How Long to Cook a Turkey Carcass for Bone Broth

Making turkey bone broth is one of my favorite things to do after Thanksgiving. It takes that picked-over turkey carcass and transforms it into a nutritious, flavorful liquid gold that can be used in soups, stews, gravies – you name it!

But to extract all the gelatin nutrients and flavor from the bones you need to cook the turkey carcass for quite a while. So how long should you simmer a turkey carcass to make a rich, nourishing bone broth? Let’s take a look.

Why Make Turkey Bone Broth?

Before we get into cook times, let’s review why homemade turkey bone broth is so worth the effort:

• It reduces food waste by using the entire turkey carcass and scraps that would otherwise be discarded.

• Simmering the bones releases gelatin, minerals, amino acids and collagen that store-bought broth lacks.

• You can customize the flavor with herbs, spices and vegetables.

• The long cooking time extracts more nutrients from the bones compared to short-cooked broth.

• Turkey bone broth makes an insulating base for soups, stews, grains and more.

• It’s budget-friendly and simple to make at home.

How Long to Simmer a Turkey Carcass

To get the most out of your turkey bones, I recommend simmering the carcass for a minimum of 8-12 hours. This extended cook time allows the bones to fully break down, releasing their collagen, gelatin and minerals into the water.

For maximum extraction, some cooks simmer their turkey carcasses for up to 48 hours! But for most purposes, a 12-24 hour cook time is sufficient.

If you’re short on time, you can get away with simmering the bones for 6 hours, but the broth won’t be as concentrated. The longer you simmer the carcass, the more rich, silky and nutritious your turkey bone broth will be.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for making turkey bone broth:

1. Start with Bones

• Use the picked-over carcass, wings, neck and feet from a 12-15 lb turkey.

• Roast raw bones at 400°F for 30 minutes first to improve flavor.

2. Add Water

• Place bones in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover by a few inches.

3. Bring to a Simmer

• Heat to boiling then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer.

4. Skim Impurities

• Use a spoon to skim off any foam or scum that rises to the top.

5. Simmer for 8-24 Hours

• Let the pot bubble away gently for a minimum of 8 hours, replenishing water as needed.

6. Add Vegetables

• After 8 hours, throw in some roughly chopped carrots, celery, onion and herbs.

7. Turn Off Heat

• Once your target cook time is reached, turn off the heat and allow broth to cool slightly.

8. Strain Out Solids

• Pour through a mesh strainer into a large bowl or pot, discarding solids.

9. Defat and Store

• Once cooled, skim off the fat layer and transfer broth to airtight containers.

Tips for Perfect Turkey Bone Broth

Here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned for making the best homemade turkey broth:

• Keep the heat low to prevent emulsifying the fat into the broth. Barely bubbling is ideal.

• Use a mix of bones like wings, feet and neck which are rich in collagen.

• Adding a splash of vinegar or wine helps leach minerals from the bones.

• Roasting the veggies before adding boosts their natural sweetness.

• Letting broth cool in the fridge makes it easy to scrape off the solidified fat.

• Freeze broth in muffin tins or ice cube trays for easy portioning later on.

Delicious Ways to Use Turkey Bone Broth

The uses for homemade turkey broth are practically endless! Here are just a few of my favorites:

• Sip it plain as a soothing hot drink

• Make turkey noodle soup, wild rice soup or vegetable stew

• Use it as the base for gravies, chilis and braised meats

• Cook grains and beans in broth instead of water

• Blend it into smoothies for a collagen boost

• Braise vegetables like carrots, celery and onions

• Poach lean proteins like chicken breast, fish fillets or tofu

• Mix with miso paste for quick miso soup

• Use as the cooking liquid for rice, quinoa or oatmeal

Is It Worth Making Your Own?

Absolutely! Sure, simmering a turkey carcass for half a day takes patience. But the depth of flavor and nutrition you get from homemade broth makes it incredibly worthwhile.

Once you have jars of this liquid gold stocked in your fridge or freezer, you’ll be amazed at how often you reach for it. Soon you’ll be hooked on making turkey bone broth an annual tradition!

So don’t throw that picked turkey carcass in the trash after Thanksgiving. Put it to use by simmering it into a rich and nutritious turkey bone broth that your whole family will love.