How to Use Bone Broth: 12 Everyday Ways, From Sipping to Cooking

Reviewed by Lindsey Wilson, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (IIN) · November 2026

Bone broth is a pantry ingredient and a drink, and most people only use it as one of those. You can sip it warm from a mug, use it in place of water when you cook grains or beans, and make it the base of nearly any soup. A jar is easy to get through once you have a few habits in place.

Here are twelve ways we use it at OWL, in roughly the order we'd suggest trying them, with amounts, so you're not guessing.

Sip it

1. A warm mug, morning or evening. Heat about a cup (8 oz.) in a small pot until steaming, not boiling, and pour it into a mug. A pinch of salt if you want it, a squeeze of lemon if you like it brighter. Some people have it in place of a second coffee; others have it after dinner as something warm that isn't dessert. If you're starting out, one cup a day is plenty. Our broths are made to be sipped from the jar, so they're seasoned for it and don't need anything added.

2. As a savory snack. Mid-afternoon, a cup of broth with a handful of crackers, or on its own, takes the edge off hunger without a sugar spike. Because it has some protein and salt, it works better than tea for that 3 p.m. slump.

3. When your stomach is off or you're under the weather. Warm, salty fluids are easy to get down when appetite is low, and mild foods are what doctors usually suggest after stomach upset (MedlinePlus). That's comfort and hydration, not a treatment. If symptoms are severe or last more than a couple of days, see a clinician.

4. Around a fast. If you fast, broth is a gentle thing to start eating with, though technically it does break a fast. We explain when that matters in Does Bone Broth Break a Fast?

Cook with it

5. Swap it for water when you cook grains. Rice, quinoa, millet, farro, polenta: replace the water 1-for-1 with broth. It's the easiest upgrade in the kitchen, and the reason congee is so good. If your broth is already seasoned, go easy on the added salt.

6. Make a quick soup in 15 minutes. Bring 4 cups of broth to a simmer. Add a diced carrot and celery stalk, a handful of greens, and leftover chicken, beans or rice. Simmer until the vegetables are tender. Finish with olive oil and lemon. The Creamy White Bean & Kale Soup and Sweet Potato Chowder are fuller versions.

7. Cook beans and lentils in it. Beans simmered in broth taste like they took all day. Our Brothy Butter Beans are a good place to start, and so is the Zucchini & Green Lentil Soup.

8. Braise vegetables or meat. Pour a cup of broth into a roasting pan with chicken thighs or root vegetables, cover, and bake at 350°F until tender. The broth reduces into a sauce you can spoon over everything. Beef broth is especially good for short ribs and stews.

9. Make pan sauces and gravy. After roasting or searing, deglaze the pan with a splash of broth, scrape up the brown bits, and simmer until it thickens slightly. For Thanksgiving gravy, our Turkey Bone Broth Elixir can stand in for the stock; adjust the salt at the end.

10. Poach eggs, fish or chicken breast. Gently simmer in broth for 6 to 12 minutes depending on thickness. The leftover broth becomes a light soup.

11. Thin or enrich a smoothie or mylk. This is more of a "try it" than a staple, but a few tablespoons of a mild broth works in savory smoothies. Skip it if it sounds odd to you.

12. Make a warm drink with it. Our ginger-lemon hot toddy is a cozy example when you're craving something that isn't coffee or tea.

How much bone broth should you use?

There isn't an official dose. A cup a day is a common starting point, and plenty of people have it a few times a week. If you're watching sodium, check the label and count it toward your daily total, since savory broth is salty on purpose (the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest staying under 2,300 mg a day for most adults). Ask your clinician if you have kidney disease or high blood pressure.

Which broth for which use?

Unsure which to start with? The 6 Pack of Broth Elixirs lets you try several.

Storing it so you actually use it

Unopened, our jars keep at room temperature; once opened, refrigerate and use within 7 to 10 days. If you're not going to finish a jar, pour the extra into ice cube trays, freeze, and drop a cube into pans, grains or sauces. The full rundown is in our storage guide.

Make it taste like yours

A few additions that work with almost any broth: fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon, a little grated ginger, a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of cumin. For more, see Flavor Boosters for Bone Broth and Creative Ways to Customize Your Daily Mug of Broth.

How to use bone broth: FAQs

Can you drink bone broth every day?
Most healthy adults can. A cup a day is a common habit. Watch the sodium and talk to your clinician if you have a medical condition.

What's the best time of day to drink bone broth?
Whenever it fits. Many people like it in the morning in place of a second coffee, or in the evening as a warm wind-down. There's no research-backed best time.

Do I need to heat bone broth?
You don't have to, but most people prefer it warm. Heat it gently on the stove or in the microwave until steaming.

Can I cook with the same broth I drink?
Yes. That's the idea behind a pantry broth: one jar for sipping and cooking.

Does bone broth go in smoothies?
Some people add a little to savory smoothies for body and protein. It's a matter of taste.

Can I put bone broth in coffee?
You can; it will taste savory. Most people prefer to drink them separately.

How long does an opened jar last?
Refrigerated, 7 to 10 days for our jars. See the storage guide for homemade broth.

What's the difference between bone broth and stock?
Mostly simmer time and seasoning. Here's the full comparison.

Keep reading: How to Make Congee · Bone Broth vs. Stock vs. Broth · How to Choose the Healthiest Bone Broth to Buy · Bone Broth Benefits · Simple Warm Meals for When Digestion Feels Off · Turkey Bone Broth Benefits