I love the crock pot method for stock/broth

[Arduinna]

I've always done stock/broth on the stove top, but this week I did beef bone broth and chicken stock each in the crock pot and I really love this method. Only drawback is the pot size limit, but I do have 2 large crock pots so I guess next time I will just load them both up for double duty.

[MamaLea]

I saw a post here earlier this week about this and it never occurred to me as an option. But o tried it later in the week. I'd made some chicken in the cp and would have normally dumped the broth and bones but thought I'd put it all back in there with a little more water and carrots and left it over night. I haven't tried it yet but it smelled wonderful. It also didn't make as much as I usually make but I'm going to use it to make a soup later this week and it's the perfect amount for that.

So I think i agree!

[Arduinna]

Yes, it doesn't make as much as I'm used to. I only got a little over 3 quarts of chicken stock but it had 2 chicken carcasses plus veggies. I think I could have gotten away with 1 chicken carcass in the crock pot which is what I'll try next time. But it required no watching at all.

[Drummer's Wife]

It's the only way I make stock/broth. I love not having to worry about it, and at times when the smell bothered me (usually I like it, but not always) I move the crockpot to the garage.

[Arduinna]

That is a good idea about moving it to the garage. I love the smell of chicken broth but I don't like the smell of beef broth, especially not in the morning.

[SuburbanHippie]

I only use the crock pot. It's much easier to turn it on and forget about it. Leaving the stove on all the time makes me paranoid. I can't sleep knowing there is a flame going on top of the stove. lol.

[LCBMAX]

Yes, my cp is bubbling in the background just now.

1. Anyone ever put it outside to cook (smell often bothers me and vegetarian husband) and have a problem with animal prowlers? Maybe it's just too hot for them to bother with it, but we have lots of coyotes around here, and they are not usually thwarted by technology. No garage.

2. Anyone have a crockpot with better settings than mine? On my Rival, "high" will burn off a broth overnight, "low" burbles along at a light boil, and "keep warm" doesn't actually keep it warm enough to make me comfortable that no bugs will grow.

3. Would love to know any actual official broth in cp Recipes. I totally just wing it.

4. And a final, non-cp question - Does aspic freeze/ defrost well? Or, how long does it safely keep in the fridge?

[Drummer's Wife]

LCBMAX, We have coyotes roaming around at night, too (maybe we live near each other ) so I won't chance it putting it in the backyard, even with the gates closed. We have tons of bunnies that get in, so I assume the coyotes could find a way in if they really wanted to.

I follow the recipe in Nourishing Traditions, for the most part.

[daisymommy]

Can you give me detail of how to make it in the CP? How long do you cook? Do you still skim off the scum on top?

[Arduinna]

It's all the same method, except it doesn't have to be babysat. My batch that finished up today I did 2 chicken carcasses, 4 chicken feet, some carrots, celery, onion and parsley and water to cover and started it on high till it starts to simmer then I move it to low or warm as needed just to keep it on a low simmer. This batch went 48 hours. With chickens I rarely get much scum but if I see it I'll skim, otherwise I fine strain it at the end after I spoon out all the bones and veggies.

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by LCBMAX

2. Anyone have a crockpot with better settings than mine? On my Rival, "high" will burn off a broth overnight, "low" burbles along at a light boil, and "keep warm" doesn't actually keep it warm enough to make me comfortable that no bugs will grow.

I have a Rival too, I've found that warm is fine over night, and that it is a nice simmer but I live in a warm climate. I think that ambient temp might make a difference, but I haven't tried the crock pot method in winter.