Chicken broth -- how much water to use?

[wagamama]

I 'm just wondering what the right ratio is. Yesterday I made chicken broth with bones from just one chicken, in a 3.5 quart pot. So, I guess I had about 3 quarts of water. But after simmering for hours, the liquid was reduced by about half. So ... I ended up with just a small amount of broth. Could I use more water? Or do I need to add more bones?

[pnutS4us]

When I make stock, I make sure I have enough water to cover the bones by about an inch or so. If the bones aren't covered, you aren't getting the goodness out of them! If my water level goes below the bones, I always top off. I reduce the stock after the bones are removed, if I feel the need for storage or whatnot. OH and I typically use an 8-12 qt stock pot for my stocks, use bones from anywhere from 4-6 chickens and veggies. I usually let my chicken stock go for about 24-36 hrs, so I do add water.

Hope that helps!

[tanyalynn]

I just barely cover my bones with water and then keep the temp at a really low simmer so there's almost no evaporation. But on occasions when it's been hotter than I intended and the water level went down, I definitely add water while cooking to keep the bones covered. For chicken, I get stock with a really strong flavor this way, which I love.

[wagamama]

That helps a lot - thanks!