Stock vs. Broth: What's the Difference? (2024)

Stock and broth are similar, but they're not exactly the same. Here are the ways they're alike and different.

By

Stacey Ballis

Stacey Ballis is a novelist, cookbook author, and food writer with 20 years of experience. She has authored a cookbook called "Big Delicious Life,"in addition to ghostwriting, recipe development, and recipe testing for chefs.

Updated on July 26, 2022

Stock and broth are foundational in cooking. From soups and stews to a cooking medium for everything from grains to vegetables, to the basis of sauces and gravies, it is no wonder that many recipes begin with stock or broth in their ingredient list. The two are used nearly interchangeably in print, and in fact, many recipes will call for stock OR broth, which raises the question. What exactly is the difference between stock and broth?

What's in stock and what's in broth?

Stock vs. Broth: What's the Difference? (1)

The main difference between stock and broth starts with the primary ingredient. Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper. For stock, bones are usually roasted before use for color and flavor, for broth, the meats tend to be used directly from raw. This is why many stocks are darker than broths from the same proteins.

What are the texture differences between stock and broth?

The second difference comes in texture. Because stock is made of bones, it tends to have a slightly thicker consistency, due to the collagen and natural gelatin in the bones, and you will find that good stocks may gel when chilled. This makes stocks wonderful for use in sauces and gravies and stews where the texture can really help with the consistency. Broths have a thinner more watery texture, making them great as the basis for soups where you do not need that thickening.

But what about vegetable broth and stock?

Obviously, this is different for vegetable stocks and broths, where no bones or meat are used in either product. Some companies will add plant-based gelatin to vegetable stock to give it that added thickening, which is a trick you can also do at home if you want to make homemade.

Can you substitute stock for broth and vice-versa?

While you can technically use them for nearly identical applications in cooking, you will want to pay attention to seasoning for your final products. Dishes made with stock will need more aggressive seasoning than those made with broth. If you do not want to make your own, and do not want to have to fill your larder with both options, you can find a happy medium by keeping low-sodium broth in the pantry as your single choice. The only place you really cannot sub broth for stock is in recipes that call for veal stock, which is a reference to a reduced product that is essential for classical sauce work, sometimes called demi-glace.

Can you buy stock or broth?

You can also purchase concentrated stocks and broths to which you add water before you continue with recipes. Stock bases are usually sold as pastes or in liquid form, where broth bases are most commonly sold as powders or in cubes and can be referred to as bouillon. To use either of these in recipes, simply follow the package directions to add water to create the amount of stock or broth called for in your recipe.

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Stock vs. Broth: What's the Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Stock vs. Broth: What's the Difference? ›

Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper.

Which is better, broth or stock? ›

As a result, stock is usually a healthier product, delivering a richer mouth feel and deeper flavor than broth. Stock is a versatile culinary tool that can deliver taste to any number of dishes. Darker in color and more concentrated in flavor than broth, it's ideal for use in soups, rice, sauces and more.

Can I substitute broth for stock? ›

In most cases, stock and broth are interchangeable. If you're in the soup aisle and can't remember whether the recipe called for stock or broth, either will do for making soup, gravy, or a flavorful pot of rice or grains. Keep in mind that stock is unseasoned, and broth is seasoned.

Is broth just stock cubes? ›

'Stock' and 'broth' both refer to liquid that has been simmered slowly with meat and veggies. The distinction between the two can generally be made based on whether bones and seasoning are also added to the liquid.

Do you drink broth or stock? ›

Stock takes longer to cook than broth and tends to have a lighter flavor. People often use stocks as a base of soups and sauces. An individual usually makes broth from meat or vegetables, and it tends to appear clearer and taste more flavorful than stock. A person can consume broth on its own or as a main meal.

What must you not do when cooking stock? ›

To avoid a cloudy stock do not stir while it is cooking because the impurities will get trapped in the liquid. Replenish liquid as needed if it evaporates but avoid diluting the flavor and body of the stock. Simmer the stock gently – never allow it to boil.

Is it better to use chicken broth or stock for dressing? ›

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

Why did my chicken stock turn to jelly? ›

Why is it so important to have a gelatinous broth? Firstly it's not 'super important'. BUT: The sign of the 'jelly' is what lets you know you've cooked the bones long enough, you've not used too much water, and you've used bones that have high gelatin in them.

Can I leave stock simmering overnight? ›

Fill with water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to the lowest simmer my stove burner will maintain, and leave it to simmer all night long. In the morning, I'll strain the stock and let it cool, and toss all the used bits in the trash.

Is bouillon the same as broth? ›

The terms bouillon and broth are often used interchangeably. Both refer to the translucent, flavorful liquid that is made by simmering beef, chicken, vegetables, and other ingredients. Colloquially, bouillon is often meant to describe the resulting broth from cubed and powdered forms of bouillon.

Why discard vegetables after making stock? ›

Um, as you're cooking with stock, the the vegetable, the vegetables will release the nutrients and the flavor into the water and what you're left, um, what you're left to it is just kind of a mushy vegetable. It doesn't have a lot of taste.

Can you eat straight chicken broth? ›

Because of the rich flavor of broth that comes from meat, vegetables and herbs, you can drink broth plain. People often do this to remedy a cold or the flu. In fact, drinking warm, steaming broth is an effective way to loosen up mucus when you have a stuffy nose. It is even more effective in the form of chicken soup.

How long should you cook your stock? ›

Chicken stock can be simmered for as little as 1 hour or up to 8 hours. Most often, you'll see recipes call for somewhere in between, about 3 to 4 hours. The longer the stock simmers, the more concentrated its flavor.

Does bone broth taste better than stock? ›

There are two key differences between how soup broth and bone broth taste: Soup stock is often very flavorful and in many cases, salty. Bone broth is often more bland and does not taste salty. Soup stock is a thin liquid; bone broth has an oily texture and feels thicker in the mouth.

Is stock as good as bone broth? ›

Since no bones are used, broths lack the nutritional punch and gelatin quality compared to stock. But what they lack in nutritional quality, they more than make up for in taste.

What is the healthiest bone broth to buy? ›

What is the healthiest bone broth on the market? The healthiest bone broth on the market is the Organic bone broth made by Bluebird Provisions because it is the highest protein with 12 grams with 300 mg potassium and no added filler ingredients. It is also low in sodium and tastes absolutely delicious.

Is bone broth actually good for you? ›

Takeaways. Bone broth combines the richness of a stock with the drinkability of a broth. It can make a healthy addition to your diet and contains nutrients such as collagen, electrolytes, and various amino acids. Consuming bone broth can help reduce inflammation and build muscle when combined with daily exercise.

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