Learn how to make the best bone broth in the instant pot with this simple tutorial. Bone broth is nourishing, gut healing and the perfect liquid, in which to simmer away vegetables and meat into a delicious homemade soup.
![two jars of homemade bone broth in mason jars on a white quartz countertop with a gray dutch oven in the background](https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/homemade-bone-broth-15-1024x683.jpg)
It is known to be an effective immune booster, which is the reason mom reached for the chicken noodle soup when you were sick as a kid.
Homemade bone broth is not liquid when made properly.
Unfortunately, the liquid chicken broth you find in boxes on grocery store shelves, doesn’t have the same healing properties as bone broth.
When bones are simmered for long periods of time, gelatin is pulled from them, causing the jello like consistency.
The stuff you find in the grocery store simply isn’t made with the health benefits in mind.
Bone broth has a special place in the meal rotation here at the farmhouse. I love the simplicity of a homemade soup.
From cheeseburger soup, to pumpkin, roasted red pepper and tomato soup and more. It is a staple, no matter the season.
Packing so many vegetables an broth into a cozy, nourishing one-pot meal is a no-brainer for me. Less dishes. More nutrition. I’m all there.
Plus, I love being able to use every part of the chicken. I pay good money for organic, pasture raised chickens.
The last thing I want to do is throw away the leftovers bits of meat and bones, when they are still packed with nutrition.
Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth
I have been making chicken broth on the stovetop for years now. The process is simple. Simmer bones in water for at least 24 hours.
The problem is I always need all my stovetop space.
As a family of 8, it isn’t practical to have one large stock pot and burner constantly occupied with simmering broth.
Also, I didn’t really like leaving the burner on at all times. It was on while we left the house and overnight. It felt like the fire hazard.
Recently, I started making my go-to recipe in the Instant Pot, and I don’t think I will be going back to my old way. It gets it done in way less time and I get my burner back.
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Health Benefits Of Bone Broth
- Reduce joint pain and inflammation.
- Help skin elasticity.
- May help support the immune system.
- Help gut health including leaky gut by tightening the junctions
- It is very nutritious and full of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Each batch will vary on how much nutrients are in it.
FAQ:
Can you leave bone broth in Instant Pot overnight?
Yes. After it has cooked, set it on warm for 10 hours.
I will frequently let it go during the day, and then when it’s done cooking set it to warm for 10 hours when I don’t want to deal with it at the moment.
Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook bone broth?
The most important aspect is that you can get the broth to gel. So whether you use the slow cooker or pressure cooker to make your broth, you want it to gel for the most health benefits.
The slow cooker can accommodate more bones, but it loses more liquid in the cooking process, and can contain toxic substances like lead (this is more likely in older models).
Is a pressure cooker good for bone broth?
Yes. I love using the pressure cooker because you set it and forget it, plus its made from non-toxic stainless steal, plus it gives you amazing broth.
Should I skim fat off bone broth?
No. This is delicious and healthy fat. While some people recommend it for flavor purposes, I like to leave mine to add extra nutrients. You could also skim it off to use the fat for cooking.
Can I use the fat from bone broth?
Yes. Use it for pan frying, sautรฉing, or just leave it in when making soups.
Is drinking bone broth everyday good for you?
Bone broth is full of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is also has many health benefits making it a delicious choice, good for everyday.
Can you freeze broth?
Yes. After it has been cooked and cooled you can freeze it. I will usually freeze it in a quart size mason jar leaving a few inches of headroom to allow for expansion (a ziplock freezer bag will also work. If you don’t leave any space at the top, your mason jar will likely break.
You can also freeze it in table spoon portions in a silicon mold. That way if you only need a little bit to flavor a dish you have already portioned out cubes.
Ingredients:
Chicken or Beef Bones: I prefer chicken. They are easier to come by since I’m constantly making whole chicken for dinner and tend to be cheaper. You can even use chicken feet, see that post here.
Filtered Water – I use my Berkey Water Filter
Apple cider vinegar: Optional. This adds flavor and can help draw out the minerals in the bones.
Vegetable scraps: Like celery leaves and carrot peels: Optional. It adds flavor, color, and nutrients to the stock. When you are chopping veggies for other meals you can place the bottoms of tops of the veggies (that would normally be tossed in the trash anyhow) into a zip-lock bag and place in the freezer. When you go to make broth you have free veggies to use.
Tools You May Need:
How To Make The Best Instant Pot Bone Broth
Add Veggies, Bones, And Water
- Fill the Instant Pot with your bones of choice. I fill the stainless steel pot about 3/4 of the way up with bones. A good example of bones used in this scenario is approximately two chicken carcasses.
- You can also use bones from legs only, thighs only, etc. If you made barbecue chicken legs, when you are done eating, throw the bones in a ziplock bag and into the freezer. Any bones you can add to the pot will work great.
- It is also ok to mix bones from different animals in the same pot. No harm, no foul.
- Cover the bones with water. Make sure the water isn’t too high above the bones. For the broth to gel, it is important to have a water to bone ratio that isn’t too high.
- Watch the video to see how many bones and water I add for bone broth that effectively gels.
- Add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The acidic vinegar pulls nutrients from the bones into the broth water.
Set The Instant Pot
- Press the soup button on the Instant Pot. Set it to low pressure and the maximum cooking time of 120 minutes. Repeat three times.
- The first time I made bone broth in the Instant Pot it didn’t gel. I was disappointed. Turns out it just needs more time. Repeat the low pressure soup button two more times. Run it through the cycle a total of three times.
- If a cycle happens to finish while you are sleeping or out and about, no worries. It will just go to warm. Sometimes I get through the whole process in six hours.
- Sometimes I let it sit on warm between cycles and the process is stretched out for 24 hours.
Straining it off
- Take the lid off the Instant Pot and press the cancel button to turn it off. Allow it to cool slightly before straining it off. Just be sure to put it in a place on your counter where you won’t forget about it. Not that I’ve done that….twice.
- Once the broth is cool enough to work with, place a stainless steel strainer over a large bowl. Strain off the bones.
- If you have chickens, they love to eat whats left. Little cannibals.
- Pour the broth into half gallon jars. I find a funnel is helpful for this.
- Store them in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- I usually make one gallon at a time.
Which bones are best for homemade bone broth?
I like the taste of chicken broth best. Any bones will work.
Beef soup bones usually have more fat. There will be a thick layer of tallow at the top of the jar, after it is refrigerated.
How To Get Bones For Bone Broth
- Always eat meat with bones. Don’t buy boneless skinless chicken breasts. They are all white meat and pretty flavorless. Plus, they won’t give you any bones for broth. I make a whole chicken a couple times a week. That provides most the bones I need.
- Find a local farmer who you can purchase meat from. My sister and I usually split a whole cow a couple times per year. The meat processor charges a very small amount to throw in the bones.
- Ask local farmers what they do with the extra bones that people don’t want.
- I hear Whole Foods sells bones in the freezer section. I’d be willing to bet they will cost you an arm and a leg.
How To Use Bone Broth
Adding broth to dishes helps boost flavor and nutritional value. Some of my favorite ways to use it in cooking include:
- Soup
- Stews
- Cook rice, couscous, risotto, quinoa, etc. in broth for added flavor.
- Baste a chicken or turkey in it.
- Use it in place of water in savory Instant Pot or Crock-Pot dishes.
- Make our families’ favorite Sourdough Stuffing or Chicken Pot Pie.
Find Delicious Recipes With Broth:
- Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Split Pea Soup
- Tomato Soup From Scratch
- Homemade Creamy Chicken And Gnocchi Soup
- Chicken Marsala Soup
- Sausage Sauerkraut Soup
- Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice Soup
- Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Split Pea Soup
- Tomato Soup From Scratch
- Homemade Creamy Chicken And Gnocchi Soup
- Chicken Marsala Soup
- Sausage Sauerkraut Soup
- Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice Soup
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Bone Broth
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon water
- 2 lbs chicken bones
- Veggie scraps onions, celery, carrots, etc.
- Herbs parsley, thyme, basil, etc.
- Peppercorns
- 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Place the chicken bones into the Instant Pot and pour over water with veggie scraps and apple cider vinegar.
- Add lid and set to seal.
- Set to low pressure for 240 minutes.
- Once the time is up, set it again for 240 minutes.
- When it is done cooking, you can either allow it to naturally release or flip the valve to venting.
- Strain off the broth using a fine mesh strainer and store broth in the fridge.
Notes
- This will store for up to a week in the refrigerator. Or you can freeze for up to 6 months.
Sue says
I have a Ninja 9:1 I can slow cook & pressure cook, doesnโt have a soup function so just wondering what option to use, bit confused, can anyone give some advice please?
TIA
Sue
Lisa Baker says
I was wondering emptying out my moms freezer and I found smoked pork neck bones, ham bones, with extra ham, salt pork and beef bones. I plan to roast bones and meat first but can I mix this all together for bone broth or keep pork and beef separate?
Lisa Bass says
I would separate pork from beef.
Anna says
This is has been my go-to guide for bone broth, and now I’m *really* doing a “Lisa”. I cooked it for six hours, left it on warm for 10, and then needed it to stay hot so restarted a cycle for two hours. I noticed the recipe section says two cycles of 240 minutes, so that is eight hours. I don’t know if that was intentional because it says six hours in the description above. I’m hoping it’s okay this way. Anyway, I’m ready now to hit cancel, natural release, and strain at only 21 minutes into the last two hour cycle. I think it will be great.
Paul says
Hi Lisa, I am also wondering about the time. Is it three intervals of 120mins (6hrs) or two intervals of 240 mins (8hrs)? I want to maximize flavour and nutritional benefits, but i hear cooking it too long with a pressure cooker can destroy nutrients and alter proteins.
Does keeping it warm for 10 hours yield more flavour and nutrients?
Lisa Bass says
You can do either. Sometimes keeping it on a lower setting like warm, can help produce more flavor for sure. My key is lots of salt to bring out the flavor!
Anna says
Hello. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
I have followed your instructions to make chicken bone broth, but mine looks so much darker.It tastes good, but I don’t understand why it doesn’t have that beautiful golden color. Do you know what may have caused it?
Lisa says
Have the bones been roasted prior? If you use a rotisserie chicken or something that has been roasted like that, it can produce a darker bone broth. Still equally delicious! I’ve also read that certain onion peels can make it darker too.
Pat Baucom says
Can you pressure can the bone broth when it’s finished in the instant pot.
Lisa Bass says
Yes, you can use a pressure canner to can the bone broth. Just not the instant pot to can them. ๐
Nikki Jackson says
Is it possible to pressure can this?
Nikki Jackson says
***oopsโฆjust saw someone elseโs question concerning canning. Thank you! Love this recipe!
olivia says
Hi! Could you also use a regular crock pot for this? thank you!
Lisa says
You can use a crock pot for bone broth, but it will take a lot longer.
Leah Emmett says
Is there Nutritional benefit to doing it on low in chunks versus just high?
Lisa says
Yes, it can help to retain more of the nutritional benefit, but it also helps the flavor by doing it low and slow.
Lesley Gillett says
HI Lisa.
First up – I love your Farmhouse on Boone blogging. I discovered you a couple of months ago while I was recovering from a winter cold… I think your blog actually made my recovery faster! So, to my reason for contacting you: Ive just made a bone broth following your instructions and it is delicious. However, I looked a t a few other sites and some of the other ‘brothers’ are very very explicit about th eneed to add two other steps to this process: (i) blanching the bones and then (ii) roasting them…..Surely life is too short for all this extra work?….Id love to hear your thoughts. xx Lesley from Maleny, Australia.
Lisa says
That seems like a lot of extra work… I’ve done it this way for years. The bones are technically cooked since I make whole chickens and then take off the meat. I know for beef broth, when you just buy soup bones it is recommended to bake the bones first. But since the chicken is cooked first I don’t worry about the extra steps. Hope that helps. And glad you are enjoying the blog.
Rahzyy says
Question!
So local farmers are charging about $20 for a whole chicken which is really hard for my family. Will it still be beneficial if I get a whole free range chicken from whole foods? Is there a good in store option for whole chickens?
Lisa says
Yes. It is still nutritious with lots of vitamins and minerals.
Judy says
Hi Lisa: when you say to leave the broth on keep warm for 10 hours, what level would you set the โkeep warmโ at? Low, medium or high? (The IP DUO PLUS has three settings) thanks again for all the wonderful information. This is my first instant pot recipe ever!!
Lisa says
Mine doesn’t have that option, but medium or high would be fine.