Find out how easy it is to make Turkey Stock from your Thanksgiving turkey bones! All you need is a clean turkey carcass and some herbs and vegetables that you probably already had from cooking the turkey. You will love making your next soup with this tasty turkey stock! Originally posted November 21, 2012
The people in the apartment above us vacuum about once a week. (It’s pretty loud because the insulation in our apartment building is practically nil. “Are they vacuuming again?” I ask myself every time. Then I quickly remind myself, “Yes, Karen. Most people vacuum more than once every three months, like you.”
Anyway. Now that you’re feeling so good about yourself compared to me. We have news! We just found out we are having a baby BOY!! I’m still in complete shock. I was convinced it was a girl. (I think I just told myself that because I didn’t want to have to repaint Charlotte’s room. Also, I thought Charlotte was a boy, so my mom’s intuition might just be stuck in Opposite-Day mode all the time. We are so excited to have a little boy!.
For now I’m focusing on doing some toddler training before the baby gets here. It was someone else’s idea to let our toddlers sleep on small trampolines. Charlotte loves to jump in her crib, which makes it not quite as good of a place for a time-out. You would not believe the height she gets. I can tell she’s awake from her nap not by hearing her cry, but by hearing her mattress springs moving around. One of these days she is going to go sailing over the edge. I should start lining the floor with pillows.
Have you guys decorated for Christmas yet? I broke down over the weekend. There is nothing better than a lit Christmas tree, yes, even the week before Thanksgiving!!.
But don’t worry Thanksgiving, I am still SUPER excited about you. When I cooked my first turkey last week, I wanted to get as much as I could from it, so I made turkey stock. It was super easy. Throw everything in a pot and forget about it for a few hours. And man is it good! This stock makes the BEST soup. My favorite is to use the stock to make this Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup. Here’s what you’re going to need, hopefully you have most of this stuff leftover from your Thanksgiving shopping!.
Making soup from a turkey carcass is one of the best ways to use up leftovers after the holidays. Simmering the bones transforms an otherwise discarded part of the turkey into a rich, flavorful broth perfect for soups But how long should you actually boil those turkey bones to get the most out of them? Here is a complete guide to maximizing flavor when making turkey bone broth.
Why Make Turkey Bone Broth?
Before jumping into the how-to let’s first go over the benefits of making turkey bone broth
- It reduces food waste by repurposing the carcass rather than throwing it away
- Turkey bones contain gelatin, minerals, and other nutrients that are extracted into the broth
- You get homemade broth at a fraction of the cost of store-bought
- The broth has more complex flavor than plain water or stock
- You can use the broth as a base for soups, stews, gravies, and more
So don’t let that leftover turkey carcass go to waste With a little time and minimal effort, you can transform it into liquid gold
Ingredients Needed
To make turkey bone broth, you will need:
- Turkey carcass – either the whole carcass or broken into pieces
- Water – enough to submerge the bones
- Aromatics – onions, carrots, celery, garlic, parsley
- Herbs and spices – bay leaves, peppercorns, thyme
- Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (optional) – helps extract minerals
Step-by-Step Process
Here is an overview of the basic process:
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Remove any excess fat, skin, and meat from the turkey carcass. Break into smaller pieces if needed to fit your pot.
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Place bones in a large stock pot and add enough cold water to cover by 2-3 inches.
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Add chopped aromatics, herbs, spices, and a splash of vinegar or lemon juice (if using).
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Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer. Skim off any foam that rises to the top.
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Simmer until broth reaches desired richness – anywhere from 3-24 hours.
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Strain out the solids from the liquid.
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Use broth immediately or let cool before refrigerating/freezing.
How Long Should You Boil?
This brings us to the key question – how long do you actually need to boil those turkey bones to get a rich, flavorful broth?
Minimum Boiling Time
The minimum boiling time is 3 hours. This will extract basic flavors from the bones into the water. You’ll end up with a lightly flavored broth.
Ideal Boiling Time
The ideal boiling time is 6-12 hours. This gives enough time for the bones to break down and release their collagen, gelatin, minerals, and other nutrients. The broth will have a rich mouthfeel and more complex, developed flavor. Many chefs recommend 8-10 hours.
Maximum Boiling Time
You can boil bones for up to 24 hours to continue extracting nutrients and deepening the broth’s flavor. However, most of the extraction happens within the first 12 hours. The broth may start to take on a bitter, overcooked taste if boiled too long.
Tips for the Best Broth
Here are some additional tips for making the most out of your turkey bones:
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Start with fresh, raw bones rather than cooked – they contain more collagen. You can supplement with cooked bones too.
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Cut bones into smaller pieces to expose the marrow and collagen inside.
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Add an acid like vinegar or lemon juice – it helps draw out minerals from the bones.
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Skim foam and impurities as it simmers – this keeps the broth clear.
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Add a splash of apple cider vinegar at the end for brightness.
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For a thicker broth, simmer uncovered to reduce the liquid.
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Adding vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery provides extra flavor and nutrients.
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Store broth in the fridge up to 5 days or freeze for several months.
Sample Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
Here is a sample recipe to put these steps together:
Ingredients:
- 1 turkey carcass, cut into pieces
- 2 quarts cold water
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- Few parsley sprigs
- 1⁄2 tsp thyme
Instructions:
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Prepare turkey carcass and place in a large pot. Add water to cover by 2-3 inches.
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Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over high heat.
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Reduce heat and simmer for 8-12 hours, skimming foam as needed.
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Remove from heat and strain out solids from broth. Add salt to taste.
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Use broth immediately for soups or let cool before storing.
Get the most from your holiday turkey by simmering the bones into this nourishing, full-flavored broth. 8-12 hours of gentle simmering will yield amazing results. Follow these tips for maximizing flavor extraction when boiling turkey bones for soup.
How to use Turkey Bone Broth
Turkey stock that you make yourself can be used in any recipe that calls for chicken broth. If you still have turkey from Thanksgiving, you can usually use that instead of the chicken that the recipe calls for. Turkey and chicken are very similar. I find that turkey stock has an even richer, deeper flavor than chicken broth. It’s so good in any kind of poultry-based soup! See a list of soup ideas down below.
Turkey Bone Broth FAQs
Yes, the culprit is high heat. A very long simmer time (up to 4–5 hours) is fine, as long as it’s a slow simmer and not a quick boil. High heat deadens the flavors of all those wonderful herbs. Also, it basically turns solids and fat into tiny bubbles that you can’t separate from your stock. This destroys the smooth texture you’re going for and adds calories that you don’t need (fat that doesn’t even taste good isn’t invited to my party). Just keep your heat low and slow and you’ll be good to go.
They’re the same thing, right?? Almost. If you cook stock from bones, it will always gel when it cools because of the bone marrow. Stock is usually not seasoned (today’s recipe doesn’t have any salt), and it takes longer to cook (usually 3–6 hours, depending on the recipe). Broth, on the other hand, can be made from meat without bones and is usually done in less than 2 hours.
The good news is that you don’t really have to remember any of this. You can use stock and broth interchangeably. Just remember to check the salt level in your final dish when using stock.
Turkey Carcass soup: developing frugal habits
FAQ
Can you boil turkey bones too long?
How long do you need to boil bones for broth?
How long do you leave bone-in soup?
How long does it take to boil turkey pieces?
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Turkey Product
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Weight
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Timing
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Breast, Half
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2 to 3 pounds
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50 to 60 minutes
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Breast, Whole
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4 to 8 pounds
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1 ½ to 3 ¼ hours
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Thighs, Drumsticks
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¾ to 1 pound each
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1 ¾ to 2 ¼ hours
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Wings, Wing drumettes
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6 to 8 ounces each
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1 ¾ to 2 ¼ hours
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How long to boil turkey bones for Soup?
The ideal time to boil turkey bones for soup is typically around 3-4 hours. This lengthy boiling time allows the bones to release their collagen, minerals, and other beneficial compounds that will enrich the flavor and health benefits of your soup.
How long does it take to see benefits of drinking bone broth?
Immediately after taking bone broth, you will notice that it is helping to keep you full and reduce food cravings. For other benefits such as anti-inflammatory effects, bone and joint health improvement and sleeping quality, it takes from 3 to 6 weeks.
How long should you boil a turkey carcass for Soup?
It’s recommended to boil the turkey carcass for soup for at least 2-3 hours. This will allow enough time for the carcass to release its flavors and create a rich, flavorful broth. What kind of vegetables should I use when boiling a turkey carcass for soup? You can use a variety of vegetables when boiling a turkey carcass for soup.
How long does it take to cook turkey bones?
Once all the foam has been cleared, you need to turn down the heat to a medium-low level so that there is sufficient time for collagens to extract from the mixture. Now, at this heat, you need to simmer the turkey bones for around four hours, and that should be sufficient for gelatin and collagen formation.
How do you cook a turkey bone in broth?
Add in 2 tbsp of salt, 5-6 peppercorns, 3 bay leaves, 2-3 springs fresh parsley if possible and then cover the turkey with water, just to the top of it. Simmer for 3-4 hours until the turkey bones are starting to break down, the meat is falling off the bone and the broth is looking nicely colored.
How long do you boil bone broth?
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Skim any impurities that rise to the top. Simmer bones for minimum of 45 minutes and up to 4 hours, tasting periodically. Top off with additional water if needed. When broth is satisfactorily rich and flavorful, strain out the bones and any solids. Cool broth completely.