You Should Start Keeping Bone Broth In Your Pantry. Here's Why

Over the past several years, it's felt like bone broth has popped up everywhere, even though in truth the long-simmered elixir has likely been around in some fashion for over 2,500 years (via OssaOrganic). In its most basic form, the concoction is simply bones and water, plus time and heat, of course. Ironically, the addition of bones classifies bone broth as a stock rather than broth. According to the official website of spice giant McCormick, stocks require bones (plus optional extras like veggies or herbs) while broth gets its flavor from meat exclusively.

As The Kitchn points out, we often see stock and broth used interchangeably but generally, broths have meat and stocks have bones. Nomenclature aside, bone broth is much more than the sum of its parts. It's so simple that you can easily make your own with a bit of foresight to keep your extra meat bones, toss in a few veggie scraps if you like, and spend an afternoon on the stove. If you don't happen to have a bunch of beef bones kicking around, there are many brands of commercially available bone broths that will keep in your pantry or freezer.

But why has bone broth gained so much popularity recently? It's likely because of its reputation as a somewhat unexpected nutritional powerhouse. As Healthline reports, bone broth has many dietary benefits, like "minerals that help build and strengthen your bones. It also contains many other healthy nutrients, including vitamins, amino acids, and essential fatty acids."

A commonly touted advantage of bone broth is the noticeable amount of collagen, a type of protein found in bones and connective tissue that, when broken down, provides certain essential amino acids (via BBC GoodFood.) And, according to The Minimalist Baker, these amino acids are crucial for bone and joint health. Because of its nutrient density, bone broth can be a filling, healthy choice. As Chef Kevan Vetter, director of culinary development at McCormick, tells Prevention, bone broth "makes a great snack when you're trying to make a smart choice for your 3:00 p.m. slump." This may be in part because the nutrients are more manageable for our bodies to absorb since bone broth is easy to digest (via The Minimalist Baker).