Making homemade stock isn't just a sustainable exercise in zero-waste cooking; it's also (basically) free. By stashing stray vegetable odds and ends in a resealable gallon bag in the freezer, when stock o'clock strikes, home cooks will already have everything they need on hand. From onion scraps to bits of shallots, celery, carrots, leeks, mushrooms, herb stems, and even peels and roots, you can toss it all in the bag, and (later) into the stock pot.
Long after the last forkful, there are still ways for a prime rib's savory richness to continue blessing your kitchen. Leftover meat gets shredded into tacos and instant ramen, drippings become au jus and gravy, and the bones? That's your secret to a deeply flavorful beef stock. Discarded far too often, their hidden richness goes to waste in the bottom of the trashcan, when really, it should already be simmering on the stovetop, giving all your future soups and stews the most hearty base imaginable.
How is bone broth different from other broths and stocks? To put it simply, regular broth is a liquid made by simmering meats, vegetables, and herbs in water. The simmering time is typically up to two hours. Stock is like broth, but bones are often added, and it's simmered longer, often up to six hours. Bone broth is basically stock (bones, water, and sometimes vegetables and herbs) that's simmered for an extended time - up to 48 hours. This lengthy simmering gives the bones time to release gelatin and collagen, enriching the liquid with protein and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.