Homemade Vegetable Stock: Easy Guide to Flavorful, Healthy Cooking

• Homemade vegetable stock is a versatile kitchen staple, foundational for soups, stews, and sauces.
• It offers freshness, ingredient control, and reduces food waste by utilizing vegetable scraps.
• Avoids excess sodium and preservatives often found in store-bought alternatives, promoting healthier cooking.
• Key ingredients include carrots, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, parsley, peppercorns, and water.
• Simmer ingredients for 1.5-2 hours, then strain, cool, and store for up to 5 days in the fridge or 3 months frozen.

Why It Matters: Make your own versatile, healthy vegetable stock to enhance dishes and reduce food waste.