Bone broth - looking for an alternative to pressure cooker: crockpot? slow-cooker? types? brands?

(Michael Wallace Ellwood) #1

Hello,

Note that I’m not looking here for recipes, but equipment.

I’m a great believer in bone broths, but I’m inhibited from making them too often because my wife objects to the smells that she claims are produced when I make them. My sense of smell isn’t great, so she may well be right, but apparently her sense of smell isn’t that good either, so if she is complaining, they must be bad!

(I think she’s not all that comfortable with the whole idea actually- She’s not a vegetarian, but she’s not as meat-oriented as I am).

Anyway, to get down to it, at present, I always use a pressure cooker to make bone broth. This has the advantage that it can be relatively quick, and the bones come out usually chewably soft. (I just nibble them around the edges - I don’t eat them wholesale, although they are usually soft enough that one could).

However, even on a low heat, there always seems to be steam coming out of the pressure release valve in the lid, and I assume that’s where the fumes/smell is coming from.

It occurred to me that crock pots or slow-cookers might not have this problem, or not to the same extent, since they presumably don’t involve high pressures.

What devices do other people use for their bone broths, and do they usually emit fumes/smells?

If you could let me know about different types of devices you use, and brands that you recommend, that would be great. BTW, I’m in the UK,. and it’s possible nomenclature may be slightly different from where you are.

Thank you in advance. :slight_smile:

(shawnk) #2

I started out using a slow cooker, and the house really stunk for however long I used it (24-48 hours). The lids on slow cookers aren’t vapor tight. I actually bought my Instant Pot pressure cooker because of the odor from the slow cooker. The only time it releases steam is when it’s coming up to pressure or when I’ve released the pressure. I’m thinking it may be your pressure cooker?

(Regina M.) #3

Do you use any vegetables? I have found that either celery or onion ( I don’t know which because I always used both) sometimes give off a foul odor when cooked for a long time. I started making my bone broth with just bones and water and haven’t noticed the offensive odor.

(VLC.MD) #4

Use the slow cooker out the back door or in the garage ?

(MooBoom) #5

I am with your wife. Bone broth smells AWFUL (but I still make it regularly). I have made it in a crock pot on the stove, in a slow cooker & in a pressure cooker and they all smell rank. The pressure cooker was the least offensive until the steam release function kicked in. I have actually had people walk into the house and turn right around again, unable to bear it.

Do you have a garage? Throw it on slow cook in there is my advice. That’s what I do now! I end up with a lot of neighbourhood cats on my fenceline as well which is a cute benefit.

(Bacon for the Win) #6

Am I really the only one who likes the smell of bone broth cooking in a slow cooker? Seriously, I do. I only use the IP if I need it in a hurry, otherwise it goes low and slow.

(KetoCowboy) #7

I can’t help the OP because my method (bones + onions + rosemary in a crockpot) does smell . . . delicious!

But given the negative impression of the odor of bone broth in this thread, I feel compelled to stand with @NelleG.

(Michael Wallace Ellwood) #8

Thank you for all the replies folks.

I currently don’t have a slow-cooker (hence was originally asking about types and brands), but perhaps a slow-cooker in the garage might work.

The advantage of a pressure cooker is that the process can be quick, therefore over and done with (except that the smells tend to linger anyway).

@shawnkuplin - you may have a point there: I actually damaged the top part of my pressure cooker a while back. It appeared to keep working, so I’m still using it, but I think I need to try to replace the lid (with its pressure valve etc).

(Patrick Sullivan (KetoBJJ)) #9

I use an Instapot. It is an electric pressure cooker. But, my wife doesn’t mind the smell that comes out. I put herbs and such in mine plus the smell of the meat/fat left on the bones. Like I said…my wife doesn’t mind the smell. She is not quite Keto but she is LCHF.

(shawnk) #10

I only can smell odors from my pressure cooker when it’s venting…building up pressure or after I’ve released it. And, during those times, I have it on the stovetop (making sure all of the burners are off), and I have the exhaust fan on, which pulls the steam out (or through a carbon filter, if your hood vents inside). When I’m releasing the steam, I put a kitchen towel over the vent release, so as to keep my cabinets from getting too much steam.

#11

I make chicken bone broth in the slow cooker often and we think it smells amazing. Maybe I’m misreading something here or maybe it’s a preference thing but I love when the house smells like homemade chicken soup all day. Lately I’ve been using 2-3lbs of chicken bones along with maybe 2-3 dozen chicken feet. Best broth I’ve ever made. The feet are a little gross looking but they are a broth game changer.

(Gale Dacalio) #12

I have used crock pot, pressure cooker and stove top. I didn’t like the results with crock pot as it actually cooked too hot. I will use the pressure cooker in a pinch and it does fine. I believe however a superior product is obtained from slow cooking 24 hours on the stove. I then freeze most of it in pint size jars. As far as the smell; any of the 3 will smell wonderful… Tell your wife its for your health and in a nice way of course get over it. LOL. Another suggestion is just buy a small electric cook top and make it outside or in the garage. I’ll be rendering my lard that way from now on as my son and husband said it stinks. I thought it smelled great… p-o-r-k-y! I got my little portable single cook top for less than 20 bucks. Im sure there are all kinds out there on the market. I hope something in there helps!