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Don't laugh at me but I have never made my own chick. broth. I bought a whole chicken and cooked it in the Crock pot. I added some sliced onion to the pot. I didn't add any water, was I supposed to? There wasn't much broth in the bottom of the pot at all. What was in there was dark brown, did I do something wrong? I picked all the meat off the bones of the chicken. Don't laugh but then I threw the bones away and drained what juice there in a pan and added water to it and cooked it on the stove it doesn't have much taste to it at all. I did save it though is there any hope for making something w/it or should I just start all over?
How do you make your own broth/stock? BTW I have always used the canned kind and bought only chick. breasts. I actually got the idea of buying the whole chick. and making my own broth/stock on here. I'm trying to get this money saving thing going but I feel so dumb about not knowing how to do stuff. Please help me!!!
Also I put some Bay leaves in the broth I know you're supposed to take them out but what I had was the kind that are all ground up like Parsley. Is o.k. to eat it or should I skim it off? This Bay leaf stuff came in my spice rack and I have never seen it all ground up like this, so I'm assuming it's o.k. to eat?
I feel so completely stupid. What would I do w/out you ladies?
Answer:
I'm afraid you'll probably have to start over...
Broth and stock are different...
Stock is stronger tasting because it is cooked longer which draws out more flavor from the meat scraps and bones. Broth is usually made by using meat that you would normally eat, like chicken breasts or thighs, you cook the meat in water and add maybe some onions and celery.
I don't make broth all that often, but I do make stock all the time that I freeze and use in recipes. I don't use a crockpot, so I have no idea how to do it in one, I use a stock pot.
For chicken stock for example, I use a whole chicken, salt, onions, celery, parsley, peppercorns and bay leaves. You put everything in the pot and cover it with cold water. You simmer it for about an hour (skimming the top regularily). Then I take the chicken out and take off the meat and return the bones to the pot and let it simmer for another hour or two. My mother makes stock with the whole chicken, she doesn't take off the meat, it's just a matter of preference. You can also instead of using a whole chicken, buy parts like wings, legs, backs etc
You cool down the stock at room temp and strain it and then refrigerate it. You can use it for about 3 days from the fridge or just freeze it in containers to use for up to about six months. Fat will congeal on the top, but it helps to preserve the stock (at least that was what I was taught), but you can skim it off and discard it before use.
I use whole bay leaves, I've never used anything else and yes, I do pick them out before using the stock. I'm sure what you have is fine to eat.
Answer:
I am NOT the expert at chicken broth by any means ~ in fact I have always just made turkey broth and used it with my poultry. Here is how things usually play out in my house.
Make turkey and serve for dinner. The next day I take the entire carcus and pull off all the extra meat I can get (freeze meat). I then place carcus in pot and boil with choice of seasonings until bones are clean. Then I strain my broth from the pot, and throw away the rest. I am sure that I am leaving a HUGE amount of useable stuff in the pot, but I am very finicky when it comes to poultry on the bone (I can't eat it - it grosses me out). I then freeze then broth in quart size baggies for future use.
I would guess you could do it in the crock pot also (just would take longer), but I would have added water. Actually in the crock pot is usually how I make my beef broth. After cooking a roast I just add a little more water, heat it to mix with the rest, and then freeze it in usuable portions.
HTH some
Answer:
Thanks ladies. I figured the broth thing was a bust. Now I know exactly what to do next time.
Was not a total loss though. I have made 2 nice suppers w/ the chicken w/ tons of leftovers. Some of the chicken that is left I will save to make chicken sandwiches and the rest of the meat is going in the freezer.
I'm definitely going to keep buying whole chickens!!! I figured before I was spending at least $5.99 on chicken breasts alone and now I have made so much and still have lots left for another time and the chicken was only $3.74!!!!!:D
Thanks again so much!!!
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Just thought you ought to know about my favorite website. It's called allrecipes.com. They are the top site for thousands of recipes, and it's free! I have saved so much money with these recipes! Also they have tips on how to make chicken stock. They say to save the pieces from a chicken that most people throw away such as the neck, I believe they said gizzards (not sure), and of course any extras from it, and to throw them into a freezer bag along with any cut up veggie leftovers you don't use. They say it does not matter if it's edible or not, you are just using it to season the stock.
They go into detail on how to cook it, and what to do with it when it's done. This website also gives recipes on frugal recipes. You don't type in frugal in the search, but just whatever you think would be a good frugal recipe. Like one day I found a recipe for some mexican food, but I did not have any re-fried beans. The website had a recipe on how to make them yourself using pinto beans! They also have a recipe on how to make your own butter, sour cream, etc. Of course most of those recipes probably cost more than it's worth to just go buy your own, but if you are in a pinch, it's a great idea!
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I am not good at making my own stuff like that either so don't feel bad about messing that up.I need bread machine recipes if anybody has any sites they know of or recipes please pass them along please my husband is getting mad at me i have a brand new bread machine that I am not using.I told him it did not come with a book like my oither one did.Another recipe you could use your chicken for is chicken tacos and chicken and dumplings.Just suggestions in case you are sick of making the same things all the time .