Turkey Stock Recipe Plus Canning Instructions

Make use of the whole Thanksgiving turkey by turning the bones into a delicious rich turkey stock that is perfect for gravy, soup, or stew. Learn how to make turkey stock to store in your freezer, or pressure can it for shelf-stable jars.

So many people throw away the leftover turkey carcass after the Thanksgiving or holiday meal. This is such a tragedy because they are missing out. Those turkey bones are filled with nutrients and lots of flavor.

We don’t waste much in this household. Throughout the year, I save all my vegetable trimmings in zipper bags in the freezer. Tossed into these bags are the ends of garlic, pieces of onion, small carrots, celery greens and stalks, and broccoli stems. I use these vegetables to add flavor to our homemade stocks and broths.

During winter, I often have a pot of stock simmering on the wood stove that heats our home. I like to keep plenty of chicken, beef, vegetable, and turkey stock on hand for winter soups and stews. Once you start making your own homemade stocks, you will find that they taste so much better than store bought. You have full control over the ingredients and can eliminate the extra additives and sodium found in store-bought stocks.

How to Make Turkey Stock

Making stock is not difficult. It just takes a little time, and you will be rewarded with a tasty stock that you can stash in your freezer, or pressure can to use in your favorite recipes.

Stocks and broths are made by combining leftover bones with vegetables, herbs, spices, and simmered slowly to extract lots of flavor.

The key to making a deep flavored stock is to start with a roasted turkey. After removing the meat, use the leftover turkey carcass to make turkey stock. Roast the bones and vegetables in the oven, add everything into the stockpot, fill with water, and simmer slowly into a tasty stock. This will result in a rich flavored, savory turkey broth with a nice depth of flavor.

Steps to Making and Canning Turkey Stock

Plan on at least a two-day process to make and preserve turkey stock. First, the stock is made and allowed to simmer on the stove for hours to infuse flavor and extract gelatin from the bones. Then, the stock is strained and refrigerated overnight so the fat separates and rises to the top for easy removal. Finally, can the stock on day two.

You will need to use a pressure canner to can turkey stock. There are no safe options for canning stock or broth in a boiling water canner. If you don’t have a pressure canner, you can freeze the stock in freezer containers or freezer bags instead. I have included tips below.

If you are new to canning or need a refresher, it may be helpful to review this article on pressure canning at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website. This is a safe caning recipe from both the NCFHP website and the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. You will find the full, detailed recipe below, but here are the steps to making and canning turkey stock.

Step 1: Separate the Meat from the Bones

After roasting your turkey, let it cool briefly until you can handle the meat without burning your hands, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Remove all the usable turkey meat from the carcass and refrigerate it. Break apart the bones, and layer in a large roasting pan. I like to use the cover of my turkey roaster since it is already dirty. Scatter the chopped vegetables on top of the bones.

Add the drippings, vegetables, skin, fat, and the rest of the remains from the bottom of the roasting pan to a large stockpot.

Step 2: Make the Stock

Roast the bones and vegetables in the oven until the bones brown. Use tongs to transfer the bones and roasted vegetables to the large stockpot.

Add 1 cup of water to the hot roasting pan to deglaze the pan. As the water steams, scrape the pan with a wooden spoon to release the flavor infused brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Pour the liquid into the pot.

Add the herbs, black peppercorns, remaining water, and simmer on low for at least 2 hours to extract flavor from the bones.

Step 3: Strain and Chill to Separate the Fat

Let the stock cool, remove the larger bones, and strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large container. Discard the bones and solids. Let the stock cool, and then refrigerate overnight. Once the stock cools in the refrigerator, the fat will rise to the top.

Don’t let the stock cool at room temperature for more than 2 hours. To cool the stock quickly before refrigerating, place the container in an ice-water bath. Change the water as needed to keep it cold, and let the stock cool until it is lukewarm. Then dry the container and place in the refrigerator overnight.

Step 4: Prepare the Canning Gear

The next day, gather your canning equipment, prepare the jars, set up the pressure canner, and organize your work area.

To can the turkey stock, you will need:

• Pressure canner with canning rack
• 8 pint sized canning jars, or 4 quart sized jars
• Canning lids and bands (new lids for each jar, bands can be reused)
• Canning tools: jar lifter, canning ladle, funnel, and bubble popper
• Plus basic kitchen supplies such as a large sauce pot and clean kitchen towels.

Wash the canning jars, lids, bands, and canning tools in hot soapy water, and rinse well. Set the lids and bands aside to air dry until you are ready to use them.

Place the pressure canner on the stove, and insert the canning rack. Add water per your pressure canner manufacturer’s instructions: Presto is 3 quarts, Mirro is 2 quarts, and All American is 2 to 3 inches.

Fill the jars about halfway with hot water, and then place them on the rack in the canner. Bring the canner to a simmer for 10 minutes (180˚F). Keep warm until you are ready to fill them.

Step 5: Prepare the Stock

Remove the stock from the refrigerator. Slide a thin, flat spatula across the chilled stock to remove the fat layer. Removing the fat is beneficial for several reasons, not only will your broth be clearer and contain less fat, but there will be a reduced chance of the thick fat interfering with the seal as the jar is processed in the canner.

Add the stock to a large stockpot. Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 6: Can the Turkey Stock

Lay a dry towel on the counter. Use your jar lifter to remove a jar from the canner. Pour out the water (save it for washing dishes), and place the jar on the towel. Keep the remaining jars in the canner, so they stay hot.

Place the canning funnel on the jar, and fill the jar with hot stock with the canning ladle. Leave a 1-inch headspace.

Run the bubble popper through the jar to release trapped air bubbles. Wipe the rim of the jar with a damp towel to remove any residue. Center a lid on the jar, place the band over the lid, and screw it on until fingertip tight. Immediately place the jar back into the canner, and repeat with the rest of the jars.

Bring the canner to a boil over medium-high heat. Follow the directions for your pressure canner and process the jars for the times indicated in the recipe below.

When the processing time is complete, turn off the heat and let the canner cool naturally, remove the jars, and let them cool completely. Date, label, and store in a cool location for 12 to 18 months.

 

How to Freeze Turkey Stock

Think about how you will use your turkey stock, and divide it up into usable portion sizes before freezing. If your primary use is for making soups, use larger containers. If you only need a small portion for cooking, consider freezing in muffin tins or ice cube trays first, and then popping them out and storing in freezer bags. Later, you can grab cubes as you need for meal prep.

To freeze the turkey stock, make the stock as described in the recipe, chill in the refrigerator overnight so the fat can separate, scrape off the fat the following day, and divide into the freezer containers of your choice. Don’t be alarmed if the stock has turned into jelly in the refrigerator. It’s completely natural, and is caused by the collagen in the bones. The stock will turn back into liquid when heated.

• Storage Containers: Stocks can be frozen in freezer storage containers. Divide the cooled stock into each container, and leave at least a 1-inch headspace to allow for the liquid to expand. Date, label, and stack the containers in the freezer for up to a year.
• Zip-top Freezer Bags: I like freezing stock in quart sized freezer bags because they take up less room in the freezer. Date and label the bags, and let the marker dry briefly before filling. Fill the bags with about 3 to 4 cups of stock, squeeze out the air, and seal. Lay the freezer bags flat on a baking sheet. You should be able to stack 3 or 4 on top of each other before it gets wobbly. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until frozen solid. Once the bags are frozen, they can be stored upright in trays. Use within 12 months for the best flavor.
• Ice Cube Trays: A silicone ice cube tray is handy for dividing the turkey stock into cubes and freezing. Fill the tray with the stock, and place into the freezer until frozen. Once frozen, pop the cubes out and store in a freezer bag for up to a year.

Ways to Use Turkey Stock

This homemade turkey stock is the backbone to turkey gravy, turkey stuffing, and as leftover turkey noodle soup. Use turkey stock instead of water to add extra flavor when making rice, or cooking almost anything in your Instant Pot. You can also use turkey stock in your recipes the same way you would chicken stock, such as in sauces, poaching, and braising vegetables.

Need a Quick Turkey Stock for the Holiday Meal?

Make turkey stock ahead of time and freeze it. Grab a package of turkey legs or turkey wings from the grocery store. Swap out the turkey for the bones, combine with vegetable scraps, poultry bones, herbs, and simmer it into a delicious homemade stock to add lots of turkey flavor to stuffing and making gravy.

This article was originally published on November 22, 2016. It has been updated with more information, canning instructions, and new photos.

You May Also Like:

• How to Roast a Turkey
• Canning Potatoes
• How to Can Beef Stock
• Canning Dried Beans

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