Great Chicken Stock

Since we started raising meat chickens a couple years ago I've been roasting whole chickens on a regular basis. At first I was just throwing the leftover bones away but I quickly realized that I needed to learn how to make chicken stock. I had tried it once or twice before but it seemed like too big of an ordeal to bother with. Once I had a steady supply of chicken bones and other leftovers it only made sense to use them.

Now I'm a complete convert.

Great chicken stock is the base for great cooking. It's as simple as that.

Step 1: Getting Started

I collect chicken leftovers in the freezer until I have enough to do a large batch. I got myself a great big (4 gallon I think) stock pot so I could do great big batches of stock. I usually wait until I have about eight carcasses or so. You can scale the amount of stock you are making to whatever size you like.

Set some time aside to make stock though, it's an all day affair.

Comments

[sunshiine]

Looks disgusting but awesome! Yes, I know it probably has a great flavor and all but just the thought creeps me out. Nice instructable! If we knew the facts of a lot of foods we eat, it might surprise many! Thanks for sharing.
Sunshiine

[spike3579]

Imagine how disgusting it is at an industrial scale... Shudder

[sunshiine]

I shudder more! LOL

[Penolopy Bulnick]

That sounds delicious, but that pot of chicken feet is really creepy!

[GailC]

I've tasted chicken feet (in China Town here) and they don't taste bad. I didn't like the texture though. I think it's a great addition to the chicken broth. :)

[spike3579]

I've been thinking about trying to cook them. I have a chef friend who tried them in Vietnam and liked them. I think they were boiled and then deep fried. Just throwing them in stock is as far as I've gotten so far. If anyone has chicken feet recipes post them in the comments!! I'll probably try it.

[spike3579]

You're right, it really is creepy. In fact I'm entering it in the Halloween food contest right now. (thanks for reminding me) The bag of frozen feet in the freezer is pretty creepy too. The stock is sooo good though.

[GailC]

Great instructable! I'm totally going to try this when I get enough chicken parts together.