How To Make Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe From Kitchen Scraps

Vegetable stock is so easy to make with vegetables or even vegetable scraps you already have in your refrigerator. Start with onions, carrots and celery and simmer with aromatics for a delicious broth that can be used as a substitute for chicken stock or beef broth in many recipes.

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vertical image of vegetable stock in a ball canning jar.

What do you need to make vegetable stock?

Basic vegetable stock is made of onions, carrots, celery, and water. But it is very common to add aromatics such as garlic, fresh parsley, bay leaf, rosemary, peppercorns and other herbs. I like to add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste just to round out the flavor profile of the stock. This easy recipe can be doubled or tripled depending on how large your cooking pot is. Just keep a ratio of 2 parts onions to 1 part celery and 1 part carrots. Any extra vegetables added will just be a bonus in flavor when you make stock.

Additional vegetable scraps suggestions

Leeks : leeks are a lovely addition to veggie broth, just be sure to properly wash them to remove any sand or silt that may be stuck in the vegetable.

Aromatics to be used to make vegetable broth.

I like to use 2 bay leaves, 10 peppercorns, 3 cloves of garlic, 2 sprigs of rosemary and a small bundle of thyme in my vegetable stock. Other delicious options are:

Fresh parsley
Ginger root
Fresh sage
Dill (use sparingly)

What kitchen scraps should not be put in vegetable stock?

Obviously, you should not put in meats such as chicken, beef or seafood. That is a completely different stock. But here are some vegetables to avoid and the reasons why. These are just suggestions to give you a jumping-off point as to what will not work for homemade stock.

Potatoes - sweet, russet, white, red bliss. All potatoes will give the stock undesirable cloudiness, plus they don't offer too much flavor.
Turnips, Rutabega, Radishes, Kohlrabi - all can add a strong or bitter taste to the stock.
Pumpkin - not recommended because it will cloud the stock, but add in small quantities if you don't mind the cloud.
Corn - doesn't add much flavor and can make the stock cloudy

Saving veggie scraps for basic vegetable stock

I save my 'kitchen scraps' from when I am chopping vegetables in a zip top bag and store them in the freezer. I use onion skins, garlic peels, bell pepper membranes, zucchini tops, you name it..it goes in the bag. When I get a gallon bag mostly full of frozen scraps I know it is ready to be added to the basic veggies for the stock.

How to make homemade vegetable stock

horizontal image of Vegetable Stock with vegetables surrounding the jar

Wash all the vegetables and chop them into 2-inch pieces, or leave them whole for easier cleanup.
Heat a large pot to medium-high and heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Add the carrots, onions and celery to the pot and stir until the vegetables start to sweat.
If adding aromatics, add them to the pot as well as any spices or tomato paste. Stir to warm through.
Deglaze the pan with wine, if using. If not using wine, deglaze the pan with water or store bought stock.
Add 1 gallon of water to the stock pot, bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer.
Simmer the stock for a minimum of 1 hour. Allow the stock to reduce by 25-50% for optimal flavor. The longer the cook and the more it reduces, the stronger the flavor of the stock.
Turn off the heat and strain the stock through a fine mesh sieve into containers, discarding solids.

How to strain veggie stock

Once you have reached your desired depth of flavor (reducing the stock by 25-50%) it is time to strain the solids away from the stock. I have used a fine mesh strainer over a canning jar fitted with a funnel. To get out every last herb use a strainer lined with cheesecloth. The idea is to get as many of the vegetable particles out of the stock. I don't go ultra-fine on my straining because I like to have a few 'floaties' in there. It reminds me that this is homemade veggie broth and not a commercial product!

How to store homemade vegetable broth

After cooling completely in an ice water bath, I store my flavorful vegetable stock in the refrigerator portioned out in quart canning jars with lids screwed on. I recommend using the stock within a week. Additionally, this easy vegetable stock can be frozen in freezer-safe containers for up to a year. Another smart way to store stock is to portion it out into ice cube trays for an easy way to cool down soups for kids.

Is vegetable broth and vegetable stock the same thing?

Vegetable broth and vegetable stock are terms that are used interchangeably. I call a broth a stock that has roasted bones or seafood added to it. The flavors of a broth are also more concentrated defined and developed. So the stock is the foundation of a broth.

How to can this vegetable stock recipe

Vegetable stock can not be made shelf-stable by water bath canning it like you would a jam or jelly Stock needs to be pressure canned. The Spruce Eats has a step by step tutorial that is pretty awesome on how to pressure can stock.

Frequently asked questions, tips and tricks:

Are vegetable broth and vegetable stock the same thing?

First published May 28, 2014

I am Sarah Mock. Welcome!

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and a graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 17 years, Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

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