Help! my bone both tastes like...

divemunkey

nothing.

Never made it before, but I baked 10 or so beef marrow bones for an hour at 350, then transferred them to the crockpot, covered with water and cooked on low for 12 hours, then added some carrots and celery and cooked for 24 more hours. I turned it off and strained it, then let it cool in the fridge, and now all I have is a brown liquid with a thick fat layer on top. I thought it was supposed to look like jello under a fat layer? Did I do something wrong? I didn't know what I expected it to taste like, but it's kinda watery and tastes faintly of carrots. was tasty with a dash of garlic powder and salt, though...

Thoughts?

freerange

Most of the flavor is in the "jello" on top. You didn't throw that part away did you? You might need to cook it down more if it's watery tasting. Did the bones have any meat on them? Did you add any seasoning, salt, pepper? Spices, like a bay leaf, parsley?

justaspoonfulofsugar

I make bone broth but always season well,thyme(fresh)bay leaves,good quality salt(it will need a lot),cracked pepper,onions,garlic,carrots..i cook on the stove top for 12 hours and then strain...it will be very gelatinous when it's cold and is very flavourful

divemunkey

I thought the fat on top was just fat. I used a bit to cook some meat. I haven't thrown it out or anything. There wasn't much meat on them. What I read was that you were supposed to skim the fat off the top and reserve it for cooking, and what was left was supposed to be gelatin that warmed to a liquid. Mine is just liquid. I didn't season it on purpose because I wanted it to be versatile. I was just surprised it didn't have any depth to it.

divemunkey

Nevermind, I forgot the freaking apple cider vinegar, so it didn't leach enough out of the bone to make it the right consistency. I also need a knuckle, I think.

caribougal

You'll get it. My first batch was also bland and no gelatin. Beef marrow bones don't have much cartilage and I think you need the cartilage to get the gelatin consistency. The top layer you got was fat. You can use that for cooking but it might not have a ton of flavor.

Save up bones as you cook steaks, and leave a little meat and cartilage on. You can even do a mix of beef and lamb bones.

Good luck.

divemunkey

Thanks. I can't afford lamb, and I don't really like it all that much anyway, but I do have a big bag of pastured pork neck bones a friend gave me. I think that will be attempt number 2 this week. I also think a knuckle will help get that gelatin too. I think this might be my new thing... making bone broth every week until i get it right (and then some!).

nmtGurl

I must have gotten lucky. I made bone broth for the first time 2 wks ago. I used just raw beef marrow bones with some garlic in a crock pot for over 24 hrs. After it cooled it got gelatinous and I had to skim off a thick layer of fat. I noticed at about 12 hrs I had to add more salt since it didn't have much taste. After 24 hrs, that's when it started having more flavor, but it still needed something more.

I've been saving veg scraps, like Caribougal recommended and will add them the next time. I bet it will make a big difference.

I have also been saving bones from other meals, does it matter if the bones are raw or already cooked?

divemunkey

YOu can use cooked or raw bones. I have immense guilt over using raw marrow bones, too, as I like to give them to my dogs. Looks like they are gonna have to share. I forgot the vinegar, so that's probably why mine didn't have the right consistency.

nmtGurl

LOL! Divemunkey, I do too! I feed my dog a raw diet. (If I'm grain free, why should I feed it to him) Poor guy gets all excited when I take meat out to thaw or cook and I feel bad when I have to say it's not for him. Or trying to remember, "Did I get that for him or us?" :laugh:

But glad I can use cooked or raw bones for broth.

divemunkey

I bought some pork brisket for them AND my next batch of broth today, too bad they have to wait, they have a tummy bug, so they are fasting under protest tonight. I actually went paleo because I felt like a hypocrite feeding them properly, but not myself!