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Instant Pot Bone Broth is a faster way to make homemade bone broth while still maintaining all of the nutrients. Learn how to make your own and reap the health benefits!
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I've been seeing a functional medicine doctor for a few months to help with my migraines/nausea/joint pain. One of the many things he suggested I start doing is regularly drinking bone broth for its nutritional benefits. While you can buy bone broth at most grocery stores, making your own is more cost-effective and even easier when made in the Instant Pot!
Bone broth vs. stock
Ok so before we can get into how to make bone broth, we should probably distinguish the difference between broth--that is, chicken/beef/vegetable broth you typically buy for soups--and bone broth. Both are made by simmering vegetables, water and bones, but bone broth is specifically simmered for a longer period of time to get as much nutrition out of the bones as possible.
See, bones contain lots of collagen, which is good for strengthening your hair, nails, joints, and protecting the gut lining. Plenty of people take collagen supplements, which are great, but bone broth is also a really easy way for you to get your daily dose of collagen.
Instant Pot bone broth ingredients
Bones: You can't make bone broth without bones! Choosing quality bones is key, so try to use bones from grass-fed meat whenever possible. Bones from different animals, along with the specific kinds of bones, each have their own benefits, so don't stress out about choosing the "right" bones because they're all great. The first time I made homemade bone broth, I used short rib bones and the broth was delicious, and the second time I used pig feet, which resulted in a high-collagen broth. For more info on the benefits of kind of bone, check out this post.
Vegetables: Almost all broth--store-bought and homemade--contains vegetables for added nutrients and flavor. This broth uses carrots, celery, onion, and garlic, though the main focus is still on the bones. If you have vegetable scraps like the ends of the carrots/onions/etc., try adding those in vs. buying fresh vegetables (you can buy fresh veggies, but scraps work too!).
Vinegar: Vinegar helps to draw out the minerals from the bones, which ultimately makes the broth more nutritious. I used apple cider vinegar because I think the flavor is less intense than other vinegars, but the recipe only calls for one tablespoon, so ANY vinegar works!
Tips for making Instant Pot bone broth
Always roast the bones first! As someone who loves taking shortcuts when cooking, it can be tempting to skip this step, but don't! Roasting the bones beforehand caramelizes them, which essentially means more flavor.
Make sure to natural release the Instant Pot, then quick release. Since broth is liquid, if you quick release right away, liquid will spray up from the steam release valve, which we don't want!
Be careful not to put steaming hot liquid directly into the refrigerator. Pour the broth from the Instant Pot through a strainer and into a large bowl, then add a handful of ice cubes to it and wait for them to melt. No, the ice won't dilute the broth (trust me, it'll still be plenty flavorful). Basically, you want the broth to be warm instead of hot when it goes into the refrigerator.
Ways to use bone broth
- Drinking it as-is in a mug (my favorite way!)
- Using it for soup
- Use it in place of water when cooking rice/quinoa
How to store bone broth
After your bone broth is made, you have a few options:
- You can drink it (duh!). The problem with this option is that you're going to end up with a lot of bone broth and it's nearly impossible to drink it all in on sitting. So, while you can drink a cup of two right after it's made, it's best to store most of it for later.
- It can be placed in the refrigerator. Homemade bone broth stays fresh in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, so this is a great option if you plan on drinking the broth in a timely manner.
- You can freeze it. Maybe you want to batch prep bone broth but don't necessarily want or need it right now. If that's the case, freezing it is the best thing to do. NOTE: you can't transfer the broth directly from the Instant Pot to the freezer because the drastic temperature change will cause whatever container you pour the broth into to break! So, if you're planning on freezing broth, make sure it goes from the Instant Pot --> refrigerator --> freezer.
Other healthy Instant Pot recipes
Instant Pot Bone Broth
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs. bones**
- 1 carrot
- 1 celery stalk
- 3 garlic cloves smashed
- ½ yellow or white onion chopped
- 2 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray, then place the bones onto the baking sheet, making sure there's little to no meat left on the bones. Roast the bones for 15 minutes, then flip them over and roast for an additional 15 minutes. This will give them more flavor, which ultimately equals a more flavorful broth.
- Add the bones, along with the rest of the ingredients, to your Instant Pot, then fill water up to the ⅔ line in your IP. Pressure cook for 90 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes before pressure releasing.
- Wait at least 15 minutes before pouring the broth through a strainer and into a large bowl. Then, add an entire ice cube tray to it and wait for the ice to melt. Basically, you don't want to transfer boiling hot broth directly into the fridge; instead, you want it to cool a bit.
- Once it's warm instead of hot, pour the broth into jars and place the jars in the refrigerator, then the next day transfer 1-2 of them into the freezer. Bone broth stays fresh in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, so if you plan on drinking it all, keep it in the fridge, but otherwise, transfer it to the freezer and enjoy it later.
Ana says
I heard that in order to get all the collagen, you should cook the bones for at least 12 hours. Are you sure you get all the benefits when cooking for just 90 min?