Where to Buy Bone Broth

Are you wanting to try bone broth but don't know where to start? There are so many different brands and places to buy it, and you want to make sure you get the best quality possible.

This article is for you.. yes you!

With so many different brands of bone broth on the market, how do you know which one is right for you? And how can you be sure that you're getting a high-quality product?

In this guide, I'll help put your mind at ease on where to buy a delicious and nutritious bone broth near you. Want the most convenient answer right now?

Just go to Amazon or the Bluebird Provisions website to get it delivered to your home (USA and Canada only). It has the highest protein and lowest sodium of any you will find in store.

Checkout the table below for a glimpse, but read on for more details.

Can you buy a quality bone broth online?

Yes, you can buy a quality bone broth online but you must know what to look for. Many brands offer organic, non-GMO, antibiotic-free, gluten-free, paleo an keto friendly options.

For example, Bluebird Provisions offers a high protein and low sodium chicken bone broth that tastes absolutely delicious.

It is also slow-simmered for 14 to 20 hours, giving it a rich, home-cooked flavor. Plus, it has a long shelf life and doesn't need to be refrigerated.

9 Best Options for Where to Buy Bone Broth

The best options for where to buy bone broth are Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Online, Amazon, Trader Joe's, your local speciality grocery or market and farmer's markets.

1. Walmart

Brand they carry include Sam's Choice, Pacific, Swanson, Epic, Zoup!, Kettle and Fire, Kitchen Basics and Lonolife.

The benefits of purchasing bone broth at Wal-Mart include:

• Variety of brands available to choose from
• There are locations across the USA and Canada
• Oftentimes the cost of lower than other stores
• You can order online and get free shipping

2. Target

Target is incredibly popular for their low prices and seemingly endless catalogue of items.

My wife and I recently travelled to Las Vegas with our newborn and were surprised as the quality of natural and organic foods in every category.

In my experience, it is the best 'large box' store in terms of natural food selection.

In the stock, soup and broth section, you can find brands like Kettle and Fire, Pacific Foods and Swanson. Be sure to check the freezer section as well because there may be other brands.

3. Online Options for Beef and Chicken Bone Broth

When it comes to buying bone broth online, there are a variety of options available from Amazon to each individual brand website.

Many frozen brands have difficulties shipping out of their home state because of shipping costs and logistics. But some still manage to make it work with high order minimums.

I'll share favorite option: Bluebird Provisions.

4. Bluebird Provisions Sipping Bone Broth

Bluebird Provisions is the best combination of high protein (1 2g) and low sodium (160 mg). This dehydrated powder uses one single ingredient: chicken bone broth and has a deliciously rich flavor.

What I like best is that they source their bones from USA farms and make it in the USA using a traditional low and slow simmer.

They often ship within 1 business day meaning you will get it in 3-4 business days.

You can find their new best selling non-gmo chicken bone broth or their new beef bone broth for dogs. You can also shop on Amazon for super fast shipping.

They offer free shipping and discounts when you subscribe, making it an even more affordable and convenient option. All these factors make Bluebird Provisions an ideal place to buy bone broth.

5. Amazon

Amazon plays an important role in the bone broth market. A simple search will give you about 30 options you can have delivered to your home.

The tricky part with Amazon is the quality. If you don't know what to look for, then read my buying guide below.

Through Amazon, you can shop for a variety of bone broth products from small businesses, ranging from USDA Organic products to Climate Pledge Friendly items.

Also, Amazon offers discounts and coupons on many of its products, as well as Subscribe & Save options, which can help customers save money when buying bone broth.

Overall, there are lots of options and the convenience is awesome.

6. Buy from Whole Foods

Whole Foods has the biggest and best overall selection of bone broth. I love going in and wandering around to see what is new. The problem is that I end up wasting hours walking the aisles.

Anyways, their buyers do a great job finding quality options from a variety of different sources and packaging formats.

You can check the freezer section for frozen options and the shelf stable soup aisle for powder and liquid tetra pack style broths.

The last time I was at Whole Foods, I fond the following brands on the shelf:

• Kettle and Fire - shelf stable liquid in tetra pack
• Bare Bones Broth - shelf stable liquid and powder options
• Bonafide Provisions - frozen pouch
• Osso Good - frozen pouch
• Brodo - frozen in a tub
• Roli Roti - shelf stable
• Epic - shelf stable in a jar
• Ancient Nutrition - bone broth protein supplement
• Jarrow Formulas - protein supplement

These brands represent a mix or USDA Organic options, grass fed, pasture raised, non-gmo, paleo, keto, Whole 30 Approved and conventional broths.

7. Trader Joe's

Much like Whole Foods, I can easily waste a lot of time browsing as TJ's. Every time I go, I find a new Trader Joe's branded product that amazes me.

Are you like this too? Leave a comment and let me know what you found there recently.

As far as broth goes, they only carry their private label Trader Joe's brand of bone broth.

The Trader Joe's Organic Chicken Bone Broth has 10 grams of protein and 300 mg of sodium. This works out to 13% of your recommended daily intake.

Here are the ingredients:

Water, Chicken Concentrate*, Vegetable Broth (carrots, onion, celery)*, sea salt, onion powder*.

*Organic

The Trader Joe's Organic Beef Bone Broth is rich in flavor and has a good nutrient profile as you can see below.

• Calories: 45
• Fat: 0 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Potassium: 180 mg

The ingredients in Trader Joe's Beef bone broth are: Water, Beef Concentrate*, Vegetable Broth (carrots, onion, celery)*, sea salt, onion powder*.

Both of these are made from concentrate.

8. Your Local Natural Food Market

You can buy organic bone broth at your local natural food market. Many of these markets carry local brands that do a great job.

You'll likely know better than me exactly what these markets are in your neighbourhood. If you can't find anything in store don't be afraid to ask a manager where it is.

9. Farmers Markets

Some farmers markets will have a local bone broth vendor. If this is the case I urge you to support them and purchase as much as you can directly from them.

Small brands have a difficult time getting started, they can use all the help they can get.

10. Bone Broth at Kroger

Kroger is the largest grocery chains in the USA and they have an impressive lineup of bone broth options. At Kroger you will find Kettle and Fire, Simple Truth, Swanson, Pacific, Bare Bones, Zoup, Imagine Chicken and Epic.

Why should you consider drinking bone broth?

You might want to consider drinking bone broth because of the anti inflammatory gut healing benefits, joint health, crucial vitamins and protein, digestive health, weight loss, glowing skin and more.

Let's quickly go through each of these below.

1. Helps maintain gut health

Drinking bone broth can help to maintain gut health by providing essential nutrients that can help to reduce inflammation and improve digestion.

A 2021 study used bone broth to treat ulcerative colitis. The bone broth group showed decreased inflammation in the colon and intestines (1).

In my experience, I've given Bluebird Provisions bone broth to a good friend who has colitis. Particularly during flare ups, it helps him get through them much faster than before.

Bone broth is also source of glycine and proline which are known to help heal damaged intestinal tracts.

2. Helps relieve digestive issues

Drinking bone broth can help relieve digestive issues such as acid reflux or GERD. This is because of the unique amino acids like glycine, which can help to reduce inflammation and provide relief from GERD symptoms.

The important thing is to look for bone broth that is simmered for 16-24 hours. This is needed to give you a gelatinous, high protein broth to help your digestion.

3. Provides nutrients, potassium and magnesium

Many people miss this part, but bone broth is full of hydrating electrolytes like potassium and magnesium.

These two minerals can help to improve joint mobility and recovery, reduce inflammation and support healthy blood pressure and hydration.

Vitamins in Bone Broth
Vitamin	Broth Type	Dose Per Cup	RDA for Adults
Calcium	Chicken	10 mg
	Beef	22 mg	1000 mg / day
	Pork	39 mg
Magnesium	Chicken	12 mg
	Beef	17 mg	400 mg / day
	Pork	17 mg
Iron	Chicken	0 mg
	Beef	0.5 mg	8 mg / day
	Pork	0.26 mg
Zinc	Chicken	0 mg
	Beef	0.15 mg	11 mg / day
	Pork	0.1 mg
Potassium	Chicken	300 mg
	Beef	50 mg	2000 mg / day
	Pork	40 mg
Sodium	Chicken	180 mg
	Beef	220 mg	2300 mg / day
	Pork	300 mg

 

There are smaller amounts of phosphorus and chloride for all day energy.

That being said, a common misconception is the amounts of vitamins in bone broth. You'll see from that article that values are much lower than you might expect.

4. Helps improve joint health

Drinking bone broth may help improve joint, tendon and ligament health thanks to the high amounts of protein, minerals and collagen protein found in the bones used to make bone broth.

I personally used bone broth to heal a stubborn case of achilles tendonitis in 2019. If you want to learn more about the specific steps to follow, read this on bone broth for arthritis.

5. You might get glowing skin

It tends to enhance skin health faster than any other benefit. This is due to its unique combination of amino acids, minerals and other nutrients.

These things keep your gut happy which, in turn, makes your skin happy. These amino acids help boost collagen production, which is essential for skin elasticity and overall health.

And finally, the anti-inflammatory properties of bone broth can help reduce redness and irritation while soothing skin.

6. Contains collagen, glycine and protein

Bone broth contains a variety of ingredients including collagen, gelatin, amino acids and minerals derived from the bones and connective tissues of animals like cows, chickens, bison, lamb, pork or fish.

The proteins found in bone broth are highly bioavailable, meaning the body can absorb them more easily than proteins from other sources.

7. May help with weight loss

Bone broth helps with weight loss for three reasons.

1. It's low calorie but incredibly filling: This means you will eat less throughout the day by drinking a cup before your meals.
2. High Protein: A 2015 meta analysis proved that high protein diets are shown to help increase your metabolism and the thermic effect of food (2). Basically it gets your body burning more calories throughout the day compared to carbs or fat.
3. Gelatin: Gelatin is a thick protein which is diet friendly because of it's ability to naturally suppress your appetite. You feel fuller, longer when you eat foods with gelatin in them.

I've shared this information with countless friends and family members who have gotten great results using it. For a full breakdown of these three things and more, read my article on bone broth for weight loss.

It is important to note that diets do not work in the long-term and I do not recommend any diet. So keep that in mind.

What factors should you consider when buying bone broth?

The factors you need to pay attention to before buying bone broth are the following:

1. is it real bone broth
2. how much protein is there
3. how much sodium?
4. is it pasture raised or grass fed
5. are there gums, fillers or sweeteners
6. where is it sourced from
7. how is it made
8. is it fresh or frozen
9. are there trustworthy reviews
10. does the brand make other products or just broth

1. Is a real bone broth?

Real bone broth means that it has 'bones' or 'bone broth' as the first or second ingredient. I say first or second because this changes in liquid or dehydrated products.

Liquid products will have water as the first ingredient where powders do not. Do not buy anything with the words 'concentrate,' 'protein,' 'collagen,' 'stock' or 'broth'.

Anything with these ingredient in lieu of bone broth are fake products masquerading as real.

2. Protein Content

Bone broth typically contains 10-12 grams of protein per cup or equivalent serving size to make one cup of prepared broth.

You must check the label for nutrition content before purchasing. Any products with less than 8 grams per cup or serving are not going to give you the real benefits you are after.

While these products may taste good and come from quality sources, you NEED protein to heal your gut and build better skin.

3. Pasture Raised or Grass Fed Bones

The main difference between pasture raised or grass-fed bone broth is the type of feed the animals get and the conditions they are raised on.

This has a large affect on the meat, bones and thus the quality of the beverage you are drinking.

When possible, it is best to choose a chicken product that is pasture raised and a beef one that is grass fed. Chickens do not eat grass, so they can't really be grass fed.

4. Sodium Level (less than 220 mg)

Sodium is an important nutrient for overall health, so it's important to consider the sodium level when purchasing bone broth.

Too much sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and other health problems, and it can also have an impact on the flavor of the broth.

For this reason I recommend beef products with less than 220 mg and chicken bone broth powder with less than 180 mg per cup.

Bluebird Provisions is the one product you can find online and on Amazon that ticks all of these boxes.

5. Are There Unnecessary Ingredients?

Yes, there are unnecessary ingredients in some bone broths out there. For example, many commercial broths contain additives such as sugar and gums that are not beneficial for your health.

It’s important to check the ingredient list of a bone broth before you buy to make sure there are no unnecessary ingredients.

The best bone broths are made from just bones and water and may contain vegetables, herbs, and/or spices for added flavor.

Avoid things like 'natural flavors,' yeast extract, dextrose, citric acid, collagen and 'spices'

6. Fresh vs Frozen

When selecting a bone broth, you want to consider how often you use it, how much you need and your storage space.

Fresh and frozen both offer great flavor and nutrition, but they differ in terms of convenience and cost.

Shelf-stable and dehydrated versions are convenient and budget-friendly because they don't need to be refrigerated or frozen.

That being said, some may be laced with preservatives and other additives to extend shelf-life which can affect the flavor. Check your labels and see the point above.

Frozen bone broth can be kept for up to one year, making it ideal for those who drink bone broth daily.

In terms of specific advice I have for you buying bone broth, it really depends on your individual needs and preferences. I use dehydrated for convenience because there are some high quality options out there.

7. Where is it Sourced From?

Sourcing is the big elephant in the room with all food products. Many small scale operations will source from local farms.

But as these companies grow, they outgrow their sources and need to find bigger farms. This is where quality begins to suffer.

All of the big broth brands you have heard of source from large-scale farms overseas and in the USA because they have to.

There is simply not enough bones from small, local farms to sustain their needs.

You should consider the sustainability practices of the company. When in doubt, get in touch and ask.

8. Price Per Ounce or Serving

The price per serving of bone broth can vary greatly between products, ranging from around $1.60 per serving for Bluebird Provisions and up to $4.25 for Kettle & Fire.

9. Trusted Reviews

You might think that you can just look at the brands' website reviews and get an honest assessment of customer feedback. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Brands can manipulate their website reviews, so we have to look at 3rd party websites like Amazon, Wal-mart, Target etc.

Look for longer reviews between 2-4 stars. 1 star reviews that say 'this product is trash' are not helpful.

10. Does the brand make only bone broth? Or a bunch of products?

Here is a bonus one for you to consider. Does the company you're considering make tons of other food products or supplements? Or do they specialize in bone broth.

Companies that specialize in one thing tend to do it better than ones that have dozens, hundreds or thousands of other products.

These companies are what I refer to as 'tourists,' because they are visiting the category to make money.

Do regular grocery stores carry bone broth?

Yes, regular grocery stores carry bone broth. You can find it in the aisle with all the stock, broth and bouillon cubes, usually near the canned soups. It may also be available in the freezer section. If you can't find it them check with the manager.

What are the different types of bone broth?

The most popular types of bone broths are chicken, beef, turkey and bison. Chicken broth is a great option for those who are looking for a lighter, familiar tasting broth that still has plenty of protein and collagen.

A good chicken broth tastes like delicious chicken soup you ate as a child. If it does not, then try a different brand.

Beef bone broth is great for those who prefer a savory, meaty flavor. Turkey and bison broth can be a good alternative for those who don't like the taste of beef or chicken.

Read my primer on the difference between chicken and beef bone broth.

As far as formats go, you can find it in liquid, frozen, powder and pill form. Powdered bone broth is also a great option for those who want more flavor and nutrition but don't want a thick, viscous beverage.

What is the shelf life of bone broth?

The shelf life of bone broth ranges between 14 days for fresh to up to 2 years for shelf stable or frozen. Be sure to check the best before date and storage instructions on the package to make sure it does not go bad.

Keep in mind that brands have different instructions on their package. Refer to the chart below for an idea.

 

Shelf-stable bone broth usually have a use-by date of 12-24 months while fresh bone broths may only last for up to 45 days in the fridge.

For most products (aside from powder and pills) you NEED to refrigerate after opening and it will only last 5-7 days maximum.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to improve your gut and skin health, bone broth is a great option. However, with so many brands and products on the market, it can be hard to know where to start.

Hopefully you got some ideas as to which brands are available in which markets near you.

I'll mention again that you can get the delicious non-gmo chicken bone broth made by Bluebird Provisions on Amazon Prime or on their website.

They also make one for your dog or cat!

Sources:

1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8618064/

2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25926512/

Disclaimer: this information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA or CFIA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your primary care physician for advise on any of this.