Making homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Now you can make your own vegetable broth using kitchen scraps.

There’s little waste and you always have fresh broth on hand for Lentil and Butternut Squash Chili or Summer Vegetable Chili.

Vegetable Broth from Scraps

Making homemade vegetable broth just got so much easier! I started making my own vegetable broth beginning of this year using kitchen scraps. It was actually my husband’s idea and it totally took off in our house.

Now I don’t throw away my kitchen scraps but instead, I save them for the broth. I love that I can reduce waste and have homemade broth in my freezer for soups.

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

What Vegetables Are Good for Broth

Before you make the vegetable broth you want to collect a bagful of kitchen scraps. Wash all the vegetables before you peel, slice, chop, etc. You can save the peelings, stalks, and leaves.

Onions, carrots, celery, and garlic are the key ingredients. But there are so many other vegetables that can add flavors such as bell peppers, leeks, green onions, and mushrooms.

The list goes on. The best way to make a vegetable broth from scraps is to simply experiment to see what tastes good to you.

Also, fresh herbs, such as thyme, parsley, cilantro and rosemary are all great additions to a veggie broth.

What Not to Put in Vegetable Broth

Stay away from cruciferous veggies, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts as they can leave bitter flavor in the broth.

Zucchini and green beans tend to become bitter as well when simmered for a long period of time.

Also, some starchy vegetables like potatoes and turnips will make for a cloudy vegetable stock. Beets are too overpowering with their color and taste. 

Wash your vegetables before using the scraps and stay away from anything with mold. 

HOW TO SAVE SCRAPS FOR VEGGIE BROTH: Store your scraps in a gallon size zip-loc bag in the freezer. Simple as that. Keep adding to the bag until it is completely full. Make sure to get all the air out of the bag to avoid freezer burn. 

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Veggie Broth Recipe

When ready to make the broth, you will need: gallon-size bagful of frozen veggie scraps. I pack mine up pretty good. Coriander seeds, whole peppercorns, bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme. That’s usually the base I use.

Depending on the veggie scraps I already have, I might add garlic, onions, parsley, and any other aromatics. Maybe if I don’t have celery and carrot scraps, I will add fresh ones.

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

How to Make Veggie Broth

Put your frozen scraps into a stock pot. You’ll need at least a 6-quart pot. Add water and the rest of the ingredients. You want enough water in the pot where you can easily stir the vegetables.

Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a bare simmer, and cook for 1 hour, uncovered.

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebrokenAfter one hour, remove the pot from the stove. Cool slightly if needed. Using a skimmer or a slotted spoon, remove all the vegetables. You only want the liquid remaining.

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebrokenThen set your strainer over a large bowl and pour the vegetable broth through. You should be left with nothing but clear and clean broth. I also like to put a cheesecloth over my strainer and run the broth one more time to ensure it is completely clean.

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

How to Store Homemade Veggie Broth

Let the broth cool completely before transferring into containers or freezer bags. I personally favor freezer bags over containers.

I will measure out 4 cups of broth for each bag and lay flat in the freezer. It thaws out much faster than when frozen in containers. 

Refrigerate fresh broth for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

4 Recipes with Vegetable Broth:

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How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps - homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Save your scraps and make a broth | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

How to Make Vegetable Broth with Kitchen Scraps

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 13 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
  • Yield: 89 cups 1x
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Making homemade vegetable broth has never been easier! Now you can make your own vegetable broth using kitchen scraps. There’s little waste and you always have fresh broth on hand. 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 gallon bag of frozen veggie scraps, completely full
  • 1315 cups water
  • 1 tsp. coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp. whole peppercorns
  • 2 bay leafs
  • 12 sprigs each: fresh thyme, rosemary
  • Optional extras: garlic, onions, parsley

Equipment


Instructions

  1. Add frozen vegetable scraps to a 6-quart stock pot. Add water and the remaining ingredients. You should have enough water in the pot where you can easily stir the vegetables.
  2. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a bare simmer, and cook, uncovered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  3. Take the pot off the stove and remove all the vegetables with a slotted spoon or a skimmer.
  4. Set your strainer over a large bowl and pour the broth through. Broth should be clean and clear without any impurities. You can also run the broth through a cheesecloth.
  5. Cool completely at room temperature and then divide into storage containers or gallon size freezer bags. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

  • See recipe post for a list of vegetables that make the best veggie scrap broth and also vegetables that should be avoided. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 54
  • Sugar: 3.1 g
  • Sodium: 28.8 mg
  • Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12.5 g
  • Protein: 1.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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Recipe updated February 2020 with rewritten post and additional information. No change to the recipe.