# How long should I boil the carcass? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097 "2009-11-27T04:31:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/1 "2009-11-27T04:31:05Z")
The turkey carcass is simmering for stock. How long should I let it go before I strain it and stick the stock in the fridge? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/2 "2009-11-27T04:34:33Z")
Four hours works for us. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/3 "2009-11-27T04:35:20Z")
I did mine at a low simmer for 4 1/2 hours with half an onion, 2 ribs of celery, the leftover wine, some peppercorns and a little salt. Strained and cooling now. Turned out great. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/4 "2009-11-27T04:42:48Z")
Thanks, that was quick. Now if only I could remember when I put it on. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/5 "2009-11-27T05:57:23Z")
I had a taste, and I decided it was done. It’s strained and sitting in a covered pot to cool for a bit before it goes into the fridge. Tomorrow it will go into zip-top bags and thence into the freezer, where it will sit for months until I get round to making soup. I didn’t use any onion or celery or spices (except for a pinch of kosher salt), since the veg will simmer when I make the soup. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/6 "2009-11-27T06:38:45Z")
Till it’s driving the cats nuts and she climbs on the hot stove and mews ---
**Author:** ![\_xiao\_wenti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b782af/32.png) [@\_xiao\_wenti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_xiao_wenti)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/7 "2009-11-27T14:39:10Z")
Stock II ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/8 "2009-11-27T18:53:26Z")
Mine is boiling now. Don’t forget the bay leaf! ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/9 "2009-11-27T21:35:51Z")
The longer it goes the more you will get out of it. Alton Brown’s guidance is that you should be able to crush the bones with tongs. I usually leave mine simmering overnight - at least 8 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/10 "2009-11-28T02:06:20Z")
All day for me, so I usually make it on a weekend. I probably get up at 7 or 8 a.m. or so, and plunk the carcass, bones, and assorted leftovers into the stock pot with water from the Britta, then take it off the stove in the late afternoon, or even bed time. It was here at the SDMB where I learned not to boil it vigorously, but let it simmer, for non-cloudy broth. Although, I tend to throw in assorted leftovers of turkey dinner into the stock pot too, so it may be moot. Chill, spoon off the fat, and freeze for soup-making later on. This year (Canadians do Thanksgiving in October) I ended up using the turkey schmaltz (?) / congealed fat in other cooking projects, so there wasn’t anything to toss out but the bones. Don’t forget to hang your wishbone on the knob for the stove’s timer. It’s a tradition! When it’s nice and dry, make your wish. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/11 "2009-11-28T03:40:02Z")
The stock is also good for making future gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-should-i-boil-the-carcass/519097/12 "2009-11-28T03:41:03Z")
Ouch!