Do This for Thicker, Richer Homemade Chicken Stock (2024)

FAQs

Do This for Thicker, Richer Homemade Chicken Stock? ›

Acid is the Secret to Richer, Thicker Chicken Stock

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot.

Bring the stock to a boil over high heat, then turn down to a simmer. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Add the vinegar. (It helps draw out nutrients and minerals from the bones into the stock.)

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says.

That minimum ratio—a pound of chicken per quart of water—was sufficient to extract enough gelatin from the wings to give me the loosely gelled stock above. If you can pack in even more chicken and aromatics, your stock will only get richer and more gelatinous.

Unlike broth, stock is based on bones rather than meat. It is made by boiling bones or cartilage in water for many hours, which allows the bone marrow and collagen to be released. This gives stock a thicker, more gelatinous consistency than broth.

Using a Thickening Agent

Mix a tablespoon (7.5 g) of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of cold water for each cup of broth. Once fully combined, add slurry a little at a time, stirring constantly. Bring the broth to a boil. Keep stirring the slurry in until the broth is almost the thickness you want.

Acid is the Secret to Richer, Thicker Chicken Stock

Acid also helps extract more nutrients from the bones, giving you an extra-wholesome product. All you need to do is add a splash (about a tablespoon or two) to your stockpot when you add all the other ingredients and let everything simmer as you usually do.

Whisk vinegar, Italian seasoning, oil, salt and pepper in a bowl until well combined. Place chicken in a shallow dish or 1-gallon sealable plastic bag. Add the marinade, toss to coat and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 12 hours.

Which adds more flavor stock or broth? ›

Stock has a richer, deeper flavor and mouthfeel, making it better at adding body to a dish, whereas broth might be a better choice when you want to let other flavors to shine.

I've found that two hours is a good amount of time for simmering chicken stock. A good amount of flavor is extracted from the chicken, but it's not an all-day affair. Just make sure you taste the stock, as it may need a little more time to get it to where you want it.

Luckily, fixing this is super easy — just keep the heat on and if you've had a lid on your stock pot, take it off now. This will allow water vapors to escape the broth as it simmers away, leaving you with a more concentrated flavor.

Consider using methods like making a roux, blending beans or legumes, using bread, adding egg yolk, pureeing vegetables, incorporating heavy cream or coconut milk, adding potato flakes or starch, or making a slurry with cornstarch or arrowroot to thicken soups without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Powders and flours. Cornstarch, arrowroot, common wheat flour, and the flours or powders made from potato, tapioca, chickpea — to name but a few — long have been used to thicken cooking liquids. (Gelatins and gums also can play a similar role.)

Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.