Bone broth vs stock vs broth

You see, bone broth, broths and stocks all share the same foundation: bones, meat scraps and vegetables simmered in a pot of water.

However, differences lie in the preparation, timing and specific ingredients used.

The main difference between bone broth and stock is that bone broth is cooked for at least 16 hours while stock is cooked for 1-2 hours.

There are many other differences you'll want to know about in this article.

And since variety is the spice of life, it's worth briefly explaining the differences between bone broth and chicken broth, for example.

First a quick disclaimer: my company makes and sells the absolute highest quality chicken bone broth you can find.

So if you're looking for a chicken broth recommendation, that is it. With that out of the way lets get into it.

Broth

• Mainly uses meat
• Cook time is typically 45 minutes - 2 hours
• Used for cooking, tastes great.

Stock

• Uses meat scraps, bones, vegetable scraps... anything
• Cook time ranges 2-12 hours typically
• Used for cooking mainly
• More concentrated than broth

As you'll see from the image below, chicken broth is not the same as bone broth.

Chicken Bone Broth vs. Stock Infographic

What is stock?

Chefs use stock as a base for sauces and other dishes or in place of fat for sauteeing. Stocks are traditionally made using mostly bones - scraps mainly from the kitchen or whatever is in the freezer.

Stocks also typically cook for relatively shorter times. They can be simmered for 2-5 hours, although some chefs prefer a longer simmer. Some will even leave them over night. 

The difference between stock and broth

The difference between stock and broth is that broth is simply meat simmered in water while stock has more ingredients. At least historically that's what it was.

Stocks use all scraps including bones, vegetables and some meat, while broth's are made using mainly meat scraps.

The other difference between stock and broth is the cook time.

Broths take between 45 minutes to two hours to cook. Again, there is a huge range in time between cultures historically.

Broth vs. Stock Differences

This is meant to give you an idea of the difference between stock and broth.

Since no bones are used, broths lack the nutritional punch and gelatin quality compared to stock.

But what they lack in nutritional quality, they more than make up for in taste. Broths taste great. You'll most likely prefer drinking a broth over a stock. Broths tend to impart a more recognizable flavour to our pallets.

Your typical stock has more gelatin and nutrients but slightly less flavour than stock. The gelatin is produced via the gentle breakdown of collagen from the bones during a long simmer at low heat.

The gelatin quality and strong flavour is what makes stocks great for cooking!

So with that, how do you get the best of stock and broth? Funny you should ask! 

Difference between chicken stock and chicken broth

The difference between chicken stock and chicken broth is that chicken stock uses chicken bones and vegetable scraps while chicken broth uses chicken meat, flavors, additives and preservatives to mimic chicken flavour.

The other difference is that traditional chicken stock is cooked from 1 hour to all day while chicken broth is typically cooked for 45 minutes to one hour.

Keep in mind there is a big difference between a stock that a chef makes and a stock you find in the grocery store. Same goes for broth.

Both chicken stock and chicken broth in grocery stores are typically made from concentrates and contain added salt, preservatives, yeast extracts and flavour mimicking agents.

Neither are great unless you are desperate to cook a recipe. 

Enter Bone Broth

The paleo communities’ adopted stepchild, bone broth has gotten a ton of attention in paleo and mainstream media.

And for good reason. It is a potent beverage that boasts a serious nutritional punch. 

Bone broth is different from chicken broth. It is a liquid that has more protein, collagen, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals than chicken broth.

Chicken broth may be ok for cooking, but bone broth is much for concentrated and delicious. Bone broth also gives you nutritional benefits, while chicken broth does not. 

Difference between bone broth and stock

The difference between bone broth and stock is the cook time (bone broth is cooked for way longer) and the quality of ingredients and types of bones used.

Bone broth uses specific bones with lots o connective tissue to harvest collagen and amino acids. On the other hand, stocks primarily use bones with no connective tissue or adhering meat.

Bone broth's are simmered for up to 48 hours to maximize the protein while stocks are cooked for 1-6 hours.

The last difference between bone broth and stock is in the nutritional content of the finished product. Bone broth must have at least 7 g of protein per cup to be considered real bone broth. Stock, on the other hand, usually has 1 g of protein per cup.

How do you make bone broth?

High quality meaty bones make for the perfect base for any bone broth. This will make sure that your bone broth has both the familiar taste of the broths you were raised on as well as the nutritional benefits of the bones.

Try the best bone broth recipe!

There are a lot of sketchy brands on the market. You must look for a real bone broth that provides nutrition with a great taste. Bluebird Provisions is a brand that offers a traditionally simmered product that you will love.

Since bone broth is full of vitamins, minerals and protein, it is a great way to cover your nutritional bases.

Where does bone broth nutrition come from? 

The gradual conversion of collagen into gelatin imparts the majority of the nutrients.

The tricky part is that collagen extraction takes a long time: that is why we recommend that you simmer your bone broth for at least 16 hours on a very low heat.

You want it low enough so that bubbles come to the surface every 10-15 seconds. 

If you have high quality bones and the right ratio of water to bones, your broth will gel once cooled. This is the holy grail of bone broth making. You want your broth to resemble one of your favorite childhood lunch snacks.

Look for brands that offer a low and slow simmer to their bone broth. You can get gelatinous bone broth with a cook time of 12-16 hours, provided that you know what you're doing and have the right bones to water ratio.

Here is a complete checklist for what to look for when buying bone broth.

A 'low and slow' technique ensure that all of the vitamins, minerals and collagen is leached from the bones into the remaining broth.

Why do you use different cook times for bone broth?

You use different cook times for bone broth because chicken bone broth doesn’t require long simmer due to the bones size and structure. They are not as dense and thick as beef bones. Thus, collagen extraction happens quicker. 

Bone broths represent a wonderfully soothing liquid. They nourish your body from the inside out. There is particularly compelling data showing that bone broth helps fix common digestive issues. 

Using Bone Broth as a Stock Substitute

Bone broth can be used in place of any liquid in any recipe or aspect of cooking. It’s an easy and efficient way way add some great flavor to your cooking.

My family soaks and cooks our grains, stir frys and steamed vegetables all using bone broth!

Bone broth also makes for the perfect base for any soup, stew, sauce or salad dressing.

Or if cooking is not your thing, it's wonderful to sip on it's own. In that case, you can start with 1-2 cups per day for nutritional benefits.

If you are suffering from chronic joint pain or any digestion or food intolerance issues, you'll want to drink 2 cups per day to restart the healing process of your joints and gut.

Swap out your afternoon coffee with a cup of bone broth and you'll notice the instant relaxing feeling as you wrap your hands around the cup. 

Bone broth tastes great on it's own, however you can add even more flavor and nutrients by sprinkling some turmeric or grating a teaspoon of ginger on top of your hot broth, then gently stirring it in.

You can even use beef bone broth to concoct the most amazing salad dressing you’ve ever tried.

How to find bone broth

You can find bone broth online and at most grocery stores, however, you must find the absolute best bone broth for you.

There are many fake brands mislabelling stock as bone broth. To be sure, you must look at the nutrition facts and ingredient lists.

Bluebird Provisions makes the highest quality, delicious tasting bone broth you will ever try. Try some today.

Or you can checkout my guide on where to buy bone broth to find some near you. 

What does bone broth taste like?

Bone broth tastes like a rich and delicious broth, similar to a chicken soup broth. You will notice the delicious flavor as it hits your lips. Bone broth is incredibly satisfying and satiating to your pallet.

How does vegetable broth compare to bone broth?

Vegetable broth is completely different than bone broth because of the lack of bones. As such, you cannot get any nutritional benefit out of vegetable broth. There are no vegan alternatives to collagen or gelatin on the market.

Can I substitute chicken stock for chicken broth?

You can use stock in place of broth if that is what you have on hand and you are desperate. However, bone broth is the absolute best liquid to cook anything with.

Can you use bone broth for soup?

You can use bone broth for soup. Just add some to your pot, along with your soup ingredients and you'll have a nutritious and rich tasting soup. It can be used in place of water, stock, broth or bouillon in any soup recipe.

Closing Thoughts

So there you have it! Since traditional chefs, home cooks and the paleo community seem to be at odds with this whole bone broth vs. stock situation, I hope this article clarifies things up for you!

Don't worry about the semantics, just try making your own bone broth and see how it instantly changes your body and mind! And if you need a product recommendation, try the chicken bone broth from Bluebird Provisions.