Beef broth is the foundation for countless delicious recipes. From hearty stews to flavorful risottos, a good beef broth can take your cooking to the next level. While you can buy pre-made beef broth at the store, making your own allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor. If you want to easily make beef broth at home, using bouillon cubes is the way to go.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to master making beef broth with bouillon cubes. You’ll learn about choosing the right cubes, the simple preparation process, how to tweak the flavor, and more. Let’s get cooking!
Bouillon cubes are compressed cubes of dehydrated stock made from vegetables, meat, spices, and salt. They come in a variety of flavors like beef, chicken, and vegetable. To use them, you simply dissolve the cubes in hot water to instantly get a concentrated broth.
Bouillon cubes originated in the early 1900s and were popularized by the Maggie brand. Today, they offer a quick and convenient way to get flavorful broth without the long process of simmering bones and vegetables. While you can buy bouillon cubes at most grocery stores, read the labels carefully and look for ones without excessive sodium, preservatives, or artificial additives.
Why Make Beef Broth with Bouillon Cubes?
There are several advantages that make bouillon cubes a great option for homemade beef broth
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Convenience – No lengthy cooking or straining involved. Just add cubes to hot water and stir!
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Flavor – Bouillon cubes are packed with concentrated beef flavor.
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Customization – You control the intensity of the broth by how many cubes you use
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Strength – The broth you get from cubes is much more potent than most store-bought broths.
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Versatility – Use the broth for cooking, gravies, soups, stews, and more.
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Storage – Bouillon cubes have a long shelf life compared to perishable fresh broth.
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Cost – Much cheaper than buying ready-made broth!
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Beef Broth with Bouillon Cubes
Making beef broth with bouillon cubes couldn’t be easier. Just follow these simple steps:
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 2-3 beef bouillon cubes (or more to taste)
- Additional seasonings of your choice (optional)
Instructions
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Add the water to a medium pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. The amount of water determines how concentrated you want the broth to be. For a more concentrated broth, use less water.
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Once the water is boiling rapidly, add the beef bouillon cubes and stir continuously with a spoon or whisk until fully dissolved, about 1-2 minutes.
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Reduce the heat to low and let the broth simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
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Taste the broth and add more bouillon cubes if you want a stronger beef flavor. Simmer for 5 more minutes after adding more cubes.
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Optional: For extra flavor, you can add spices, herbs, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, or other seasonings of your choice.
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Either use the beef broth immediately in recipes or let it cool completely before storing. The broth will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
And that’s it! In about 15 minutes, you’ll have rich, savory homemade beef broth using bouillon cubes.
Troubleshooting Beef Broth with Bouillon Cubes
While making broth with bouillon cubes is pretty foolproof, here are some common issues and how to fix them:
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Broth is too weak – Add more bouillon cubes and simmer for longer.
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Broth is too salty – Dilute with more water or opt for low-sodium cubes next time.
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Broth has an off flavor – Avoid over-simmering. Stick to 10 minutes max simmer time.
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Broth smells or looks strange – Toss it! Don’t take risks with spoiled broth.
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Broth is greasy or fatty – Skim off the surface fat before use or chill broth overnight and lift off solidified fat.
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Broth is cloudy – Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth before use.
Following the recipe steps carefully will prevent most issues. But if anything comes up, these tips should help get your broth back on track.
Getting Creative with Your Beef Bouillon Broth
The basic beef broth made with bouillon cubes is versatile and useful on its own. But you can also spice it up in different ways:
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Add aromatics – Simmer broth with onions, carrots, celery, garlic, ginger, or other vegetables. Strain before use.
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Toast the bouillon – For deeper flavor, you can toast the dry cubes in a skillet before adding to water.
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Simmer with herbs – Rosemary, thyme, parsley, and bay leaves complement the beefy notes.
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Splash of wine – For an extra layer of flavor, deglaze the pan with red or white wine after toasting bouillon.
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Blend and strain – For a crystal clear broth, blend with aromatics then strain before use.
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Infuse with spices – Whole peppercorns, coriander seeds, chili flakes, and other dried spices infuse warmth.
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Brown the bones – Roasting marrow bones and meat scraps adds rich caramelized flavors.
The options are endless for making unique flavored beef broth with bouillon cubes!
Handy Tips for Working with Bouillon Cubes
Here are some useful tips to make the most of bouillon cubes:
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Look for low-sodium, non-GMO, or organic cubes when possible. Or use about half the recommended amount of regular cubes.
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Store cubes in a cool, dry place and use within a year for best flavor. Don’t worry if they soften a bit over time.
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When a recipe calls for bouillon powder, you can substitute 1 cube for 1 teaspoon of powder.
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For a veggie broth, use 2 vegetable bouillon cubes per 4 cups of water.
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To make a smooth sauce or gravy, crush cubes with the back of a spoon before adding to liquid.
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Add a pinch of bouillon cubes to rice cooker or pasta water for added flavor.
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To use only part of a cube, cut or shave off just what you need with a sharp knife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have some questions about making beef broth with bouillon cubes? Here are answers to some common FAQs:
How long does beef broth made with cubes last?
The broth will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze broth in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Is boxed or canned broth better than bouillon cube broth?
Not necessarily! The broth you make with cubes is much more concentrated and beefy tasting. But check the sodium content on boxed broths to find a low-sodium variety if that is a concern.
What’s the difference between bouillon and stock?
Bouillon is made from simmered meat and vegetables and formed into cubes. Stock is the strained liquid result of simmering bones/meat/veg to extract flavor and gelatin. Both make great foundations for soups, braises, etc.
Can you use chicken bouillon cubes for beef broth?
This substitution will work in a pinch but won’t have an authentic beefy taste. Use half the amount of chicken cubes and add beefy seasonings like Worcestershire.
How do you make your own bouillon cubes?
DIY bouillon cubes involve reducing stock to a paste consistency then pouring into an ice cube tray or molds before dehydrating. But it’s a time intensive process best left to commercial productions.
What’s the healthiest bouillon or broth to buy?
Look for organic, non-GMO cubes without added MSG or artificial additives. Brands like Rapunzel, Edward & Sons, and Massel make quality bouillon cubes. Or for the healthiest option, make your own broth and freeze in ice cube trays.
Recipes Using Beef Bouillon Broth
Now that you know how to make the basic beef bouillon broth, here are some delicious ways to use it:
French Onion Soup
Caramelize onions in butter, then simmer in beef broth with sherry and thyme. Top with croutons and melted gruyère cheese.
Beef and Barley Stew
Brown beef chunks, then braise with onions, carrots, celery, and pearl barley in seasoned beef broth until tender.
Pot Roast with Vegetables
Braise a chuck roast low and slow in beef broth, red wine, and mirepoix vegetables for fall-off-the-bone meat.
Risotto
Make a richly flavored mushroom, asparagus, or butternut squash risotto using beef broth for the cooking liquid.
Beef Stroganoff
Saute strips of sirloin steak and mushrooms, then make a sauce with broth, sour cream, and mustard to serve over egg noodles.
Vegetable Soup
Build layers of flavor by simmering veggies like potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, and beans in beef broth.
Make Life Easier with Beef Bouillon Broth
There you have it – everything you need for making flavorful homemade beef broth using bouillon cubes! With this quick and simple broth on hand, you’ll always be ready to make satisfying soups, stews, gravies, and more on busy weeknights.