Making homemade stock is a rewarding experience. The rich, deep flavor it adds to soups, sauces, and countless other dishes is unmatched by store-bought varieties. But once you’ve strained your stock, you’re left with a pile of bones. What do you do with them? Tossing them in the trash seems wasteful, especially considering the amount of flavor and nutrients still locked inside. Fortunately, there are several creative and resourceful ways to repurpose those bones, turning them into something useful and delicious.
Extracting More Flavor: The Second Simmer
Don’t underestimate the power of a second simmer. Even after the initial stock-making process, there’s still more goodness trapped within the bones. This second extraction yields a lighter, less intense broth, but it’s still incredibly valuable.
How to Perform a Second Simmer
Simply return the bones to your stockpot. Cover them with fresh water, adding any vegetable scraps you might have accumulated (onion peels, carrot tops, celery ends). Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it gently bubble for another 2-3 hours. Strain the broth as before.
Using the Second Broth
This second broth is perfect for everyday cooking. Use it as the base for lighter soups, vegetable stews, or even for cooking grains like rice or quinoa. It adds a subtle depth of flavor without overpowering the dish. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays for convenient single-serving portions.
Making Bone Broth: A Nutrient-Rich Elixir
Bone broth has gained immense popularity in recent years, lauded for its potential health benefits. The extended simmering time allows for the extraction of collagen, gelatin, and essential minerals from the bones.
The Bone Broth Difference
While stock is typically simmered for a shorter duration (2-4 hours), bone broth requires a much longer cooking time, often exceeding 12 or even 24 hours. This prolonged simmer breaks down the bones further, releasing more nutrients into the liquid.
Creating Your Own Bone Broth
To make bone broth, use the same bones you used for stock, or even better, roasted bones. Roasting the bones beforehand adds a richer, more complex flavor. Place the bones in a stockpot or slow cooker, cover them with water, and add a splash of apple cider vinegar (this helps to draw out the minerals). Simmer on low heat for at least 12 hours, or up to 24 hours for maximum nutrient extraction. Strain the broth and discard the bones.
Health Benefits of Bone Broth
Bone broth is believed to be beneficial for gut health, joint support, and skin elasticity, thanks to its high collagen and gelatin content. While more research is needed to confirm these benefits definitively, many people swear by its healing properties.
Bone Char: A Natural Garden Amendment
Bone char, also known as bone black, is a granular material produced by charring animal bones. It’s a valuable soil amendment in the garden, providing phosphorus and other essential nutrients for plant growth.
The Process of Making Bone Char
Making bone char at home requires a high-temperature, oxygen-free environment. This can be achieved in a specialized retort or even a covered metal container placed in a hot fire. The bones are heated until they are completely carbonized, leaving behind a brittle, black material. This is definitely something that requires utmost caution.
Using Bone Char in the Garden
Bone char is a slow-release fertilizer, providing a steady stream of phosphorus to plants over time. It’s particularly beneficial for flowering plants and root vegetables. It also helps to improve soil drainage and aeration. Incorporate bone char into the soil before planting, or use it as a side dressing during the growing season.
Safety Considerations
Making bone char at home can be tricky and potentially dangerous. Always wear appropriate safety gear, including gloves and eye protection, and work in a well-ventilated area. Ensure that the bones are completely carbonized before using the char in your garden.
Rendering Animal Fat: Schmaltz and Lard
Depending on the type of bones you have (chicken, duck, pork), you can often render the remaining fat clinging to them. This rendered fat can be used for cooking, adding a rich, savory flavor to dishes. Chicken fat is known as schmaltz, while rendered pork fat is called lard.
The Rendering Process
Place the bones in a pot with a little water to prevent scorching at the beginning of the process. Cook on low heat until the fat has rendered out. Strain the rendered fat through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth to remove any impurities.
Using Rendered Fat
Schmaltz is a staple in Jewish cuisine, used for frying latkes, roasting vegetables, and adding flavor to soups and stews. Lard is a versatile cooking fat, perfect for frying, baking, and making flaky pie crusts.
Turning Bones into Dog Treats: A Savory Snack for Your Furry Friend
If you have a dog, your leftover bones can be transformed into a delicious and nutritious treat. However, it’s crucial to prepare them properly to avoid any potential hazards.
Bone Safety
Never give cooked bones to dogs without proper preparation. Cooking can make bones brittle and prone to splintering, which can cause serious injuries to your dog’s mouth, throat, or digestive system.
Preparing Bones for Dogs
To safely prepare bones for your dog, bake the bones at a low temperature (around 275°F) for several hours until they are completely dry and hard. This process helps to kill any bacteria and makes the bones less likely to splinter. Always supervise your dog while they are chewing on bones, and discard any small pieces that break off.
Alternative to Baking Bones
Another method is to use the bones to create a bone broth specifically for your dog. Remove the solids, ensuring there are no small bone pieces. You can then serve the broth over their food for a delicious and nutritious boost.
Composting Bones: A Slow but Sustainable Option
Composting bones is a slower process than composting vegetable scraps, but it’s a sustainable way to return nutrients to the soil.
The Composting Process
Break the bones into smaller pieces to speed up the decomposition process. Add them to your compost bin, along with other organic materials like vegetable scraps, leaves, and grass clippings.
Factors Affecting Decomposition
The rate at which bones decompose depends on several factors, including the temperature of the compost pile, the moisture content, and the presence of microorganisms. It can take several months, or even a year, for bones to fully break down in a compost pile.
Benefits of Composting Bones
Composting bones adds calcium and phosphorus to your compost, which are essential nutrients for plant growth. It’s also a way to reduce waste and create a nutrient-rich soil amendment for your garden.
Bone Meal: A Phosphorus-Rich Fertilizer
Bone meal is a natural fertilizer made from ground animal bones. It’s a rich source of phosphorus, which is essential for root development, flowering, and fruit production.
How to Make Bone Meal (Advanced)
Making bone meal at home is possible, but it requires some effort and specialized equipment. The bones must be thoroughly cleaned, dried, and then ground into a fine powder. This can be done using a heavy-duty grinder or blender. Ensure proper safety measures.
Using Bone Meal in the Garden
Bone meal can be used to amend the soil before planting, or as a side dressing for established plants. It’s particularly beneficial for plants that are heavy feeders of phosphorus, such as tomatoes, peppers, and flowering shrubs.
Safety Considerations
When handling bone meal, wear gloves and a dust mask to avoid inhaling the fine particles. Store bone meal in a cool, dry place, away from children and pets.
Decorative Crafts: Repurposing Bones Artistically
For the creatively inclined, bones can be used in various artistic and decorative projects. From jewelry making to sculptural art, the possibilities are endless.
Bone Jewelry
Small, cleaned bones can be transformed into unique and eye-catching jewelry pieces. Drill small holes in the bones and string them onto necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.
Bone Sculptures
Larger bones can be used to create intriguing sculptures and art installations. Experiment with different arrangements and combinations to create unique and thought-provoking pieces.
Ethical Considerations
When using bones for decorative crafts, it’s important to source them ethically and sustainably. Avoid using bones from endangered or protected species.
The Final Verdict: Minimal Waste, Maximum Flavor
Repurposing bones from stock is a testament to resourceful cooking and minimizing waste. Whether you choose to extract more flavor, create nutrient-rich bone broth, enrich your garden, or even craft unique art, there are countless ways to give these culinary byproducts a second life. By embracing these methods, you not only enhance your cooking but also contribute to a more sustainable and eco-conscious kitchen. The key is to ensure proper preparation and safety at each step, transforming what might be considered waste into valuable resources.
FAQ: Can I Re-Simmer Bones After Making Stock?
While it’s tempting to extract every last bit of flavor, bones that have already been simmered for a long period in stock-making typically have yielded most of their collagen and marrow. Attempting to re-simmer them is unlikely to produce a significantly flavorful or gelatinous second batch. You might get a very weak broth, but the effort involved is usually disproportionate to the meager returns.
Instead of re-simmering, focus on creatively utilizing the already-cooked bones. They can be repurposed in ways that don’t rely on extracting further flavor. Consider grinding them (after drying and baking) into a bone meal fertilizer for your garden or explore non-culinary uses for their calcium and mineral content.
FAQ: How Should I Store Bones After Making Stock Before Repurposing?
Proper storage is crucial to prevent spoilage and ensure the safety of any recycled bone material. After you’ve finished making your stock, immediately remove the bones from the pot and allow them to cool to room temperature. Do not leave them out at room temperature for more than two hours to avoid bacterial growth.
Once cooled, store the bones in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator if you plan to use them within a day or two. For longer storage, freeze them. Freezing will prevent them from spoiling and maintain their integrity until you’re ready to use them in your chosen repurposing project, whether it’s bone meal or something else entirely.
FAQ: Is it Safe to Eat the Bone Marrow Extracted from Stock Bones?
Generally, bone marrow extracted from bones used to make stock is safe to consume, provided the stock was made correctly and the bones were handled properly. Stock-making involves simmering the bones at high temperatures for extended periods, which effectively cooks the marrow and kills potential harmful bacteria. The long cooking process renders the marrow soft and flavorful, imparting richness to the stock.
However, exercise caution if the stock-making process was interrupted or the bones were left at room temperature for extended periods. Always ensure the stock reached a safe internal temperature during cooking. If you have any doubts about the safety of the bones or marrow, it’s best to err on the side of caution and discard them rather than risk foodborne illness.
FAQ: What are Some Non-Culinary Uses for Cooked Stock Bones?
Beyond culinary applications, cooked stock bones can be valuable in various non-food related ways. After proper cleaning and processing, they can be transformed into bone meal for use in gardens or compost. The calcium and phosphorus content in bone meal makes it an excellent soil amendment for promoting healthy plant growth, particularly for flowering plants and root vegetables.
Furthermore, artists and crafters can use the bones for creating unique sculptures, jewelry, or other decorative items. The bones can be carved, polished, or painted to create interesting textures and forms. When repurposing bones for non-culinary purposes, ensure they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to prevent any health hazards.
FAQ: Can I Grind Stock Bones Into Bone Broth Powder?
Technically, yes, you could grind the bones used for stock into a powder. However, transforming that powder directly into bone broth powder suitable for consumption is more involved than simply grinding. The bones must be dried thoroughly, often baked at a low temperature to remove all moisture, and then ground into a very fine powder using a high-powered grinder or blender.
Even with careful preparation, the resulting powder might not have the same flavor profile or nutritional value as commercially produced bone broth powder, which often undergoes specific processing techniques to enhance its collagen content and flavor. The resulting powder is more appropriate for use as bone meal in gardening than human consumption.
FAQ: How Do I Prepare Bones for Bone Meal After Making Stock?
Turning spent stock bones into bone meal is a relatively simple process. Begin by rinsing the bones thoroughly under cold water to remove any remaining bits of meat or vegetables. Next, dry the bones completely. This can be done by leaving them in a low oven (around 200°F or 93°C) for several hours, or by leaving them in a dehydrator until they are brittle.
Once the bones are completely dry, they are ready to be ground into a fine powder. Use a high-powered blender, food processor, or even a dedicated bone grinder if you have one. The finer the powder, the more easily it will break down in the soil and release its nutrients. Store the resulting bone meal in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use it in your garden.
FAQ: Are There any Bones That I Shouldn’t Use For Stock or Repurposing?
Generally, most animal bones are suitable for making stock, but some require extra caution. Bones from strong-smelling fish should be avoided, as they can impart an unpleasant flavor to the stock. Similarly, bones from animals that may have been exposed to toxins or chemicals should be avoided due to potential contamination.
In terms of repurposing, any bones that show signs of mold or significant decomposition should be discarded immediately. Be particularly cautious with bones from wild game, as they may carry parasites or diseases. If you are unsure about the source or safety of the bones, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and dispose of them properly.