leaving the burner on at all times. It was on while we left the house and overnight. It felt like the fire hazard.

Recently, I started making my go-to recipe in the Instant Pot, and I don’t think I will be going back to my old way. It gets it done in way less time and I get my burner back.

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Health Benefits Of Bone Broth

• Reduce joint pain and inflammation.
• Help skin elasticity.
• May help support the immune system.
• Help gut health including leaky gut by tightening the junctions
• It is very nutritious and full of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Each batch will vary on how much nutrients are in it.

Source

FAQ:

Can you leave bone broth in Instant Pot overnight?

Yes. After it has cooked, set it on warm for 10 hours.

I will frequently let it go during the day, and then when it’s done cooking set it to warm for 10 hours when I don’t want to deal with it at the moment.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook bone broth?

The most important aspect is that you can get the broth to gel. So whether you use the slow cooker or pressure cooker to make your broth, you want it to gel for the most health benefits.

The slow cooker can accommodate more bones, but it loses more liquid in the cooking process, and can contain toxic substances like lead (this is more likely in older models).

Is a pressure cooker good for bone broth?

Yes. I love using the pressure cooker because you set it and forget it, plus its made from non-toxic stainless steal, plus it gives you amazing broth.

Should I skim fat off bone broth?

No. This is delicious and healthy fat. While some people recommend it for flavor purposes, I like to leave mine to add extra nutrients. You could also skim it off to use the fat for cooking.

Can I use the fat from bone broth?

Yes. Use it for pan frying, sautéing, or just leave it in when making soups.

Is drinking bone broth everyday good for you?

Bone broth is full of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is also has many health benefits making it a delicious choice, good for everyday.

Can you freeze broth?

Yes. After it has been cooked and cooled you can freeze it. I will usually freeze it in a quart size mason jar leaving a few inches of headroom to allow for expansion (a ziplock freezer bag will also work. If you don’t leave any space at the top, your mason jar will likely break.

You can also freeze it in table spoon portions in a silicon mold. That way if you only need a little bit to flavor a dish you have already portioned out cubes.

Ingredients:

Chicken or Beef Bones: I prefer chicken. They are easier to come by since I’m constantly making whole chicken for dinner and tend to be cheaper. You can even use chicken feet, see that post here.

Filtered Water – I use my Berkey Water Filter

Apple cider vinegar: Optional. This adds flavor and can help draw out the minerals in the bones.

Vegetable scraps: Like celery leaves and carrot peels: Optional. It adds flavor, color, and nutrients to the stock. When you are chopping veggies for other meals you can place the bottoms of tops of the veggies (that would normally be tossed in the trash anyhow) into a zip-lock bag and place in the freezer. When you go to make broth you have free veggies to use.

Tools You May Need:

Instant Pot

Half gallon jars for storage

How To Make The Best Instant Pot Bone Broth

Add Veggies, Bones, And Water

1. Fill the Instant Pot with your bones of choice. I fill the stainless steel pot about 3/4 of the way up with bones. A good example of bones used in this scenario is approximately two chicken carcasses.
   • You can also use bones from legs only, thighs only, etc. If you made barbecue chicken legs, when you are done eating, throw the bones in a ziplock bag and into the freezer. Any bones you can add to the pot will work great.
   • It is also ok to mix bones from different animals in the same pot. No harm, no foul.
2. Cover the bones with water. Make sure the water isn’t too high above the bones. For the broth to gel, it is important to have a water to bone ratio that isn’t too high.
   • Watch the video to see how many bones and water I add for bone broth that effectively gels.
3. Add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The acidic vinegar pulls nutrients from the bones into the broth water.

Set The Instant Pot

1. Press the soup button on the Instant Pot. Set it to low pressure and the maximum cooking time of 120 minutes. Repeat three times.
   • The first time I made bone broth in the Instant Pot it didn’t gel. I was disappointed. Turns out it just needs more time. Repeat the low pressure soup button two more times. Run it through the cycle a total of three times.
   • If a cycle happens to finish while you are sleeping or out and about, no worries. It will just go to warm. Sometimes I get through the whole process in six hours.
   • Sometimes I let it sit on warm between cycles and the process is stretched out for 24 hours.

Straining it off

1. Take the lid off the Instant Pot and press the cancel button to turn it off. Allow it to cool slightly before straining it off. Just be sure to put it in a place on your counter where you won’t forget about it. Not that I’ve done that….twice.
2. Once the broth is cool enough to work with, place a stainless steel strainer over a large bowl. Strain off the bones.
   • If you have chickens, they love to eat whats left. Little cannibals.
3. Pour the broth into half gallon jars. I find a funnel is helpful for this.
4. Store them in the refrigerator for up to one week.
5. I usually make one gallon at a time.

Which bones are best for homemade bone broth?

I like the taste of chicken broth best. Any bones will work.

Beef soup bones usually have more fat. There will be a thick layer of tallow at the top of the jar, after it is refrigerated.

How To Get Bones For Bone Broth

• Always eat meat with bones. Don’t buy boneless skinless chicken breasts. They are all white meat and pretty flavorless. Plus, they won’t give you any bones for broth. I make a whole chicken a couple times a week. That provides most the bones I need.
• Find a local farmer who you can purchase meat from. My sister and I usually split a whole cow a couple times per year. The meat processor charges a very small amount to throw in the bones.
• Ask local farmers what they do with the extra bones that people don’t want.
• I hear Whole Foods sells bones in the freezer section. I’d be willing to bet they will cost you an arm and a leg.

How To Use Bone Broth

Adding broth to dishes helps boost flavor and nutritional value. Some of my favorite ways to use it in cooking include:

• Soup
• Stews
• Cook rice, couscous, risotto, quinoa, etc. in broth for added flavor.
• Baste a chicken or turkey in it.
• Use it in place of water in savory Instant Pot or Crock-Pot dishes.
• Make our families’ favorite Sourdough Stuffing or Chicken Pot Pie.

Find Delicious Recipes With Broth:

• Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup
• Split Pea Soup
• Tomato Soup From Scratch
• Homemade Creamy Chicken And Gnocchi Soup
• Chicken Marsala Soup
• Sausage Sauerkraut Soup
• Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice Soup
• Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup
• Split Pea Soup
• Tomato Soup From Scratch
• Homemade Creamy Chicken And Gnocchi Soup
• Chicken Marsala Soup
• Sausage Sauerkraut Soup
• Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice Soup

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.

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