Have you ever had a recipe call for chicken stock? If you have, you might be wondering what exactly that product you’re using really is.
On the surface, most home chefs can tell you the difference between chicken broth and chicken stock. As explained by Food & Wine, “Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper.”
However, recipes for homemade stock note that, when left in the fridge, it will become gelatinous. This doesn’t happen to store-bought stock. So, what’s the real difference?
One user on TikTok decided to investigate. As a result, TikTok user Kaelin (@whatsinthekoolaid) fell down a deep rabbit hole—and racked up over 2.1 million views.
Stock Vs. Broth: An Investigation
In her video, Kaelin says that her friend was cooking when she asked about the difference between a broth and a stock.
On the surface, Kaelin says that the answer was simple.
“The difference is that stock is made by boiling bones and cartilage, which has gelatin in it. That gives it that Jell-O texture,” she explains. “Broth is not made with bones or cartilage. It’s just made with meat and vegetables. So, it has a less rich flavor.”
Upon hearing this, Kaelin’s friend questioned why store-bought stock doesn’t coagulate in the same way that homemade stock does.
However, when Kaelin tried to answer this, she couldn’t find a single reason why this might be the case.
“All of the search results are just, again, the difference between chicken stock and chicken broth,” she says. She later continues, “I could not find any answer.”
Why Is Store-Bought Stock So Different?
Eventually, Kaelin landed on an Eater article by chef Noah Galuten. In the piece, Galuten experiences the same confusion as Kaelin.
Trying to get to the bottom of it yielded few results. Companies were incredibly tight-lipped about the differences between their stock and broths, and even where their broth came from. In fact, many simply listed “chicken broth” as an ingredient without listing how that chicken broth was actually made.
In short, the article concludes that many “stocks” are made from starters provided by a German company called Symrise. While these starters are formulated differently to meet the needs of each buyer, they are largely produced from the same ingredients.
What Is The Legal Distinction Between Broth And Stock?
But is there a real difference between broth and stock? Legally speaking, no. Galuten summarizes that, legally, broth and stock are essentially treated the same. To qualify as either one, the product must contain at least 135 parts water for every 1 part protein. If it meets that ratio, it can be labeled as broth or stock interchangeably.
“Noah came to the conclusion that it does not matter whether you buy chicken broth or chicken stock. It does not matter what brand you buy it from, because essentially they are all the same thing,” Kaelin states. “I just, like, didn’t expect this to happen when my best friend asked me, ‘What is the difference between chicken stock and chicken broth?’ But now I know. And now you know.”
@whatsinthekoolaid allow me to take you on a journey where, once again, we learn we have no idea what’s in our food. at least we know corporations are pure of heart so I’m sure it’s fine🫶🏼🤡
Commenters Are Surprised
In the comments section, users couldn’t believe the results of this investigation.
“Swindled again by Big Bouillon,” joked a user.
“So basically, this applies to most commercially produced food products in America, and THATS why I buy the cheapest anyway because why waste my money when it’s all from the same place with different labels,” stated another.
“Here before you’re shadowbanned by big broth-er,” laughed a third.
Others simply appreciated the effort Kaelin went through to get to her conclusion.
“This process right? That’s what people miss when they just ask AI,” wrote a commenter. “Your brain learned so much more this way and you have a sense of satisfaction in finding and sharing your answer.”
BroBible reached out to Kaelin via Instagram direct message and email.