Chicken Stock

This is essential for use in soups, sauces, and grain, meat, fish, and poultry dishes, and is very easy to make. When you prepare whole chicken, cut off and freeze the wing tips, backs, and necks for stock; likewise, freeze the carcass when you remove breasts and legs from a whole bird.
Makes2 quarts
CostInexpensive
Total Timeunder 4 hours
Make Ahead RecipeYes
Dietary Considerationegg-free, gluten-free, halal, kosher, lactose-free, peanut free, soy free, tree nut free
Five Ingredients or LessYes
Taste and Texturesavory, umami
Type of Dishsoup, stock
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken parts, including backs and necks, rinsed well in cold running water
- 3 stalks celery, cut into medium dice
- 1 clove garlic, halved
- 2 carrots, cut into medium dice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 3 quarts water
Instructions
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Place all the ingredients in a stockpot or large pot over high heat and bring to a boil, skimming the top. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer 2 to 2½ hours, skimming occasionally, until a good chicken flavor is achieved.
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Strain through a fine strainer, pushing down on the solids to extract all the liquid, and skim any grease off the top. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until the fat solidifies, and lift it off the soup. Refrigerate up to 1 week. After 3 days, bring to a boil. Then boil, skim, and cool every 2 days; or freeze.
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