Should I start my stock with hot or cold water?
Greg November 1, 2015 Using cold water to start your stock will form larger protein aggregates, which will later stick to the edge of the pot or float to the top which you will later skim. If a stock is started with hot water, the proteins will coagulate faster, making smaller protein particles, causing your stock to be cloudy Upvote (1)
What happens when you boil meat in cold water?
This is because the initial shock from the hot water leaches insoluble proteins from the meat and bones. If you start your stock or soup with cold water the resulting liquid will be clear. That’s all.
What did the chef say to his students while preparing stock?
Chef Scarabee was watching his students prepare a basic white stock. To which of his students did the Chef say, "Keep up the good work; you're doing a fine job!"? a. John, who started his stock with hot water to speed up the extraction process. b.
Why does chicken stock taste different when boiled and cooled?
As for flavor, tasters couldn’t detect any significant differences. Our science editor explained that the higher initial temperature of the boiling water extracts more insoluble proteins from the meat and bones, making the stock appear cloudy as it cools back down to a simmer.

Why do chefs boil cold water?
Cold water boils faster than hot water. There is, however, a good reason to use cold water instead of hot for cooking: hot water will contain more dissolved minerals from your pipes, which can give your food an off-flavor, particularly if you reduce the water a lot.
Should you start a stock with hot water?
Cooking low and slow gives you good conversion while preventing fat, minerals and other gunk from emulsifying into your stock. Boiled stock will be cloudy, greasy and have a lower yield. To avoid that, start with cold water and your bones (or veggies, if you're going vegetarian) and put over high heat.
What temperature water should stock be started with?
Traditionally, you want it at a very slow simmer, approximately 200 F, 94 C. This is essentially the same for all stocks. This is one case where very few people actually use a thermometer; the visual indication of slow occassional bubbles is a good sign you are the right temperature.
Why is cold water used in stocks?
Cold Water for Clearer Stock Certain proteins, most notably albumin, will only dissolve in cold water—and albumin helps clarify a stock. Therefore, starting a stock with cold water helps release the albumin, producing a clearer stock.
Why is it important to cool a stock?
Preparing a large batch of soup can present a food safety challenge: cooling! One of the leading causes of foodborne illness is the failure to properly cool foods. The food danger zone is that place between 40 and 140 °F where pathogens grow most quickly.
What are the 7 principles of stock making?
Terms in this set (7)Stock making principle 1. Start with cold water. ... Stock making principle 2. Simmer, never boil. ... Stock making principle 3. Skim Frequently. ... Stock making principle 4. Strain Carefully. ... Stock making principle 5. Cool Quickly. ... Stock making principle 6. Label Properly. ... Stock making principle 7. Defat the next day.
Why should you blanch bones before making a stock?
Blanch your bones Blanching removes impurities from the bones and helps you get the clean, clear broth you're probably aiming for. In a large saucepan or stockpot, cover your intended bones with cold water and heat to a boil. Cook on high for 20 minutes before rinsing and transferring to a roasting pan.
What is the difference between a stock and a broth?
Though their ingredients are largely the same, there is a difference between them. Stock is made from bones, while broth is made mostly from meat or vegetables. Using bones in stock creates a thicker liquid, while broth tends to be thinner and more flavorful.
What happens when you start cooking with cold water?
I like to start with cold, because it's the same as boiling potatoes. If you start with hot water, your vegetables will start to come apart on the outside while the inside is still not cooked through.
Why is my stock cloudy?
If a stock is started with hot water, the proteins will coagulate faster, making smaller protein particles, causing your stock to be cloudy
What is the object of stock making?
The object of stock-making is to extract flavors from the ingredients and put them in solution, not to cook the ingredients themselves. Various compounds dissolve at different temperatures. Starting with cool water allows the maximum extraction, from those that dissolve at lower temps to those that dissolve at higher temps.
Does hot water taste bad?
Most hot water comes with an unfavorable taste, for me it is the metallic interior of the hot water heater/boiler in my building. When you start with cold, you don't get that taste.
Can you make stock in a pressure cooker?
Making stock is a slow gentle process to extract the most flavor. If you want to rush it, try making it in a pressure cooker.
How long to cook chicken stock in 2 pots?
To find out, we prepared a recipe for simple chicken stock both ways, adding 4 quarts of either cold tap water or boiling water to raw chicken pieces in two pots and then gently simmering both stocks for 3 hours.
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Do you boil water separately for stock?
In our book, that’s good news: With no need to boil water separately, there’s one less thing to worry about when making stock.
Why do you need cold water to make stock?
Therefore, starting a stock with cold water helps release the albumin, producing a clearer stock. Because much of the process of making stock comes down to removing impurities, ...
What is the role of acid in making stock?
The Role of Acid in Making Stock. Acid helps to break down the cartilage and other connective tissues in bones, thus accelerating the formation of gelatin. The acid products used are generally one or another of the following: Tomato: Brown stocks use some sort of tomato product, usually tomato paste, which also adds color and flavor to the stock.
What is brown stock?
Brown stocks are used for making demi-glace and its derivatives, such as bordelaise and sauce Robert. Note that beef or veal bones can be used for either white or brown stocks: When making white stock, the bones are blanched first, or quickly boiled, then drained and rinsed, before simmering . For brown stock, the bones are roasted ...
Can you thaw stock in a glass jar?
Wide-mouthed glass jars or containers: Glass eliminates the worry about toxins in plastic, and you can thaw the stock right in the glass jar, loosely covered, in the microwave. Ice cube trays: These are useful when you need just a small portion of stock, such as for deglazing. Read More.
Can you use filtered water for stock?
Because much of the process of making stock comes down to removing impurities, it is best to use filtered water whenever possible. If you don't have a home water filtration system, an activated charcoal pitcher is fine.
Can you use white wine in chicken stock?
Wine: White stock and chicken stock sometimes use white wine, and fish stock almost always does. One thing to remember is that acid reacts with aluminum cookware, so use a stainless steel stockpot for making stock.
What is stock in cooking?
Stocks are flavorful liquids used in the preparation of soups, sauces, and stews, derived by gently simmering various ingredients in water. They are based on meat, poultry, fish, game, or seafood, and flavored with mirepoix, herbs, and spices. Vegetable stocks are prepared with an assortment of produce, or intensely flavored with ...
Why do you need to start a bone broth in cold water?
They must be started in cold water to gently open and release impurities, caused by proteins in the meat and bones to rise to the top and be easily skimmed from the surface. The bones are sometimes roasted with the mirepoix for a robust flavor or blanched in water and rinsed for a clearer and lighter stock.
What is the difference between bouillon and stock?
A broth is usually made from simmered meats, while a stock is made from the bones. A bouillon, from the French term bouillir, meaning to boil, can be any liquid produced by simmering ingredients in water. Fumet is a concentrated liquid ...
How long does it take to cook chicken stock?
A poultry stock takes about four hours and meat stocks take up to eight hours. The deciding factor in the length of cooking, especially for meat and poultry stocks, is actually the size of the bones and other ingredients. The smaller the bones are cut, the less time required for extracting the maximum flavor.
Why is salt not added to stock?
Because stocks are basic mise en place preparations, salt is usually not added directly to them, but instead added to later preparations.
How to make stock clearer?
As it heats up, blood and other impurities will dissolve in the water and rise to the top. For ultimate clarity, skim off the impurities as they rise to the surface. To avoid a cloudy stock do not stir while it is cooking because the impurities will get trapped in the liquid.
What are the basic ingredients in stock?
Basic Ingredients. Stocks are prepared with a few basic ingredients including bones, mirepoix, herbs and spices, and sometimes tomatoes or wine. They are often prepared using leftover ingredients as a cost-effective measure for the kitchen.
What is the difference between a broth and a stock?
The primary difference is that a stock formula is based on more precise measurements of specific ingredients, adherence to a systematic process of preparation, and understanding of time and temperature in relation to coaxing a consistent, balanced flavor from your stock. To prepare a soup or sauce that demands consistency, these steps and proportions need to be adhered to.
What is broth made of?
A broth is simply a liquid that is built from protein and/or vegetables with the addition of water. The flavor will depend on the time involved in cooking, the temperature use, and the amount and mix of ingredients used. A broth is an excellent way to use your scraps of vegetables, seafood, and meats in an effort to build a deeply flavorful liquid that can be used in the same fashion as a stock. The primary difference is a lack of consistency.
What is simmering stock?
It is more than the basis for so many products and preparations; stock is the symbol of your commitment on so many levels and the signature of an operation that is serious about food.
Who said stock should never be boiled?
Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles cookbook says that a stock should NEVER be boiled, why is this? Does the higher heat extract bitterness or something else undesirable?
Why is boiled stock cloudy?
For regular stocks, the main difference is aesthetic: a boiled stock will be cloudy because broken down protein and fat are emulsified into the stock. Once emulsified, you won't be able to easily degrease the stock. The length of the boil and the temperature (in a pressure cooker for instance) will affect how much fat is emulsified ...
What happens when you boil a stock?
What happens is that a boil will emulsify some of the fat into the stock, making it less than crystal clear, and some will say it dulls the flavor . A less-than-utterly perfect strain will leave some errant bits of protein or whatever to sink to the bottom.
Why shouldn't you boil stock?
If you hold your hand above a pot of boiling stock, you'll discover another reason not to boil. It seems that the fats and oils from the stock get into the steam and then travel wherever the steam travels. Boil 8 or 10 batches of stock and you'll find your kitchen covered in a thin layer of grease if you don't have a ventilation system.
What does boiling mean in stock?
Well there's a few things. First, higher temperatures mean more volatile aroma and flavour compounds will be released, leaving a flatter-tasting stock. Second, boiling means more motion within the liquid, which makes it harder to skim off the protein scum which forms on the surface while a stock is cooking.
Why is stock bitter?
It's vastly more likely that the bitter flavour is because the stock was cooked for too long, which can be particular problem for vegetable stocks. It's also the case that an unsalted stock will taste bland and unappetising and can have bitter notes that salt camouflages. And of course it won't resemble commercial stock cubes at all. Stock is meant as a versatile base and needs to be seasoned in the final recipe.
How to make greasy sauces?
Boil your stock if that is easier for you. Use it unfiltered and with the fat still in it , makes great greasy sauces. Cool it down, and scoop that fat off if you want to be a bit more fancy. Filter it if you want to impress even more. Use the egg white method if you want near-perfection. But dont worry about boiling or not ...
How long do stocks last in the refrigerator?
If properly refrigerated, stocks will keep for 2 to 3 weeks.
When blanching bones for stock, should you first rinse them?
When blanching bones for stock, you should first rinse the bones, then place them in cold water. Click card to see definition 👆. Tap card to see definition 👆. True, this helps remove blood and impurities.
What are the functions of sauces?
Explain the functions of sauces and list five qualities that a sauce adds to foods. 8. Prepare white, blond, and brown roux and use them to thicken liquids. 9. Prepare and use beurre manie. 10 Thicken liquids with cornstarch and other starches. 11. Prepare and use egg-yolk-and-cream liaison. 12.
Why is Hollandaise sauce held at 180 degrees?
Because of the danger of food poisoning, Hollandaise Sauce must be held at 180 degrees F. False, It must be made very sanitary because of bacteria, it must be held at 145 degrees so the eggs don't curdle (slightly above the food danger zone) and discarded after two hours of holding. True or False.
Why is raw butter added to sauces?
Raw butter is sometimes added to a sauce to enrich it.
Why is gelatin important in stock?
Gelatin extracted from bones is an important component of a good stock because it gives the stock body.
Do you rinse brown stock before use?
Bones to be used in brown stocks should be rinsed or blanched before being used.