Turn Your Food Scraps into a Hearty Broth

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Making broth from food scraps is an easy and sustainable way to reduce waste while creating a flavorful base for soups, stews, or sauces. Here's a step-by-step guide to turn kitchen leftovers into a delicious broth.

Ingredients

  • Vegetable scraps: Carrot peels, onion skins, celery leaves, garlic ends, herb stems, etc. Avoid bitter scraps like broccoli or cabbage.
  • Meat scraps (optional): Chicken bones, beef bones, or leftover meat trimmings.
  • Water: Enough to cover your scraps.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, bay leaves, thyme, or parsley.

Equipment

  • A large pot or slow cooker
  • Strainer or cheesecloth
  • Storage containers for freezing or refrigerating

Instructions

  1. Collect your scraps: Save vegetable peels, bones, and her stems over time. Store them in a bag or container in the freezer until you're ready to make broth.
  2. Prepare your ingredients: Take out your scraps from the freezer and rinse them if necessary. If using bones, roast them in the over for added flavor (optional).
  3. Simmer the broth: Place the scraps in a large pot or slow cooker. Cover them in water, making sure everything is submerged. Add seasonings like bay leaves or peppercorns.
  4. Cook slowly: Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. For vegetables, simmer for 1-2 hours; for bones, simmer 4-6 hours, or longer for richer broth.
  5. Strain the broth: Once the broth has simmered and developed flavor, strain it through a sieve or cheesecloth to remove solids. Discard the scraps.
  6. Cool and store: Let the broth cool, then transfer it to airtight containers. Store in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Tips

  • Layer flavors: Add apple cores, mushroom stems, or tomato ends for more depth.
  • Skim the fat: If using meat scraps, skim the fat from the surface during cooking for clearer broth.
  • Use the broth: This broth can be used in soups, risottos, or even as a cooking liquid for grains.
Turning scraps into broth is a great way to reduce waste while enhancing the flavor of your home-cooked meals!

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