Dumb cooking question....

[F/A-18 MechDood]

When a recipe calls for Ham base, Chicken base, or a Beef base, are they just referring to a stock or broth?

[Gomer]

seems that way to me, but I am far from a chef.

maybe www.cookingvillage.com can help you out.

[golfcart]

Base is just a condensed stock. It's what you get when you boil most of the water out of a stock. Keep an eye on the cheaper ones. They are 90% salt. The less salt there is, the more real flavor you get. You can add your own salt

[Warthog]

There is no dumb cooking question...

I looked up how to properly boil eggs the other night. I didn't know how long you boil them for or if you start with boiling water or not, etc.

[Pexster]

I'm guessing you don't have time to make your own stock. You can probably find these excellent stock reductions at your local cooking store. Many good supermarkets also carry pretty good vegetable and chicken stocks that come in boxes (Pacific Foods and a few others). Anyway, if you keep a variety of these on hand, you'll never be at a loss when that great-looking recipe calls for veal stock or glace de viande.

[RayH]

Soup bases are a paste that's somewhere between a condensed stock and bullion. I get them at a place called Smart and Final for about $3.29 for a 1 lb. jar. I use them as a soup starter and in saurces.

You can use bullion or stock if you don't have any base. Just use more stock!

[jman01pa]

Lol. I didnt know there was a difference between stock and broth. Thank for the tip

[F/A-18 MechDood]

So if you buy the base and make it according to directions, then don't you pretty much have a broth or stock?

[Pexster]

Yes, that's it. But golfcart is right about a lot of "bases." They're often mostly salt. So be sure to read the label. That's why I recommended those in the link above. They're actually very high quality stocks that have been condensed. As for the difference between "stock" and "broth" I'd say that "stock" is generally made from roasted bones to which liquid, vegetables, and aromatic herbs have been added before simmering for long periods. "Broth" I think can refer to just about any flavored liquid.

[pickel]

Bullion cubes