Why You Should Reconsider Buying Beef Broth At The Grocery Store - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

Why You Should Reconsider Buying Beef Broth At The Grocery Store - Tasting Table? ›

Tests of commercial brands, even high-end ones, often had no beef flavor and bitter, burnt notes. Most beef broth bought in a store is produced by large-scale generic distributors, who sell very weak stock to brands, who then use chemists to increase flavor with concentrated or distilled additives.

Simmer with fresh herbs.

Bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, sage, lemongrass, and lime leaves are simple upgrades to store-bought stock. Also consider saving herb stems for quickly simmering in soup broth instead of using whole herbs.

Why Homemade Bone Broth is Healthier than Store-bought. While store-bought stocks and broths aren't always artificial, they are processed and rely on additives and shortcuts to try to mimic the flavor of a homemade stock.

Bone Broth Benefits

Bone broth contains small amounts of the amino acid glycine, which may promote relaxation and deeper, more restorative sleep. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. Its braided, chain-like structure helps it strengthen a variety of tissues, including skin, bones, muscles, and tendons.

Both beef and chicken broth are packed with essential nutrients. Beef broth is known for its high protein content, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. It also contains significant amounts of collagen, a protein that supports healthy skin, hair, and joints.

Woody herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, tarragon, and marjoram release tons of flavor as they slowly simmer in stock. Give them a rinse and toss in a big handful of sprigs per quart of store-bought stock.

A little salt and pepper can go such a long way towards creating a delicious, flavorful broth. Other popular seasonings include herbs like bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, parsley, savory, sage, and basil. Turmeric, cayenne pepper, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor and possibly even some nutritional benefits.

Take note that soups, broths and stocks are notorious for being loaded with sodium so check the labels before purchasing, and look for varieties that are labeled "low sodium" or "unsalted" as you can easily add your salt if needed.

Store-Bought Beef Broth typically comes in cans or cartons, offering a more consistent flavor. Properly stored in a pantry, unopened broth can last 1-2 years past the expiration date, whereas an opened container should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge and used within 3-4 days.

What is the difference between Swanson's cooking stock and broth? Technically speaking, homemade broth is made from meat, bones, and vegetables, while stock is made strictly from bones and vegetables.

What are the pros and cons of bone broth? ›

The pros of bone broth are that it can improve sleep, blood sugar control, skin health and energy levels. On the other hand, the cons are that it: You may not be drinking a real one. This is the number one issue with it.

You'll most likely prefer drinking a broth over a stock.

Your typical stock has more gelatin and nutrients but slightly less flavour than stock. The gelatin is produced via the gentle breakdown of collagen from the bones during a long simmer at low heat.

While it's been claimed that bone broth can help fix or heal gut problems, there is “no robust scientific evidence available yet suggesting that bone broth changes the gut microbiome in any way,” Dr. Shah says. Still, some studies done in rodents have found that bone broth may promote digestive health.

Also, most bone broths are high in sodium, which can be bad for your heart if you have too much. One serving of broth can provide about 20% of your daily sodium requirement, depending on the recipe.

Bone broth is generally safe to drink every day if consumed in moderation and as part of a nutritious, omnivorous diet, says Millstine. If you have any food allergies, always check the label.

The Bottom Line. Consider incorporating bone broth into your regular routine for its many benefits, including reduced inflammation, improved bone health, better joint support and a healthier gut.

To make your beef broth taste even 'beefier', simply add two extra ingredients (ironically, neither of which are beef!). Rub your bones in tomato paste before roasting along with chicken necks. Our favorite ratio is one pack of Chicken Necks to every 10 pounds of beef bones rubbed with 6 oz. paste.

There are so many ways to go with spices. You can add whole allspice berries, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon sticks to the broth while heating and strain them out before serving.

You can extract a clean, strong broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand—bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parmesan rind, and, of course, kosher salt.

So, when you're not up for brewing a whole potful of gelatin-rich broth, you can simply bloom some powdered gelatin in boxed or canned stock—about one and a half teaspoons per cup of stock will do the trick.