How to Make Basic Beef Stock - A Step-by-Step Guide

Beef stock is a staple ingredient in many kitchens, and for good reason. It adds a depth of flavor to soups, stews, and sauces that is hard to replicate with any other ingredient. While store-bought beef stock can be convenient, making your own at home is surprisingly easy and the results are well worth the effort.

Homemade beef stock is rich, flavorful, and can be used as a base for countless dishes. It is also a great way to use up leftover beef bones and vegetable scraps, making it...

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Ingredients

  • 6 pounds beef soup bones
  • 1 large onion
  • 3 large carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 12 ½ cups water, divided
  • 1 large tomato
  • 1 medium potato, unpeeled, cut into chunks
  • 2 stalks celery, including some leaves, cut into thirds
  • ½ cup chopped parsnip
  • 4 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 8 whole black peppercorns

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 hrs 35 mins
  • Total Time: 6 hrs 5 mins
  • Servings: 8
  • Yield: 8 cups

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Trim root end off onion, then slice or quarter onion, peel and all. Place onion and carrots into a large, shallow roasting pan with beef bones.
  • Roast, uncovered, in the preheated oven, turning bones occasionally, until bones are well browned, about 30 minutes.
  • Drain off fat. Transfer browned bones, onion, and carrots to a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Pour 1/2 cup water into the roasting pan and rinse; pour this liquid into the soup pot.
  • Add tomato, potato, celery, parsnip, whole parsley sprigs, salt, thyme, garlic, bay leaf, and peppercorns to the pot. Pour in remaining 12 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 5 hours. Strain stock. Discard meat, vegetables, and seasonings.
  • Nutrition

    61 cal.

    • Total Fat: 0g
    • Saturated Fat: 0g
    • Sodium: 978mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 14g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 4g
    • Protein: 2g
    • Vitamin C: 30mg
    • Calcium: 67mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 415mg