How Long to Cook Chicken Bone Broth for Maximum Nutrition

Cooking bone broth is an art that requires patience. Simmering bones for an extended period of time allows you to extract as much collagen, nutrients and flavor as possible But exactly how long should you cook chicken bone broth to get the maximum health benefits?

Before we dive into cook times, let’s cover the basics of bone broth. At its core, bone broth is simply stock made by simmering animal bones and connective tissue in water for an extended period of time – typically between 4 to 24 hours. This long cooking time helps extract collagen, gelatin, minerals and other nutrients from ingredients like bones, marrow, feet, tendons and ligaments that regular stocks don’t have time to absorb.

The result is a rich, protein-packed broth that has long been used in traditional cuisines for its nourishing properties. Recently, bone broth has gained popularity in health circles thanks to its impressive lineup of nutrients like:

• Collagen The most abundant protein in our bodies that keeps skin youthful and joints healthy.

• Gelatin: Helps seal the gut lining and reduce inflammation.

• Glycine: An amino acid with antioxidant effects.

• Minerals: Like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.

Drinking bone broth regularly can help:

• Improve joint health
• Support digestion
• Reduce inflammation
• Promote healthy skin, hair and nails

Now let’s look at how long you need to simmer your chicken bones to extract the maximum amount of these nutrients and benefits.

How Long to Cook Chicken Bone Broth

Cooking time can vary based on the specific bones used. But here are some general guidelines:

• 4-8 hours Good for beginners and extracts a decent amount of nutrients

• 12-18 hours: The sweet spot for extracting maximum collagen, gelatin and minerals. Most recipes suggest simmering for this duration.

• 24+ hours: Will yield a richer, more concentrated broth, but requires constant monitoring.

For chicken bone broth, a cook time of 12-18 hours is ideal. Chicken bones are lightweight and smaller compared to beef bones, so they don’t require extremely long cook times. But 12 or more hours will ensure you extract as much nutrient density as possible.

Here are some more tips for maximizing the nutrition in your chicken bone broth:

• Use a combination of bones: Chicken carcasses, feet, necks and wings all provide different nutrients. Use a mix for diversity.

• Add vinegar: A splash of vinegar helps leach minerals from the bones into the water.

• Simmer, don’t boil: Let the broth gently simmer to prevent emulsifying the fats and collagen.

• Skim regularly: Impurities will rise to the surface. Skim these off to keep the broth clear.

• Add vegetables: Onion, garlic, carrots and celery provide extra flavor and nutrients.

Checking Doneness

How can you tell when your chicken bone broth is ready? Here are some signs to look for:

• The broth has reduced significantly and flavors have concentrated.

• The bones crumble easily when pressed with tongs.

• The broth has a rich, creamy mouthfeel when cooled.

• Chicken fat has risen and congealed on top when chilled.

• The broth takes on a silky, cloudy appearance when cooled due to collagen content.

The richer and thicker your cooled chicken bone broth is, the more collagen and gelatin it contains. If your broth seems thin and watery, it likely needs to simmer longer.

Storing Your Chicken Bone Broth

Properly storing your labor of love bone broth is key. Follow these tips:

• Allow the broth to cool completely before storing.

• Skim excess fat from the top once cooled if desired. The fat helps keep broth fresh longer.

• Transfer broth to airtight, preferably glass containers.

• Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

• Frozen broth may become gelatinous but will liquify once heated.

• Reheat gently on the stovetop or in a pot, avoid the microwave.

Putting Chicken Bone Broth to Use

Once you’ve put in the time to make your broth, be sure to put it to good use! Chicken bone broth is very versatile:

• Drink it: Sip on plain broth as a snack or warm drink.

• Make soup: Use as the base for any soup, stew or braise.

• Cook grains: Use instead of water for cooking rice, quinoa or oatmeal.

• Add to sauces: Swap it for plain water in gravy, sauces and reductions.

• Use in recipes: Add to marinades, stews, braises, mashed potatoes and more.

• Try as coffee: Warm with spices for a savory morning coffee alternative.

With proper storage, your chicken bone broth should last for 5-6 days in the fridge or up to 6 months in the freezer. Produce less waste by freezing broth in ice cube trays for easy use in recipes.

Achieving Rich, Flavorful Chicken Bone Broth

Making nutritious bone broth is a lesson in patience. Allowing the chicken bones to gently simmer for 12-18 hours extracts copious amounts of collagen, gelatin, nutrients and flavor. Follow the tips in this guide for maximizing nutrition and getting the most out of your ingredients. Incorporating homemade chicken bone broth into your routine is a simple and delicious way to gain the many health and culinary benefits.