Best Way to Freeze Beef Stock

Save time and money and increase the nutrient density of your foods by keeping a supply of bone broth on hand at all times. Here are 3 ways to freeze bone broth, plus the pros and cons of each method so you can effectively choose the best way to freeze broth for you!

With a supply of bone broth, you're one step closer to easier meals this week!
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Bone broth is a staple food that I make on an almost weekly basis.

It's a nutrient-dense food that's also cheap. I use bone broth for cooking rice, beans, and quinoa, for soups, for sauces, and for drinking.

Therefore, if I ever run out of bone broth, it's kind of apocalyptic!

I enjoy making large batches of broth in my Instant Pot and freezing it — ensuring that I always have a good supply whenever it's needed.

Furthermore, readers of All The Nourishing Things will recall that I do 3-day bone broth fasts from time to time. I utilize one or more of these freezing methods to prep for my fast, ensuring that I have all the broth I need!

3 Ways to Freeze Bone Broth

So, what's the best way to freeze bone broth?

There's more than one way to skin a cat, and there's more than one way to freeze bone broth!

Here are 3 ways to freeze bone broth. I often employ 2 of these 3 methods whenever I'm cooking and freezing broth (usually #2 and #3).

First, you'll read through the how. Then, I've listed the pros and cons of each method.

You can decide which way or ways to freeze bone broth are best for your needs.

#1 — Glass Jars

Here's how to freeze bone broth in glass jars:

• Wait until the broth has cooled to at least room temperature.
• Pour the cooled broth into the jar, and leave 1 full inch of head space (space from the top of the broth to the top of the jar).
• Screw the lid on the jar.
• Set the jar upright in the freezer — not laying on its side.

Full disclosure: This happens to be my least favorite way to freeze bone broth…

I haven't had much success with it because my jars almost always crack in the freezer!

Also, I like to have easy access to my jars for storing leftovers, applesauce, homemade nut butters, salad dressing, smoothies, and such. So, I don't like it when they're tied up in the freezer.

Pros of freezing bone broth in jars:

• food never touches plastic
• jars are re-usable, so less waste
• metal gasket lids with rings create an airtight seal

Cons of freezing bone broth in jars:

• jars frequently crack, even when you leave plenty of headspace
• when jars crack, this creates waste
• can't use the broth until it's completely thawed
• freezing in jars ties up the jars so they can't be used for other tasks
• a frozen quart or pint of broth doesn't actually equal a full pint or quart, so measurements could be slightly off
• broth thaws really slowly

#2 — Zip-top Bags

Here's how to freeze broth in zip-top bags:

• Wait until the broth has cooled to room temperature.
• Always write the date and amount of broth on the bag BEFORE adding the broth.
• Measure the amount of broth you'd like to freeze and pour it into the bag size of your choice.
• Squeeze all the air out of the bag and press the seal to close. Make sure it's sealed all the way across!
• Lie flat in the freezer.
• When totally frozen, stand it up like a book on a shelf.

This is my very favorite way to freeze bone broth!

My only tip? Make sure you get high quality bags with GOOD seals. After trying many brands, the Up & Up brand from Target is the best, in my opinion. Yes, even better than Ziploc!

I have also figured out that freezing the bags lying flat, then standing them up in the freezer, creates a bookshelf or file of broth that takes up less freezer space and makes it quick to take an inventory of my bone broth.

Pros of freezing broth in zip-top bags:

• lining frozen bags up like books on a shelf or files in a file cabinet
• the bag can be torn away from frozen broth, allowing it to be used while frozen
• no worries about jars breaking
• freeze in small (ex: 2 cups) or large (ex: 3 quarts) amounts to suit your needs
• the amount measured is the amount in the bag; if it says "1 quart" there are exactly 4 cups in the bag
• bags can be re-used if there are no small holes and if the seal is still intact after the first use

Cons of freezing broth in zip-top bags:

• food comes into contact with plastic (why broth should not be hot when putting into bags)
• leaks happen when the bag isn't completely sealed

#3 — Cubes or Pucks

How to freeze broth in cubes or pucks:

• Use an ice cube tray, silicon ice cube mold, or mini silicon muffin tray for pucks and determine the measurement of an individual cube or mold (ex: 1 cube = 2 tablespoons).
• Wait until the broth has cooled to room temperature.
• Use a measuring cup with a pour spout to pour broth into each well.
• Place in the freezer.
• When frozen, pop each cube or puck of broth out of the mold and store in the container of your choice.
• Use a marker to label the storage container with the amount of broth in each cube or puck so you don't forget.

This method of freezing broth is great for those (rare for me) times when you need a small amount of broth — such as for making a sauce or gravy, heating yourself up a mug of broth, or cooking for 1.

Pros of freezing broth as cubes or pucks:

• the ice cube tray, silicon cube mold, or mini muffin mold are reusable
• allows you to measure out very small amounts of broth
• broth thaws faster
• storage container can be re-used

Cons of freezing broth as cubes or pucks:

• not ideal for families or occasions when you need many cups of broth
• broth cubes or pucks must still be stored in some sort of container (such as a jar or bag)

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More Info & Recipes for Bone Broth

• How to Do a 3-Day Bone Broth Fast (why you should + how to prepare)
• Instant Pot or Slow Cooker: Which is Best for Bone Broth?
• 6 Tips for Bone Broth That Gels Every Time
• Nourishing Instant Pot Chicken Foot Broth

What is your favorite way to freeze bone broth?

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Source: https://allthenourishingthings.com/3-ways-to-freeze-bone-broth/

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