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Meat Stock: A Step by Step Guide



Meat Stock Vs. Bone Broth


Many often confuse bone broth with meat stock, but they are very different. Bone broth is made with bones and either little to no meat and is usually cooked for a longer period around 24 hours. The longer cooking time for bone broth results in extracting more nutrients from the bone and tissues. Bone broth has a higher amino acid profile and is high in glutamic acid, this can cause a strong detoxification or die off reaction. Meat stock is made using meaty bones and is cooked for a much shorter period of time around one and a half hours up to a maximum of three hours. Meat stock is very gentle on the digestive system and the gelatin and amino acids can quickly heal and seal the gut lining. We do not introduce Bone Broth until the gut lining has been healed and sealed. Meat stock is recommended for those on the Introduction Diet. For more information on Meat Stock Vs. Bone Broth Click Here.


How to Make Meat Stock:


Meat stock is an essential tool on the GAPS Diet Protocol. We make meat stock on a weekly basis in our home. It can be made alone as stock, turned into soup, and stock can be used

as the base when making many other nutritious meals on the GAPS diet. Meat stock is really easy and simple to make. I always advise clients to make two batches at one time. It is worth the investment in purchasing a large stock pot for this purpose. You can add 2-3 whole chickens (however many you can fit) and make meat stock and freeze the excess to thaw and serve later.


Always remember ro invest in organic pasture-raised chicken from a local farmer if possible. The next best option would be an organic chicken. Pasture-raised chickens are much healthier and provide more healing nutrients. Choose the best quality for what you can afford within reason.


Vegetables, herbs, and seasoning should also be organic and local if possible. We want to lessen the toxic load on the body. Use a variety of types & colors of vegetables in your soup/stock.


For chicken meat stock, you can use whole chicken, chicken halves, quarters, feet, necks, backs, etc. As long as you have 80% meaty bones, you are good to go. Chicken feet have a

lot of gelatin and can help give your stock that desirable wiggle of gel you are striving for!


Let's dive in on how you can make your own meat stock!



Equipment:

  • Stock Pot or Dutch Oven

  • Knife

  • Cutting Board

  • Garlic press

  • Sieve

  • Immersion Blender (or any blender will work)

  • Mason Jar or other glass jar for storage



Ingredients:

  • Whole Chicken (I purchase mine from a local farmer with pasture raised chicken) 1-2 teaspoons Sea Salt (or Celtic Sea Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, etc)

  • Handful Black Peppercorns

  • Garlic Cloves

  • 3-4 Carrots, chopped

  • 1-2 Onions, chopped

  • 1-2 Celery Hearts

  • 1 Head of Broccoli

  • Stage appropriate Vegetables

  • Optional: herbs or seasoning (herbs and peppercorns removed on first stages)

  • Filtered water




First, I like to prep my food. If you are planning to make soup with your stock, I like to cut up all of my vegetables and get everything ready to go. You can use any vegetable allowed depending on what stage of the Introduction Diet you are on. For example, here I am using celery. This is a more fibrous vegetable, and you would not want to add this to your soups until stage 5 of the Intro Diet. You can use onion, borccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, celery (but again being mindful that things like celery are left out until later on)






Cut your chicken at the joints, to expose the marrow. This is not essential, but it helps to release more of the nutrients into the stock. I cut my chicken right at the joint of the leg exposing the marrow on both sides (see photos)











Here is a photo of the joint cut and marrow exposed. You will now place your whole chicken in your stock pot along with the giblets, etc.









Add filtered water to the stock pot. Having clean, filtered water is an important factor that we may not necessarily think about before being on GAPS. We use our Berkey Water Filter in our house for drinking and cooking and will be using it here as well.











You will want just enough water to cover your chicken. Too much water and your stock will be too diluted and not get the "gel" you are working for. No more than about an inch over the top of your meat.