Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

homemade turkey stock

(2 ratings)
Recipe by
Vickie Parks
Renton, WA

This is a great basic stock recipe that can be used for so many things. It's especially great with those traditional holiday recipes (like Turkey Soup and the numerous casseroles that require liquids) that we all rely on for using up those leftovers from our annual Thanksgiving feast. I've always used my homemade stock within a few days, so I don't know how long it will last once refrigerated. But similar recipes state stock can be frozen for 2 to 3 months. But like I said, I have never needed to freeze my stock, so I can't vouch for that specific claim.

(2 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 10 Min
cook time 1 Hr 30 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For homemade turkey stock

  • 1
    turkey carcass (from roasted turkey)
  • 4 qt
    water (16 cups)
  • 2 md
    carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 2 stalk
    celery, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 lg
    onion, peeled and cut into wedges
  • 3
    fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 tsp
    fresh basil, coarsley chopped
  • 1 sprig
    fresh parsley
  • 1
    bay leaf
  • 1-2 tsp
    fresh garlic clove, minced
  • 1 Tbsp
    fresh whole peppercorns (optional)

How To Make homemade turkey stock

  • 1
    Place all ingredients in a large stock pot. (I put everything in my extra-large roasting pan that I roasted the turkey in, with the carcass still in it, so the ends of the pan were positioned over the two burners on one side of my stove.) Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce temperature, cover pot, and simmer 1 1/2 hours. Stir occasionally (I stir about once every 1/2 hour or so).
  • 2
    Discard turkey carcass. Cool stock for 1 hour. Position a very fine strainer or cheesecloth-lined colander over a bowl that's slightly larger than it (to collect the stock). Pour cooled stock into strainer/colander. After all liquid is strained into the larger bowl, discard all the chunky remnants in the strainer or colander.
  • 3
    If using immediately, skim fat from the stock. Or refrigerate 8 hours or overnight, then remove fat from surface when ready to use. The stock can be frozen for up to 2 to 3 months.

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