Beef Bone Broth

Homemade Beef Bone Broth is a great way to add flavor to soups, stews, and recipes. Give this a try if you have beef soup bones in your freezer or if you have concerns about food allergy labeling or cross-contact with allergens outside the top nine!

I’m so excited to share this recipe!

I’ve been making my own broth for years - chicken, veggie, and most recently, beef. Five years ago we purchased our first quarter-cow.

For those outside the Midwest, this is a fairly common practice in which you purchase a full, half, or quarter cow directly from a farm and give instructions to a local meat locker on how to process it. Then you store it in your freezer for most of the year.

I’m curious if you find this whole process strange. It does require an investment upfront, as you need a large freezer unit to store (usually kept in the basement or garage) as well as the funds to purchase and process the meat upfront.

But my husband and I are all in. We also do a pig every other year as well. (The key is to time it so you don’t have full pig and half or quarter cow in the freezer at the same time.) Some of our reasons for investing in this venture include:

• Supporting local farmers - most Midwest families purchase their meat from a family member or friend, friend-of-a-friend, or local Farmer’s Market vendor. And the majority of these farmers are small-scale or very small-scale operations.

• Supporting local businesses - in Iowa, many local meat lockers are located in small towns and take pride in their history and reputation.

• Supporting local food supplies - it usually takes about a week from when the farmer delivers the animal to the locker to when the meat is processed and ready for pick-up.

Additionally, we usually end up saving a significant amount of money when compared to the cost of purchasing all the different cuts of meat from a grocery store or butcher. And I personally like the challenge of trying to figure out ways to prepare all the different cuts of meat. This experience has forced us out of our cooking comfort zone by challenging us to try new cuts of meat and cooking techniques, including smoking.

So, that is how I got into making my own beef broth. Essentially as a way to reduce food waste and use the beef soup bones that came with our cow.

Don’t let the long cooking time dissuade you - this is a very easy, low-maintenance recipe. Once you get the broth boiling, it just simmers all day on the stove. So, are you reading to give it a try?

How to freeze Beef Bone Broth:

To freeze homemade beef bone broth, allow it to cool and then place in glass canning jars or freezer bags. Cool broth completely before using glass freezer-safe containers. If using freezer bags, carefully remove air before sealing. Tip: Divide broth into 1, 2, or 4 cup portion sizes. Use smaller freezer bags for smaller portions. Insert sandwich-sized bags inside coffee mugs and use a ladle to help prevent spills.

You can freeze bone broth for up to 3-4 months. Just make sure to thaw overnight in fridge before using.

What are allergy-friendly substitutions for Beef Bone Broth?

As written, this recipe is free-from the top 9 food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, soy, fin fish, shellfish, and sesame. This is also a good option for those with allergies to foods that can be considered “seasonings” per food labeling laws.

However, for those with beef allergy or alpha gal syndrome (red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy), I would recommend recommend a recipe for chicken or poultry broth.

Can I substitute other bones for beef neck bone?

Yes! This recipe is pretty versatile, and pork bones can easily be substituted for beef bones in this recipes. In fact, you can technically make bone broth from just about any animal, including lamb, bison, buffalo, venison (deer) or even poultry or fish bones.

What other variations would you like to try? Please share in the comments below!

How to make Beef Bone Broth:

Ready to give this family-favorite recipe a try?

Step 1: Wash hands with soap and warm water. Gather ingredients and supplies.

Optional: Heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil on the bottom part of a steamer pot set. Sear the neck bone for 2-3 minutes on all sides for enhanced flavor.

Step 2: Fill the bottom part of the steamer pot set with water and apple cider vinegar

Step 3: Add beef bone to the basket or top half of steamer pot set. Add celery, carrots, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Step 4: Gently place the top half of steamer pot into the bottom part. Add additional water as needed to cover ingredients by 1-2 inches. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 8-12 hours.

Step 5: Carefully remove the top half of steamer pot from the broth and discard contents.

Step 6: Place bottom pot in an ice bath for 15 minutes to cool. Use a skimmer to strain out any additional seasonings.

Step 7: Store beef bone broth in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3-4 months.

Beef Bone Broth

Lisa Woodruff, RDN | January 7, 2023

• Prep time: 5 minutes
  
• Cook time: 8-12 hours
  
• Yield: 16-18 cups

No nuts | No eggs | No milk | No wheat | No soy | No fish | No sesame

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil (optional)
  
• 1 beef neck bone
  
• 1 gallon water (16 cups)
  
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  
• 3 celergy stalks, cut into thirds
  
• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into thirds
  
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  
• salt and pepper, to taste
  

Instructions:

1. Wash hands with soap and warm water. Optional: heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil on the bottom part of a steamer pot set. Sear the neck bone for 2-3 minutes on all sides for enhanced flavor.
   
2. Fill the bottom part of a steamer pot set with water and apple cider vinegar.
   
3. Add beef bone to the basket or top half of steamer pot set. Add celery, carrots, garlic, salt, and pepper.
   
4. Gently place the top half of steamer pot into the bottom part. Add additional water as needed to cover ingredients by 1-2 inches. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 8-12 hours.
   
5. Carefully remove the top half of steamer pot from the broth and discard contents.
   
6. Place bottom pot in an ice bath for 15 minutes to cool. Use a skimmer to strain out any additional seasonings.
   
7. Store beef bone broth in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3-4 months.