Easy Instant Pot Bone Broth

Ok, maybe you’re hearing all this chatter about bone broth, and wondering what it even is. What’s the big deal about a broth made from bones? Today I’m doing to be sharing a bit about it, it’s nutritional benefits, and the easy way to make it in an instant pot.

Why bone broth?

When you go to the store and purchase a carton of chicken broth, you are essentially filling your body with a broth full of high sodium, highly processed broth that is full is msg, and preservatives that you don’t want to be putting into your body.

Making your OWN broth, specifically bone broth is a way to add nutrients to your meals and body, and it takes SO MUCH better then store bought. There is a complexity of flavor from the long, slow cooking plus the veggies and bones.

Store bought chicken stock is just not comparable. Bone broth is also FULL of so many vitamins and minerals, and it’s high in protein. See below in the benefits section for more detailed info on all that.

What is the difference between normal chicken stock and bone broth?

Bone broth is very similar to traditional chicken stock, however there is still some differentiating qualities. Regular stock that is bought (or made) is made from cooking down the actual meat of the chicken in water, and is a thinner consistency.

Bone broth is made from the stripped down bones of the chicken, and is loaded with so many vitamins and minerals from the slow cooking of bones. It’s thicker in consistency, and loaded with collagen that comes out of joints and bones during the long-term cooking.

The two broths taste very similar, so I would rather use a broth that is nutrient dense, and will add extra nutritional value to my meals.

What is collagen?

Collagen is structural protein found in the bones, cartilage and skin.

You create collagen when the bones are boiled down and the connective tissue is broken down into a gelatin which is made up of over 20 Essential and non essential amino acids, such as glycine and glutamine.

What are the nutritional benefits of Bone broth?

Amino acids are the building blocks to protein. So bone broth is full of protein! I would rather use that in my recipes to add extra protein and nutrition, then regular stock.

There are so many benefits to bone broth! Let’s explore some of those:

Gut health:

Bone broth promotes gut health and digestion. The way bone broth can help your gut is through the gelatin produced when it’s cooked down.

That gelatin is full of glutamine (an amino acid).

Glutamine has a positive impact on the balance of the gut microbiome, it increases integrity of the intestinal lining, and helps to minimize the inflammatory response in situations. SO cool!

Decreasing inflammation:

Some other amino acids found in bone broth, including glycine and arginine, have strong anti-inflammatory effects. Arginine, in particular, may be especially helpful in fighting chronic inflammation. A lot of people even encourage drinking bone broth when sick as it can possibly aid in decreasing the inflammation in your body caused by the infection your body is fighting.

Immune support:

A large percentage of your immune system is based out of your gut. Healthy gut + decreased inflammation + immune boosting amino acids = stronger immune system.

Drinking bone broth not only can help boost your immune system, but also your body doesn’t produce amino acids as well when under stress or a virus or infection, so these anti-inflammatory properties in bone broth, plus those amino acids, could help diminish the longevity of your virus.

Detoxing your body:

The minerals in bone broth can boost the body’s ability to expel waste and help the liver process toxins. The amino acids Glycine can help help with the detoxification in our cells and liver.

Bone broth can promote healthy skin. The collagen supports your joints. SO much goodness in this super food.

Now that we’ve talked about the benefits of bone broth, let’s go over some more specifics about how to store, how to use, and finally the recipe!

How to store the broth

Bone broth can be kept in an airtight container (I use mason jars) in the fridge fresh for 5-7 days.

To freeze my bone broth and keep it fresh for up to 6 months, I fill a mason jar up with the fresh broth, and leave at least a couple inches free on the top (don’t fill too full or your jar will crack).

My trick is to freeze the broth first with the lid off, and then once the broth has fully frozen I will replace the lid, and store in the freezer. This just gives extra attention to make sure the glass doesn’t crack as the broth expands.

Ways to use Bone Broth

You can utilize your prepared bone broth in so many ways! Obviously replacing any regular stock in a recipe with the bone broth. Soups, rice, anything broth- you name it.

You can even drink it, as a savory drink. Or, leave the seasonings out when you’re preparing the broth and make bone broth hot cocoa.

Tips and tricks

• Keep your carrot peelings, onion peelings, veggie scraps etc in a bag in your freezer. That way when you’re ready to throw your bone broth together, you have that bag ready to go and can toss it right in.

• I usually use my chicken carcass right after stripping the meat off of it. I just toss it back into the instant pot, with all the fixings needed and turn it back on. BUT, sometimes I have don’t have time or need bone broth right away, and I’m this case I will fully cool the carcass, and put into a freezer bag and freeze until I am ready to toss into the instant pot for broth.

Tools you will need

Instant pot

• Fine mesh strainer

• Large bowl or container

• Mason jars or airtight storage containers

Ingredients you will need

• Good quality bones, roasted or precooked, and meat taken off of the bones.

(I prefer grass fed or organic chicken or beef bones)

• Organic apple cider vinegar

• Fresh herbs of your preference

• Fresh veggies of your choice

(I prefer carrots, celery, garlic, and sometimes onion. Any veggies or scraps of your choice will work!)

• Fresh garlic

(I like parsley the best, for its mild flavor)

• Salt and pepper

Recipe

Begin by adding your veggies, fresh herbs, garlic, salt and pepper to your instant pot.

Add in your bones. This is my frozen chicken bones I had ready to go in the freezer.

Add 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar to the pot.

Pour about 1/2 gallon of water into the pot.

Turn your instant pot to pressure cook for as long as it goes. I usually cook mine for the 4 hour time frame, but if you have time cook it for 6 or even 8 hours (you’ll have to restart your instant pot when it runs out of the time if you want to continue to 6+ hours total, and result in an even more gelled and nutritious broth, my pot only goes to 4 hours).

When the instant pot has finished, strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer making sure to watch for small bones. Add in any extra seasonings, salt or pepper to taste. Then allow broth to cool for a bit.

Store your bone broth in your refrigerator for 5-7 days, and in your freezer up to 6 months.

Conclusion

Have I hopefully inspired you to make your own bone broth? With the instant pot it’s EASY! And so soooo good for you. What’s your favorite way to utilize bone broth into your diet? Tell me below!