How to Make Beef Bone Broth Instant Pot: Easy Guide

Unlock Delicious & Nutritious Beef Bone Broth in Your Instant Pot!

Ever wanted to make your own nourishing beef bone broth but felt intimidated by the long simmering times? Good news! Your Instant Pot is about to become your new best friend. This incredible kitchen gadget makes creating a rich, flavorful, and gelatinous bone broth surprisingly easy and much quicker than traditional stovetop methods. Get ready to boost your health and your meals with this fantastic homemade staple!

Homemade bone broth is more than just a tasty liquid; it’s packed with benefits like supporting gut health, strengthening joints, and improving skin elasticity. And with the Instant Pot, you get all these goodness in a fraction of the time. Let’s dive into how you can whip up your own batch!

What You’ll Need: Ingredients & Equipment

Gather Your Ingredients:

• Beef Bones: About 3-4 pounds. A mix of marrow bones, knuckle bones, oxtail, beef shanks, or even leftover roasted beef bones work wonderfully. Ask your butcher for “soup bones” or “beef marrow bones.”
• Vegetables (Optional, but Recommended for Flavor): 1 large onion (quartered), 2-3 carrots (roughly chopped), 2-3 celery stalks (roughly chopped).
• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): 2 tablespoons. This acidic ingredient helps extract minerals from the bones.
• Salt & Pepper: To taste. Start with 1 teaspoon of salt and a few pinches of black pepper, adjusting later.
• Cold Water: Enough to cover your ingredients in the Instant Pot, up to the MAX fill line.

Essential Equipment:

• Instant Pot: Any size will work, but a 6-quart or 8-quart is ideal for a good batch.
• Large Colander: For draining.
• Fine-Mesh Sieve: To get a super clear broth.
• Large Bowl or Pot: To catch the strained broth.
• Airtight Containers or Jars: For storing your finished broth.

Step-by-Step Guide: Making Your Instant Pot Beef Bone Broth

Step 1: Roast Your Bones for Extra Flavor (Highly Recommended!)

While not strictly necessary, roasting your beef bones adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to beat. It gives your broth a richer, more complex taste and a beautiful golden color.

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Spread your beef bones in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Roast for 30-40 minutes, or until nicely browned.
• Carefully remove the bones from the oven and drain off any excess fat from the baking sheet.

Step 2: Load Up Your Instant Pot

Place the roasted bones (or raw, if you skipped roasting) into your Instant Pot. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery (if using). Pour in the apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Add Water

Pour enough cold water over all the ingredients to cover them completely. Be careful not to exceed your Instant Pot’s “MAX fill” line. Using cold water helps to slowly extract collagen and minerals, resulting in a richer broth.

Step 4: Pressure Cook to Perfection

• Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and make sure the vent is set to “Sealing.”
• Select the “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) setting on High Pressure.
• Set the cooking time for 120 to 180 minutes (2 to 3 hours). For a super rich, gelatinous broth, aim for the longer end of that range.
• The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure before the cooking countdown begins.

Step 5: Natural Pressure Release (Crucial for Flavor)

Once the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally. This means you do nothing! Just let the Instant Pot sit until the float valve drops on its own. This usually takes about 30-45 minutes. Natural release helps keep all those wonderful flavors locked into your broth and prevents frothing.

Step 6: Strain Your Broth

Carefully remove the lid (always away from your face). Using tongs, remove the large bones and discard them. Place a large colander over a big bowl or pot, then line the colander with a fine-mesh sieve. Slowly and carefully pour the entire contents of the Instant Pot through the sieve to strain out all the solids and vegetables.

You’ll be left with a beautiful, clear beef bone broth!

Step 7: Cool, Skim, and Store

Allow the broth to cool completely at room temperature before storing. Once cooled, you’ll notice a layer of fat will likely solidify on top. You can easily skim this off with a spoon and discard it if you prefer a less fatty broth. For optimal skimming, you can place the broth in the refrigerator first, as the fat will become firm.

Transfer your cooled bone broth into airtight containers, glass jars, or even ice cube trays for smaller portions.

Tips for the Best Beef Bone Broth

• Quality Bones Matter: Source bones from grass-fed, pasture-raised animals if possible. This enhances both flavor and nutritional value.
• Don’t Skimp on ACV: The apple cider vinegar truly helps extract beneficial minerals and collagen from the bones. Don’t worry, you won’t taste it in the final broth!
• Patience with Natural Release: Resist the urge to quick-release the pressure. Natural release is key for the best flavor and prevents a foamy mess.
• Chill for Easy Skimming: Refrigerating the broth overnight makes it super simple to remove the solidified fat layer, leaving you with a purer broth.
• Don’t Overfill: Always adhere to your Instant Pot’s MAX fill line to ensure safe operation.
• Experiment with Aromatics: Feel free to add other herbs like bay leaves, thyme, or peppercorns for different flavor profiles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Beef Bone Broth

What kind of bones are best for bone broth?

A variety of bones works best! Marrow bones (for richness), knuckle bones (for gelatin), oxtail, beef shanks, or even leftover roasted beef bones (like from a Sunday roast) are all excellent choices. A mix usually yields the most flavorful and gelatinous broth.

How long does it take to cook bone broth in an Instant Pot?

For beef bone broth, 120-180 minutes (2-3 hours) on high pressure is ideal. This shorter time compared to stovetop methods (which can be 24-48 hours) is a major advantage of the Instant Pot.

Do I have to roast bones for bone broth?

No, you don’t *have* to, but it’s highly recommended! Roasting the bones first adds a deep, savory, and rich flavor that raw bones alone won’t provide. It also gives your broth a beautiful golden color.

Can I use raw bones for bone broth?

Absolutely! You can use raw bones. While roasting adds more flavor, raw bones will still yield a nutritious broth. Just be sure to rinse them thoroughly before adding them to your Instant Pot.

How do I store homemade bone broth?

Once cooled, store your bone broth in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 6 months. You can use glass jars (leaving headspace for expansion), freezer-safe bags, or ice cube trays for convenient single servings.

Why add apple cider vinegar to bone broth?

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is added because its acidity helps to break down the collagen and connective tissues in the bones. This process, called chelation, helps extract more beneficial minerals, gelatin, and nutrients from the bones into your broth.

How do I get my bone broth to gel?

A good gelatinous broth is a sign of high collagen content! To achieve this, use plenty of gelatin-rich bones (like knuckle, oxtail, or feet bones), cook for the full 180 minutes, and allow for natural pressure release. Chilling the broth helps to solidify the gelatin, making it obvious if you’ve succeeded!

Can I use leftover roasted bones from a meal?

Yes, definitely! If you have leftover bones from a roasted chicken or a beef roast, they are excellent for making bone broth. They already have fantastic flavor from the initial cooking, which will transfer beautifully to your broth.

Enjoy Your Homemade Goodness!

And there you have it! A simple, efficient way to make incredibly healthy and delicious beef bone broth right in your Instant Pot. Whether you’re sipping it warm, using it as a base for soups and stews, or incorporating it into your cooking, you’ll love the flavor and the health benefits. Happy brothing!