Soup Basics – How to Make Your Own Flavorful Chicken Stock
Soup Basics – How to Make and Use Your Own Flavorful Chicken Stock
Homemade chicken can be more flavorful and economical than the store-bought varieties in cans or cartons. It’s easy to prepare and adds a rich flavor to any liquid-based savory dish.
Easy Basic Chicken Stock
You can double this recipe as needed.
3 pounds skin-on chicken pieces (see tips at end)
Water
2-3 carrots, cleaned and tops removed but not peeled, cut into 1- or 2-inch chunks
2-3 stalks celery with leaves, cut into 2-inch chunks
1 large white onion, outer skin, top and bottom removed and cut into 1-inch chunks
1-2 tablespoons salt (kosher or sea salt preferred)
Ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Wash chicken pieces and place in an 8- to 12-quart stockpot or Dutch oven. Add the prepared vegetables. Add enough water to cover the chicken and vegetables with an inch of water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pot. Bring to a boil, turn heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Check occasionally and add water as needed to keep ingredients covered.
Turn off the heat. Remove chicken pieces and vegetables and set aside. Discard the veggies and refrigerate chicken if not using immediately.
Using a fine strainer or sieve, strain the stock into another pot, return to the original pot, and bring to the boil again. Reduce heat enough to allow the stock to bubble but not boil hard and cook until the stock is reduced by half.
Strain the stock at least twice and fill 1 and 2-quart freezer-safe containers to about an inch from the top. Cool containers in the refrigerator until fat rises to the top. Remove fat; seal containers and freeze until needed. Frozen stock can retain its quality six months to a year at constant temperatures.
Homemade Chicken Stock: Tips and Advice
1. Substitute 5 to 6 pounds of uncooked chicken bones or cooked chicken carcasses, with skin, for the 3 pounds of fresh chicken pieces.
2. Add other root vegetables such as parsnips and rutabagas if you need to use them up. Don’t use potatoes, because they will disintegrate over the long cooking.
3. Remove and discard the bones from the chicken pieces. Save for other uses:
- Chicken soup
- Chicken casseroles
- Chicken fillings for tacos, burritos and other Mexican dishes
- Hot or cold chicken salad
4. Pour chicken broth into an ice cube tray’s compartments. When frozen through, pop out and place in a freezer-safe bag (vacuum-seal bag if you use them). Add a couple of cubes to plain water when cooking rice, potatoes or vegetables to add a little extra flavor.
5. Beyond chicken soup, your stock makes an excellent base for any broth-based soup that doesn’t require a red-meat or fish base. Bean, squash (including butternut and pumpkin) and vegetable soups and chicken stews and chili take on an added dimension when you use stock instead of water.