Bone broth has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its numerous health benefits. It is loaded with protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that support gut health, joint health, immunity and more.

However, making bone broth can be time-consuming. It needs to simmer for hours to extract those nutrients and flavors from the bones. Plus, it takes up a lot of space storing batches of broth in your fridge or freezer.

That's where bone broth powder comes in handy! Dehydrating or powderizing bone broth condenses it down so you can store it without taking up much space. Then when you're ready to use it, just add hot water and you'll have an instant, nutritious broth.

What You'll Need to Make Bone Broth Powder

Making bone broth powder only requires a few basic kitchen tools:

Slow cooker or stock pot: To simmer the bones to make broth
Strainer: To separate broth from solids
Dehydrator or oven: To dry out the broth into a powder
Food processor or blender: To grind dried broth flakes into a fine powder
Air-tight container: To store finished bone broth powder

How to Make Bone Broth Powder

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

Bones: Such as chicken, beef, lamb or fish. Bones with connective tissue work best.
Aromatics: Onion, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs etc. to flavor the broth
Apple cider vinegar: Helps extract nutrients from the bones
Filtered water: To cover bones while simmering

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Bone Broth

Add bones to a slow cooker or stock pot and cover with filtered water. Add apple cider vinegar and any aromatics like vegetables, herbs or spices.
Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for at least 6 hours, up to 48 hours for beef bones. Skim fat and foam as needed.

Step 2: Strain the Broth

Once broth is done simmering, remove from heat. Carefully strain out all solids using a fine mesh strainer.
Let cool slightly. Then refrigerate overnight so the fat solidifies on top and is easier to remove.

Step 3: Reduce the Broth

The next step is to boil the broth down to reduce and concentrate it. This makes it easier to dehydrate.
Pour defatted broth back into a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered. Stir frequently and simmer until reduced to about 1/3 original volume.
Broth is ready when it coats the back of a spoon and is syrupy. Be careful not to burn.

Step 4: Dehydrate the Broth

Now we'll remove the remaining moisture from the concentrated broth to turn it into a powder. This can be done in a dehydrator or oven.

For the dehydrator:

Line dehydrator trays with non-stick sheets. Silicone sheets work best.
Carefully pour broth onto sheets in a thin layer, about 1/4 inch thick
Dehydrate at 135°F to 155°F for 8 to 48 hours, checking often.
Broth is done when completely dry and brittle.

For the oven:

Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Pour broth in a thin layer onto sheets, no more than 1/4 inch thick.
Bake at 170°F for 6 to 12 hours.
Rotate pans and check often to prevent burning.
Broth should be dry and brittle when done.

Step 5: Grind Into Powder

Once fully dehydrated, the broth will be dry, flaky and brittle. Break into pieces and grind into powder using a blender or food processor.
Grinding it yields a fine powder that easily rehydrates into broth later on. Store bone broth powder in an airtight container.

Tips for Making Bone Broth Powder

Here are some top tips to help streamline the process:

Choose bones with lots of connective tissue, like chicken feet, necks and wings. These yield more collagen and gelatin.
For clearer broth, simmer vegetable scraps in water first. Strain this veggie broth and use in place of plain water.
Soak bones in water with vinegar for 30-60 mins before simmering. This helps extract nutrients.
Remove every speck of fat before reducing or broth may go rancid. Chill first for easier fat removal.
Use an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker to speed up broth making time.
Constantly check broth while dehydrating or baking. Higher temps risk burning and lower temps invite mold.
Grind to the finest powder possible for broth that incorporates smoothly.

Taking broth from simmer to powder maximizes nutrition while minimizing storage space. It lets you enjoy the convenience of instant bone broth anytime!

Follow the steps above to convert batches of your homemade broth into this pantry-stable superfood powder.

FAQs

How long does bone broth powder last?

Properly stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, bone broth powder will last 6 to 12 months. The freezer extends shelf life to 1 to 2 years.

How do you use bone broth powder?

To make broth, simply stir bone broth powder into hot water. A general guideline is 1 tablespoon powder per 1 cup hot water. Adjust amounts based on taste and use.

You can also add bone broth powder directly into soups, stews, gravies, casseroles and more to boost nutrition.

What is the best bone broth powder?

The best bone broth powder starts with homemade bone broth, made from the bones of pasture-raised animals. Grass-fed and organic bones contain more vitamins, minerals and omega-3s.

Avoid bone broth powder containing MSG, preservatives or artificial ingredients. Also be cautious of lead contamination [1] with products made from bones sourced outside the United States.

Can you use bone broth powder for Golden Milk?

Yes! Bone broth powder has become a popular addition to Golden Milk recipes. Simply add about 1 tablespoon bone broth powder to heated milk or milk alternative along with your other ingredients like turmeric, ginger and black pepper.

The collagen peptides and amino acids in the powder complement the anti-inflammatory spices perfectly.

What can I use if I don’t have a dehydrator?

You can use your oven if you don't have a dehydrator. Simply line baking sheets with parchment paper and follow same instructions for dehydrating. Just be vigilant about checking often to prevent burning.

Conclusion

Bone broth powder is an easy way to capture all the essential vitamins, minerals, collagen and gelatin found in bone broth into a condensed, shelf-stable form.

While not quite as nourishing on its own as a steaming mug of freshly simmered bone broth, homemade bone broth powder makes a nutritional powerhouse addition to soups, gravies, Golden Milk drinks and more.

Turning homemade bone broth into an easily stored powder takes a little extra time but yields a handy pantry staple for a huge variety of recipes. The process requires only a few basic kitchen tools and ingredients to master this broth hack.

Homemade Bone Broth Powder - Recipe