# Why can't I buy pork broth at the grocery store? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 3, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027 "2023-10-03T00:06:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/21 "2023-10-03T01:12:22Z")
1: Vegetable broth is going to taste of…vegetables. If that’s not what I want, it’s not the right ingredient. I have been cooking and eating food for most of my life, so I know a few things about it. 2: How have you managed to miss all the scoldy claims put forth by the wanna-be health and food police about how pork is so terrible for you, being all fatty and piggy and all, it’s like the worst meat for you that you can possibly eat, and that you _just shouldn’t_? The professional advice-mongers are always slinging that viewpoint at the public. Fortunately for my sanity I can ignore most of their shit, until they start taking products I like off the market. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/22 "2023-10-03T01:21:41Z")
I’ve wondered the same thing over the years. Pork broth/stock is simply not a mainstream American product. I’m sure that has become a chicken-and-egg (pig-and-piglet?) situation where if somebody tried to introduce it as a NEW FLAVOR!!1! it’d just sit on the shelves since there are no recipes calling for it and no home cook has it as part of their cooking habits. So no product means no sales means no product means no … These guys are my fave if I’m not doing make-from-scratch: > **[Better Than Bouillon - Add flavor to all your favorite dishes](https://www.betterthanbouillon.com/)** > > Unlike blocks or cubes, Better Than Bouillon makes it easy to add just the right amount of flavor to your dish. We’re a paste, a base, a flavor enhancer, a kitchen shortcut, a secret seasoning and pretty much whatever you want us to be. They have ham, but not pork. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/23 "2023-10-03T01:27:06Z")
Yeah, we have Better Than Boullion ham, chicken, veggie, beef, but not pork. And that’s just fine with me. I could also do without bone broth. You ever tasted that? Eeew. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/24 "2023-10-03T01:28:54Z")
Here’s the lowdown from a southern cook. A small amount of pork will make gallons of porky water\*. In a really short time. You can add any ingredients you find applicable. That will qualify as a broth. It’s just too easy to get to in that way to make an easier way to get it in cubes and store bought broths. - it will be very greasy. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/25 "2023-10-03T01:32:43Z")
I ate bone broth yesterday when I felt ill. Yeah I agree. It’s just not a great tasting thing. And the name kinda yucks me out. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/26 "2023-10-03T01:38:48Z")
> [@El\_DeLuxo](#): > > Fortunately for my sanity I can ignore most of their shit, until they start taking products I like off the market. They didn’t take it off the market. As you noted, it was never on the market. Except for the bullion cubes which remain on the market and you can get on Amazon for $8 and may be in your store now that you know what to look for. What is your issue? As a side note, I love Better than Bullion (chicken). One of my tricks is to add a little to the water when I make rice. Speaking of which, why wouldn’t ham bullion be an acceptable think when you want pork broth? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/27 "2023-10-03T01:43:26Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > At least you have the Knorr cubes and maybe the tonkatsu (which I didn’t know was pork based before). Point of order: tonkotsu, with an O, is pork broth. Tonkatsu, with an A, is Japanese schnitzel. > **[Tonkotsu ramen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonkotsu_ramen)** > > Tonkotsu ramen (豚骨ラーメン) is a ramen dish that originated in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture on the Kyushu island of Japan, and it is a speciality dish in both Fukuoka and Kyushu. The soup broth is based on pork bones and other ingredients, which are typically boiled for several hours, and the dish is traditionally topped with chāshū (sliced pork belly) and served with ramen noodles that are hard in the center. In Fukuoka, tonkotsu ramen is referred to as Hakata ramen. > The broth for tonkotsu ramen is ... > **[Tonkatsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonkatsu)** > > Tonkatsu (豚カツ, とんかつ or トンカツ, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}pronounced \[toŋkatsɯ\]; "pork cutlet") is a Japanese dish that consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. It involves coating slices of pork with panko (bread crumbs), and then frying them in oil. The two main types are fillet and loin. Tonkatsu is also the basis of othe... ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/28 "2023-10-03T01:45:13Z")
Honestly, I think @Beckdawrek probably has it. In most dishes where you’d want to add a ‘porky’ flavor, you don’t bother using pork broth - you add a chunk of pork: salt pork, ham hock, lardons, what have you. A little goes a long way. Or (ideally) quality pork sausage, or other product. Lots of ways to add the flavor, without adding the ton of liquid in most broths. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/29 "2023-10-03T01:46:05Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > And the name kinda yucks me out. My gf ate it for lunch for a minute, since it was supposed to be healthy. I didn’t even like the idea that it was in the house. I (easily) convinced her to move on. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/30 "2023-10-03T01:50:31Z")
The difference between “stock” and “broth” is whether it has bones as an ingredient in the simmering process. Stock yes, broth no. So “bone broth” is an oxymoron. It should be “bone stock.” > **[Stock vs. Broth: Which Soup Base Is Best?](https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/stock-vs-broth/)** > > Which one is better for making soup? Sometimes stock, other times broth. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/31 "2023-10-03T01:52:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Point of order: tonkotsu, with an O, is pork broth. Tonkatsu, with an A, is Japanese schnitzel. Appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/32 "2023-10-03T01:54:53Z")
Oh my. Ham is so much a different flavor than raw pork. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/33 "2023-10-03T01:55:12Z")
Huh. That’s news to me. When I help a friend kill and butcher his lambs I sometimes take bones and scrap home with me. We have three huge stock pots and make what we call lamb broth. Delicious af, but a ton of work. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/34 "2023-10-03T02:53:34Z")
> [@El\_DeLuxo](#): > > How have you managed to miss all the scoldy claims put forth by the wanna-be health and food police about how pork is so terrible for you, being all fatty and piggy and all, it’s like the worst meat for you that you can possibly eat, and that you _just shouldn’t_? This is, well, overstated, or at least it’s what the conventional wisdom from many health experts _used_ to be. Yes, depending on the cut, pork can be fatty, and yes, it’s a red meat, so it has the same knocks against it that beef does. Plus, processed versions (ham, bacon) introduce other health issues from the additives. But, the general wisdom from health experts now is that lean pork is pretty good, as these things go: > [@](#): > > Pork is a rich source of certain vitamins and minerals your body needs to function, like iron and zinc. It’s also an excellent source of high-quality protein. Minimally processed, lean, fully-cooked pork eaten in moderation can provide certain benefits when added to your diet, as it’s a good source of protein and other nutrients. > **[Pork: Is It Good for You?](https://www.webmd.com/diet/pork-good-for-you)** > > Find out what the research says about pork, who should have it, and how it may affect your health. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/35 "2023-10-03T03:00:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Stock yes, broth no. So “bone broth” is an oxymoron. It should be “bone stock.” I don’t think Japanese cooking makes that distinction - tonkotsu base, which is made by aggressively boiling pork bones (unlike the gentle simmer used in western stocks), is always called “broth” and never “stock”. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/36 "2023-10-03T03:01:40Z")
It is fairly available in Canada. Asian grocery stores carry it more often than conventional ones. I can’t comment on California. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/37 "2023-10-03T03:07:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Meat to Americans is more popular than Elvis Presley, Michael Jordan, and Taylor Swift put together. Um, that’s a pretty weird comparison, even if you’re not making a subtle reference to cannibalism. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/38 "2023-10-03T03:08:36Z")
Not pork broth but Better Than Bouillon makes [ham base](https://www.betterthanbouillon.com/products/ham-base/). It’s uncommon but I have seen it in stores. eta: I see this has been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/39 "2023-10-03T03:16:31Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Um, that’s a pretty weird comparison, even if you’re not making a subtle reference to cannibalism. Yes, well, the article was from an animal welfare site, sooooo… ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027/40 "2023-10-03T04:20:00Z")
I usually make pork broth/stock by throwing ham bones and leftovers in a pot and simmering until it tastes good. I guess technically that’s ham broth. I refrigerate it and skim off the fat. Delish with noodles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-buy-pork-broth-at-the-grocery-store/991027.md?page=3)