I try to always have a few litres of frozen bone broth on standby. You never know when you’ll have a puppy-dog who is feeling a little peckish… perhaps they’re not eating well… maybe they are showing evidence of a bug by sneezing or coughing… or perhaps you suspect some dehydration… or on a happier note, you have a dam with a litter of puppies and you want to keep the Milk Bar well stocked. These are all reasons to ensure adequate fluids are on board.
While having plenty of fresh water available is always wise, sometimes your pupster needs a little more incentive to drink — enter The Dog Broth!
I have been making bone broth (for myself and my dogs) in my trusty crockpot for years however since acquiring my InstantPot, it got way easier! There are some simple but key ingredients to include and since I am roasting more chickens and turkeys this time of year anyways, it can’t get much cheaper. But if you’ve ever considered buying bone broth at the grocery store you’ll learn it’s an expensive ingredient to buy!
The Basics
This recipe came from a mentor of mine who was a Doctor of Chinese Medicine. He talked about how important all the components were for optimizing the bones and making a rich broth full of chi (essence of life).
- BONE BROTH:
– Bone broth nutrients include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin K2, iron, zinc, selenium, and manganese. Many of these micronutrients are important for metabolic function and how energy is processed in the body. - BONES:
– Most often I am using a chicken or Turkey carcass left over from dinner. The vast majority of meat has been stripped but I include all cartilage and any left over skin. Sometimes I’ll use a set of gardening pruning shears that are dedicated for the kitchen to cut ling bones in half to expose the marrow for a richer broth.
– For beef broth, I will first roast the bones on a foil lined cookie sheet at 375°F for about an hour before making soup. Making broth ?from raw beef bones directly smells like the butcher’s floor so roasting them first is truly necessary.
– I have a few friends who shuffle various leftover carcasses my way and I gratefully accept them! - APPLE CIDER VINEGAR:
– Must be “with the mother”. This is raw unfiltered ACV with the cloudy sediment which is good bacteria on the bottom.
– Adding a couple of tablespoons of ACV will aid in the process of collagen isolation and leeching more minerals out if the bones. - BAY LEAVES:
-Bay Leaves contain a number of enzymes that aid in breaking down certain proteins in cooking. - PEPPERCORNS:
– Peppercorns enhance the bioavailability of several nutrients, including vitamins A and C, selenium, beta-carotene, and others. - SALT:
– Helpful electrolyte and a tasty addition to encourage consumption however used in moderation. - BENEFITS OF THE INSTANT-POT:
– No need to top up water or chance of boiling dry because it’s sealed
– Much faster cook as contents are under pressure
– Pressure cook turns the bones into bone meal
HOW TO:
- Lots of bones in the pot
- Cover with just enough water, 2” above the top of the bones
- Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 2-3 bay leaves, ½ teaspoon of salt and about a teaspoon of whole peppercorns
- OPTIONAL: Add carrots, celery, fresh herbs but these bougie additions are not critical and may be unappetizing for a fussy or sick dog
- Seal the lid and use the “BROTH” button
- INSTANT POT TIME: 1 cycle (4 hours) for poultry; 2 cycles (8 hours) for beef
- CROCKPOT TIME: 24 hours for poultry; 48 hours for beef… adding more water as needed for evaporation
- When time is up, strain bones and veggies, cool and freeze in 4 cup ziploc freezer bags or in ice cube trays.
- USED BONES: In my experience using the Instant Pot is that it renders the poultry bones soft enough to crush with my hands (yes, even turkey bones!)! It’s quite remarkable! I alternate between tossing them in the garden or feeding some to the dogs once I have smooshed them thoughly to be certain there’s nothing dangerously sharp. Caution to over feeding as too much bone meal at once as it can constipate them just as chewing raw bones too much might.
I do sometimes freeze a few packages of 1 cup of bone meal to 3 cups of broth. That said, if I have a sickly dog on my hands I’m more likely to give them clear broth only so as not to complicate their malady.
When nursing a sicko dog I will sometimes offer a bucket of defrosted broth as is… sometimes diluted. It depends on the circumstance.