I’ve made bone broth on the stove top and in my slow cooker for decades. It’s delicious, but it makes our house smell like a bone broth factory. Not good! I’ve solved this problem and now I want to help you too. That’s why I’m going to teach you how to make bone broth in the Instant Pot.
How to Make Bone Broth in the Instant Pot
Making bone broth in the Instant Pot is super easy. Feel free to skip the step of roasting the beef bones to make your beef bone broth. I roast them because it creates a deep rich flavor for the broth, and I don’t mind taking the extra time to do it.
Use an Acid to Make Bone Broth
I use apple cider vinegar in my bone broth recipe because the acid in the vinegar helps to release minerals and other nutrients from the bones. Don’t worry, you can’t taste the vinegar in the final product. This recipe is for beef bone broth. If you need chicken stock, see my post called How to Make Bone Broth from Chicken.
The Best Store-Bought Bone Broth
If you’re too busy you can buy a fantastic bone broth product from Kettle & Fire. I like their beef bone broth, but am absolutely obsessed with their chicken broth and often drink it plain with a pinch of salt before dinner.
How to Make Bone Broth in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 4 pounds beef bones
- 1 onion, cut in half
- 1 head garlic, cut in half (no need to peel)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
- water to fill line of Instant Pot
Instructions
- Place beef bones on a baking sheet
- Roast at 350°F for 60 minutes
- Remove bones from oven and transfer to Instant Pot
- Place onion, garlic, bay leaf, vinegar, and salt in Instant Pot
- Fill the Instant Pot with water until just below the “max fill line”
- Put on the lid and lock to close
- Set to manual high pressure for 90 minutes
- Release pressure, then remove lid and allow to cool
- Strain mixture into 3 one quart mason jars
- Refrigerate for 4 days, or freeze for up to 6 months
Pre-Heating the Instant Pot
The Instant Pot takes time to get to high pressure. If a recipe says cook for one hour at high pressure, give yourself an extra 10-30 minutes for the cooker to pre-heat. When the cooker says “on” but doesn’t yet display the time you entered it is pre-heating.
How to Use the Instant Pot
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, I have created a fantastic Instant Pot cheat sheet for you called How to Use the Instant Pot. It includes a handy chart explaining all of the buttons on the front of the Instant Pot. Many readers tell me they print it out and put it on the fridge.
Free exclusive eBook, plus recipes and health tips, delivered to your inbox.
How to Strain Bone Broth
I use the same bowl, strainer, and funnel every time I make bone broth and these tools work like magic! I often use the same beef bones several times. I throw everything back in the pot and add more vinegar, salt, and water. These extra batches are not quite as strong but still very good.
How to Freeze Bone Broth in Mason Jars
If you’re going to freeze your bone broth, do not fill the mason jars all the way to the top. Leave space for the broth to expand when it’s frozen.
Easy Soup Recipes Made with Bone Broth
Here are some of my soup recipes that use bone broth:
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared this recipe in February 2017.
Gayle Friz says
I have used this simple and excellent recipe several times. This time I had an ox tail in my bag of beef bones. I included that in the oven roasting, etc. I use a pressure cooker, as I don’t have an instant pot, and I put the bones through twice, as suggested. This was the most delicious batch ever, and it is always good!
Elana says
Thanks Gayle!
Mamadee says
I put my bone broth up in jars. After I prepare the jars, I fill the with the hot broth, wipe the jar rims with a clean, damp cloth, and add the lids and rings.
Put them in the pressure canner on 10 lbs. pressure.
After the first jiggle, cook for 10- 15 minutes. If you happen to let them cook a little longer, it won’t hurt a thing.
Let the canner cool down for an hour or so. If there is no steam when you move the jiggler, remove it, then
you can open the canner.
I can keep them for years. Not a spoiled one yet.
Elana says
Mamadee, thanks so very much for sharing your lovely tutorial here!
Sheryl says
Thanks Mamadee!!
I am going to do that too!
Sheryl
Louise says
Question: I plan to use strictly as a bone broth in prep for an upcoming colonoscopy and the day before am only allowed clear fluids. Do you eat the soup as is, or is it concentrated and you would dilute with water. When will it gel?…once cooled or will it take on a gelled consistency when it has finished cooking in the Instant Pot? Thanks for taking the time to answer.
Elana says
Louise, thanks for your comment! First, as always review your plan with your medical practitioner to make sure it is safe for you. Second, I do not add any water to the broth. Finally, it will gel after it is cooled and refrigerated :-)
Judy says
I don’t have an Instant Pot but a Pressure Cooker. Do you think the timing would be the same? BTW thank you for the tip about using the bones a second time. I would never have thought of that. I’m going to make two batches, combine them and then freeze in smaller packages!
Elana says
Judy, thanks for your comment! Here’s my regular Bone Broth recipe:
https://elanaspantry.com/how-to-make-bone-broth-from-chicken/
Enjoy!
Elana
Nancy Cherven says
Well, I have one way to rid odor from cooking.
I turn up my air purifier.
Elana says
Nancy, that sounds perfect!
Beulah Amsterdam says
Dear Elana,
I very much enjoy your blog and use many of your recipes. I wish I could develop a taste for bone broth because it would be so good for me. But I haven’t been able to. I’m glad so many of your readers like it.
Love, Mom
Elana says
Hi Mom! Thanks so much for your comment. Next time I visit I will make you a bone broth that you will enjoy! Love, Elana
ilana says
Hi Elana and mom,
I put in a 1/2 TBS of miso and it makes the broth very tasty!
Elana says
ilana, that sounds so rich, healthy, and tasty!
Jule says
Thank you Susan, hope you find a couple of minutes to put your feet up!!
Elana says
Agree!
Gina Finney says
Can you substitute chicken bones instead of beef bones for the bone broth recipe?
Elana says
Gina, feel free to experiment!