Chicken Stock

by: Chef Matt Chatfield


Introduction

Homemade chicken stock is fairly simple to make, and the quality of flavor is so much better than store bought. When searching for chicken backbones, ask your local grocery meat butcher for some help.

YIELDS
5
Prep Time
15
Cook Time
4

Ingredients

  • 2 onions, unpeeled and quartered

  • 2 carrots, peeled and halved crosswise

  • 4 pounds raw chicken backbones

  • 7 quarts cold water

  • 4 Tablespoons Kosher salt

  • 2 celery stalks, halved crosswise

  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 4 thyme sprigs (or 1/4 teaspoon dry)

  • 5 pieces parsley sprigs (or 10 stems)

Instructions

Rough cut the vegetables. Check the video for reference.

Put everything in a large 8-quart stockpot. On a Wolf Burner, bring the stock to a boil over high heat. Then turn the stock down to a simmer.

Skim off any foam and fat that rises to the surface.

Simmer the stock for 4 hours, keeping an eye on it to make sure it stays at a simmer. If the chicken still has pieces of the skin attached, the fat will render and float to the surface. When that fat builds up on the surface, the stock will stop simmering and not cook correctly. Make sure to check the stock every 30 minutes or so and skim off that excess fat as it rises.

After the stock has simmered for 4 hours, remove the vegetables and chicken with a spider strainer.

Strain the stock through a fine-meshed sieve and let cool.

Scrape any more fat that has risen to the surface as the stock cools. Save it in the fridge or freezer for soups and sauces.

Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.


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