health
This is how long it should simmer, when to add vegetables, and what to do with eggshells
Homemade soup requires patience and the right order. Forget cubes, try the old way and you'll feel the difference with the first spoonful.
TL;DR
- Start meat and bones in cold water over low heat for maximum flavor extraction and golden color.
- Add vegetables after about an hour of simmering the meat to prevent them from becoming mushy and making the soup cloudy.
- Skim off the foam (coagulated proteins) that forms in the first 20 minutes to keep the soup clear and light.
- Simmer gently, avoiding a rolling boil; the water should just be trembling.
- Add salt halfway through cooking for even distribution and to keep meat moist.
- Add bay leaf and peppercorns in the last hour of cooking.
- Keep the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape.
- Avoid stirring the soup vigorously, as this can cause cloudiness.
- To clarify cloudy soup, add a washed eggshell, simmer for 10 more minutes, then strain.
- Beef soup requires 2.5-3 hours of simmering, while chicken soup takes about 1.5 hours.