Bone Broth vs. Stock vs. Broth: What’s the Difference?
Bone broth, stock, broth—there are so many different terms out there for what looks like the same thing at first glance. However, these broths and stocks have some key differences. Here’s a breakdown of those differences and some tips on making broths and stocks.
Bone Broth vs. Stock vs. Broth: A Quick Comparison Chart
| Bone Broth | Broth | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uses | Delicious as a sippable snack, grains, pasta, stir-frys, or beans | Soups, risottos, quinoa, grains, and pasta dishes | Sauces, gravies, braises, and marinades |
| Typical Ingredients | Roasted bones | Roasted or raw meaty bones and vegetables | Roasted bones or shells and vegetables |
| Cooking time | 24-48 hours | 2-4 hours | 8-12 hours |
Bone Broth vs. Stock
The two biggest differences between bone broth and stock are that bone broth can be sipped and it’s a bit more complicated to make from scratch. After all, bone broth is made from roasted animal bones and must be slow-simmered for 24 to 48 hours, compared to a stock’s 8 to 12-hour simmer time. However, the result is a delicious, satisfying, highly sippable snack.
How to Make Bone Broth
Excellent recipes can be found in a variety of online resources, but the process looks like this:
- Beef, lamb, pork, chicken or turkey bones are blanched for 20 minutes.
- Next, these bones are roasted for 45 minutes.
- Finally, the bones are placed into a giant stock pot and simmered for 24 to 48 hours.
While this process takes a while, the results are deliciously rewarding. For an easier road, Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Bone Broth is already made for sipping.
Bone Broth vs. Broth
The basic difference between bone broth and broth is that bone broth must feature roasted bones. Broth on the other hand can be made with more than just roasted bones.
How to Make Broth
While roasted bones are typically included in broth, it can also include raw meaty bones and even chunks of meat. With the addition of some aromatic vegetables and water, it’s ready to go. Some recipes suggest simmering the mixture for four to six hours, but others say that as little as 30 minutes to two hours is enough.
Broth vs. Stock
Broth and stock are pretty similar. Both are used as ingredients for soups and other savory dishes. The biggest difference is that broth can be a finished product all on its own, and stock is something that starts a soup or adds to other savory dishes, infusing both moisture and flavor.
How to Make Stock
Stock doesn’t take as long to make as bone broth, but at eight to 12 hours of simmering time, it’s still quite an undertaking. Just like with bone broth, it makes sense to roast the bones first and then complete the simmering process. Here’s a delicious stock recipe to get started.
Are Vegetable Stock and Broth the Same Thing?
There are some differences between vegetable stock and broth. A key difference is consistency. Broth is usually thinner, and stock is more gelatinous, so they have different effects in recipes.
Broth brings other flavors in a dish forward. It’s also common to sip broth all on its own. Stock makes the texture of a dish slightly more creamy.
Of course, another difference will be ingredients, depending on how a stock or broth is made. For example, vegetable stock is vegetable-based while broth might be chicken-based.
Common Broth & Stock Questions
Here are the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions about stock, broth, and bone broth.
Can Bone Broth Replace Stock or Vice Versa?
Yes. Bone broth can be used as a stock or stock can even be sipped like bone broth in a pinch.
Is Bone Broth Better than Regular Broth?
As far as taste goes, bone broth is typically more flavorful and appetizing to drink. It can be a tasty and convenient snack all on its own. It also contains collagen protein which makes it appealing to those looking for a sippable and satisfying snack. Bone broth gets its extra collagen during the roasting step, which pulls more collagen from the bones.
Is Bouillon the Same as Bone Broth?
Bouillon is the French word for broth. So, in essence, simple broth is very similar to bone broth. However, bone broth is specifically simmered using roasted bones for a longer period of time.
Is Making Broth or Stock From Scratch Worth the Time?
There will always be purists who want to pursue and perfect recipes for bone broth, stock and broth. Most cooks, however, have time limitations. Others don’t want to risk a long project that may or may not yield a consistent result.
For many cooks, since so many excellent options are now available, pre-made bone broth, stock and broth often make more sense. However, those who wish to try their hand at making broth, stock or bone broth themself can go for it!
Making Meals Tastier and Life Easier
Bone broth, stock and broth are all incredibly delicious ingredients to improve the flavor of favorite meals. To save time, it’s a good idea to make sure there’s always plenty of Pacific broths, stocks, and bone-broths on hand.
