Marrow bones? *New question, post #11*

[Rikki Jean]

Forgive my ignorance, but am I supposed to do something different with marrow bones that I do with soup/broth bones? A friend moved a couple of months ago, and gave me the bone contents of her freezer, which included TONS of bones that are marked "marrow bones". They are taking up almost half of my freezer, so I'd really like to get them out of there, but I don't know what to do with them!

[laohaire]

I think you do the same as with other bones, except make sure you simmer them long enough for all the marrow to come out and into the broth (I would examine them after cooking and scrape out anything remaining with a knife). Marrow is good stuff.

[ursusarctos]

I've read that you can cut them up, bake them, and scoop out the marrow with a spoon. I personally am not there yet though and would just simmer them like other bones for an extra rich broth.

[*J*]

It's a bit old-fashioned, but I know I've heard of spreading marrow on toast. They even used to make tiny spoons specifically for eating marrow!
You can roast or poach them, eat the marrow, then use the bones for stock as you usually would. Enjoy your windfall!

[kl5]

Just a couple of days ago, I saw this video of two cute little kids eating marrow bones and it made me smile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq7t0...layer_embedded
Definitely delicious on bread or just off the spoon!

[cristeen]

I don't boil them. I roast or pan toast them just until the edges of the marrow are softened, then push it out and spread it on toast. It tastes a lot like butter, without the milk flavor - more beefy.

[Rikki Jean]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to try out the marrow this weekend! How long do you think it'll keep in the fridge? Can I roast the bones, scoop out the marrow, and then freeze the marrow? I really need to make some room in my freezer and get some of those bones out!

[AnnieNimIty]

wow, that sounds simultaneously good and completely off radar for my palate.
But now I want some too. lol

[laohaire]

Sure, I don't see why you couldn't freeze the marrow. Should be fine.

[MyLilPwny]

Mmmm, the marrow is yummy. I treat marrow bones just like any other bones and make my broth the same way and the marrow ends up falling out of the bones mostly after simmering long enough.

[Rikki Jean]

Okay, I finally did this, and YUM!

I do have a question. A couple of my knuckle bones didn't have marrow that was scoop-able; it was hard instead, like I could chip away at it. A couple of other bones (I don't remember what kind they are, and the wrappers already went out to the trash), aren't even soft enough to chip at, but they were marked as marrow bones. The marrow scooped out of the rest of the bones just fine, so I'm confused! Am I missing something?

[cristeen]

Was it calcified? Or was it just still hard (but meat-like texture)?

With those ones that were still hard, I'd probably cook them in something - a braise, a stew, something that has a long cooking time. If they're still solid after, then I'd say give it up. But I know I was really disappointed actually when my ossobuco marrow melted into the braise. I don't care for it once it's melted, I like it soft and spreadable.