by Jennifer Hinders

Created on: January 12, 2009   Last Updated: February 02, 2012

Homemade broth is more flavorful and healthier than store bought broth. Plus, homemade broth is easier to make than most people think. Broths can be made from chicken, beef or vegetables depending upon what you plan to cook. Broths are also very easy to store for future use. Follow these simple steps to create a delicious, healthy broth.

Beef Broth

Beef broth can be made from any cut of beef you choose. Purchase a beef cut that has a small amount of fat. The fat will give some flavor to the broth, so don't eliminate the fat altogether. You can even use ground beef for your beef broth. First, in a large stew pot, pour three quarts of water and the beef (approximately 2 lbs.) Set pot on stove top and turn up to high heat. Put one teaspoon of salt into water. Bring the water to a boil and then turn heat down to simmer beef for one hour. Remove the cut of beef from the broth and set aside to cool. The broth is now ready to add vegetables, spices and the chopped up beef cut for a stew or soup. If you prefer, instead, to store the beef broth, let it cool completely. Then transfer it into a freezer safe container with a tight sealing lid. The broth will retain its flavor for about six months. When ready to use, simply remove the frozen beef broth from the freezer and let thaw on the counter for a couple of hours.

Chicken Broth

Chicken broth is made from a whole chicken or chicken pieces. Place the whole chicken into a stew pot with three quarts of water. Add one teaspoon of salt into the water. Bring the water to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for one hour. Remove the whole chicken from the stew pot and set aside to cool. The chicken broth is ready to add vegetables, spices and the cut up chicken for a stew or soup. If you prefer, instead, to freeze the broth, let it cool completely. Then pour the cooled chicken broth into a freezer safe container with an air tight lid. The chicken broth will retain its flavor for six months. When you are ready to use the chicken broth, simply remove the frozen broth from the freezer and let thaw for a couple of hours.

Vegetable Broth

Vegetable broth is an easy broth to create. Choose any vegetables you prefer for the broth. Carrots, onions, tomatoes and green peppers make a delicious vegetable broth. Add some garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Place all the vegetables and spices into a pot of three quarts of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for one hour. Remove vegetables from pot and set aside to cool for a stew or soup. If you prefer, instead, to freeze the vegetable broth, let it cool completely. Then pour the cooled vegetable broth into a freezer safe container with an air tight lid. The vegetable broth will stay fresh for about six months.

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