Broth vs. Stock: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Broth is a flavorful liquid made by simmering meat, often with vegetables and herbs, used as a base for soups and sauces, whereas stock is made by simmering bones, often with vegetables, and is used as a cooking base.
Key Differences
Broth is typically made by simmering meat, which can include poultry, beef, or fish, along with vegetables and herbs. The focus is on creating a flavorful liquid that can be consumed on its own or used as a base for soups and sauces. Stock, however, is primarily made by simmering bones, with or without meat attached. The bones are often roasted first to enhance the flavor, and the simmering process is aimed at extracting the gelatin and rich flavors from the bones.
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Nov 18, 2023
Broth usually has a lighter flavor and thinner consistency, making it a versatile ingredient in a wide range of culinary applications. It's common in light soups, gravies, and as a liquid for cooking rice or pasta. Stock, being made from bones, has a deeper, richer flavor and a fuller body, due to the gelatin released from the bones. It serves as a robust base for more hearty soups, stews, and braises.
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Nov 18, 2023
When preparing broth, the cooking time is generally shorter compared to stock. It's simmered just long enough to extract the flavors from the meat and vegetables. Stock, on the other hand, requires a longer simmering time, often several hours, to fully extract the flavors and gelatin from the bones, resulting in a more concentrated liquid.
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Nov 18, 2023
In terms of nutritional content, broth can be richer in protein if it contains a significant amount of meat. However, it generally has less collagen compared to stock. Stock is known for its higher collagen content due to the long simmering of bones, which can be beneficial for joint health and digestion.
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Nov 18, 2023
Both broth and stock can be enhanced with seasonings, but broth is more likely to be seasoned to taste during its preparation. Stock is typically left unseasoned or lightly seasoned, as it's intended to be a neutral base for other dishes where additional seasoning will be added.
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Comparison Chart
Main Ingredients
Meat (with or without bones), vegetables, herbs
Bones (with or without meat), vegetables
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Nutritional Content
Higher in protein, less collagen
Higher in collagen, lower in protein
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Nov 18, 2023
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Broth and Stock Definitions
Broth
A thin, flavorful liquid made by simmering meat and vegetables, used in soups and sauces.
She sipped the warm chicken broth to soothe her sore throat.
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Stock
A gelatinous cooking liquid derived from bones, providing a rich base for dishes.
For the risotto, he chose a homemade vegetable stock as the liquid base.
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Nov 17, 2023
Broth
A soup base made from simmering meat, bones, and vegetables, often seasoned.
For the noodle soup, he started with a homemade chicken broth.
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Nov 17, 2023
Stock
An essential kitchen ingredient, made by cooking bones, often used in sauces and soups.
The fish stock added depth to the seafood chowder.
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Nov 17, 2023
Broth
A seasoned liquid derived from cooking meats, often served as a base for soups.
He used vegetable broth as a base for his hearty minestrone soup.
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Nov 17, 2023
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Stock
A base liquid in cooking, produced by simmering bones, used for its depth of flavor.
He preferred using chicken stock for its rich flavor in homemade soups.
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Nov 17, 2023
Broth
A culinary liquid created by simmering meat and/or vegetables, rich in flavor.
The chef prepared a rich beef broth to enhance the stew's taste.
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Nov 17, 2023
Broth
A light, savory liquid used in cooking, made from simmering meat and herbs.
She added garlic and herbs to the broth for extra flavor.
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Nov 17, 2023
Stock
The total merchandise kept on hand by a merchant, commercial establishment, warehouse, or manufacturer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broth
The water in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been boiled; stock.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broth
A thin, clear soup based on stock, to which rice, barley, meat, or vegetables may be added.
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Broth
A liquid containing nutrients for culturing microorganisms
Inoculated the broth with bacteria.
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Stock
A population of wild animals, especially of a species that is also farmed
Interactions between hatchery fish and wild stocks.
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Broth
(uncountable) Water in which food (meat or vegetable etc) has been boiled.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stock
A kind of financial security granting rights of ownership in a corporation, such as a claim to a portion of the assets and earnings of the corporation and the right to vote for the board of directors. Stock is issued and traded in units called shares.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broth
(countable) A soup made from broth and other ingredients such as vegetables, herbs or diced meat.
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Stock
The stock issued by a particular company
A mutual fund that invests in technology stocks.
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Broth
Liquid in which flesh (and sometimes other substances, as barley or rice) has been boiled; thin or simple soup.
I am sure by your unprejudiced discourses that you love broth better than soup.
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Stock
Chiefly British The money invested in a corporation, including debt and equity.
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Broth
Liquid in which meat and vegetables are simmered; used as a basis for e.g. soups or sauces;
She made gravy with a base of beef stock
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Stock
The descendants of a common ancestor; a family line, especially of a specified character
Comes from farming stock.
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Stock
The broth in which meat, fish, bones, or vegetables are simmered for a relatively long period, used as a base in preparing soup, gravy, or sauces.
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Stock
Stocks(Nautical) The timber frame that supports a ship during construction.
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Stock
Often stocks A frame in which a horse or other animal is held for shoeing or for veterinary treatment.
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Stock
Stocks A device consisting of a heavy timber frame with holes for confining the ankles and sometimes the wrists, formerly used for punishment.
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Stock
The rear wooden, metal, or plastic handle or support of a rifle, pistol, or automatic weapon, to which the barrel and mechanism are attached.
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Stock
The long supporting structure and mooring beam of field-gun carriages that trails along the ground to provide stability and support.
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Stock
A handle, such as that of a whip, a fishing rod, or various carpentry tools.
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Stock
The frame of a plow, to which the share, handles, coulter, and other parts are fastened.
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Stock
A theater or theatrical activity, especially outside of a main theatrical center
A small role in summer stock.
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Stock
(Botany) Any of several Eurasian and Mediterranean plants of the genus Matthiola in the mustard family, especially M. incana, widely cultivated for its clusters of showy, fragrant, variously colored flowers.
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Stock
(Games) The portion of a pack of cards or of a group of dominoes that is not dealt out but is drawn from during a game.
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Stock
(Geology) A body of intrusive igneous rock of which less than 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) is exposed.
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Stock
Personal reputation or status
A teacher whose stock with the students is rising.
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Stock
Repeated regularly without any thought or originality; routine
A stock answer.
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Stock
Employed in dealing with or caring for stock or merchandise
A stock clerk.
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Stock
Of or being a conventional character or situation that recurs in many literary or cinematic works.
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Stock
(operations) A store of goods ready for sale; inventory.
We have a stock of televisions on hand.
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Stock
A supply of anything ready for use.
Lay in a stock of wood for the winter season.
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Stock
The population of a given type of animal (especially fish) available to be captured from the wild for economic use.
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Stock
(finance) The capital raised by a company through the issue of shares. The total of shares held by an individual shareholder.
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Stock
The price or value of the stock of a company on the stock market.
When the bad news came out, the company's stock dropped precipitously.
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Stock
(figurative) The measure of how highly a person or institution is valued.
After that last screw-up of mine, my stock is pretty low around here.
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Stock
Any of several types of security that are similar to a stock, or marketed like one.
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Stock
Broth made from meat (originally bones) or vegetables, used as a basis for stew or soup.
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Stock
The type of paper used in printing.
The books were printed on a heavier stock this year.
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Stock
The trunk and woody main stems of a tree. The base from which something grows or branches.
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Stock
Any of the several species of cruciferous flowers in the genus Matthiola.
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Stock
A handle or stem to which the working part of an implement or weapon is attached.
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Stock
(firearm) The part of a rifle or shotgun that rests against the shooter's shoulder.
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Stock
(nautical) A bar going through an anchor, perpendicular to the flukes.
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Stock
(nautical) The axle attached to the rudder, which transfers the movement of the helm to the rudder.
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Stock
A necktie or cravat, particularly a wide necktie popular in the eighteenth century, often seen today as a part of formal wear for horse riding competitions.
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Stock
(folklore) A piece of wood magically made to be just like a real baby and substituted for it by magical beings.
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Stock
A block of wood; something fixed and solid; a pillar; a firm support; a post.
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Stock
A person who is as dull and lifeless as a stock or post; one who has little sense.
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Stock
The longest part of a split tally stick formerly struck in the exchequer, which was delivered to the person who had lent the king money on account, as the evidence of indebtedness.
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Stock
Red and grey bricks, used for the exterior of walls and the front of buildings.
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Stock
(biology) In tectology, an aggregate or colony of individuals, such as trees, chains of salpae, etc.
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Stock
To have on hand for sale.
The store stocks all kinds of dried vegetables.
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Stock
To provide with material requisites; to store; to fill; to supply.
To stock a warehouse with goods
To stock a farm, i.e. to supply it with cattle and tools
To stock land, i.e. to occupy it with a permanent growth, especially of grass
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Stock
To allow (cows) to retain milk for twenty-four hours or more prior to sale.
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Stock
(nautical) To fit (an anchor) with a stock, or to fasten the stock firmly in place.
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Stock
To arrange cards in a certain manner for cheating purposes; to stack the deck.
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Stock
Of a type normally available for purchase/in stock.
Stock items
Stock sizes
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Stock
Having the same configuration as cars sold to the non-racing public, or having been modified from such a car.
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Stock
Straightforward, ordinary, just another, very basic.
He gave me a stock answer.
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Stock
The stem, or main body, of a tree or plant; the fixed, strong, firm part; the trunk.
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground, yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
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Stock
The stem or branch in which a graft is inserted.
The scion overruleth the stock quite.
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Stock
A block of wood; something fixed and solid; a pillar; a firm support; a post.
All our fathers worshiped stocks and stones.
Item, for a stock of brass for the holy water, seven shillings; which, by the canon, must be of marble or metal, and in no case of brick.
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Stock
Hence, a person who is as dull and lifeless as a stock or post; one who has little sense.
Let's be no stoics, nor no stocks.
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Stock
The principal supporting part; the part in which others are inserted, or to which they are attached.
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Stock
The wood to which the barrel, lock, etc., of a rifle or like firearm are secured; also, a long, rectangular piece of wood, which is an important part of several forms of gun carriage.
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Stock
The original progenitor; also, the race or line of a family; the progenitor of a family and his direct descendants; lineage; family.
And stand betwixt them made, when, severally,All told their stock.
Thy mother was no goddess, nor thy stockFrom Dardanus.
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Stock
The handle or contrivance by which bits are held in boring; a bitstock; a brace.
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Stock
Money or capital which an individual or a firm employs in business; fund; in the United States, the capital of a bank or other company, in the form of transferable shares, each of a certain amount; money funded in government securities, called also the public funds; in the plural, property consisting of shares in joint-stock companies, or in the obligations of a government for its funded debt; - so in the United States, but in England the latter only are called stocks, and the former shares.
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Stock
The block of wood or metal frame which constitutes the body of a plane, and in which the plane iron is fitted; a plane stock.
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Stock
The wooden or iron crosspiece to which the shank of an anchor is attached. See Illust. of Anchor.
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Stock
Supply provided; store; accumulation; especially, a merchant's or manufacturer's store of goods; as, to lay in a stock of provisions.
Add to that stock which justly we bestow.
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Stock
The support of the block in which an anvil is fixed, or of the anvil itself.
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Stock
Domestic animals or beasts collectively, used or raised on a farm; as, a stock of cattle or of sheep, etc.; - called also live stock.
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Stock
A handle or wrench forming a holder for the dies for cutting screws; a diestock.
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Stock
That portion of a pack of cards not distributed to the players at the beginning of certain games, as gleek, etc., but which might be drawn from afterward as occasion required; a bank.
I must buy the stock; send me good cardings.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stock
The part of a tally formerly struck in the exchequer, which was delivered to the person who had lent the king money on account, as the evidence of indebtedness. See Counterfoil.
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Stock
A covering for the leg, or leg and foot; as, upper stocks (breeches); nether stocks (stockings).
With a linen stock on one leg.
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Stock
A frame of timber, with holes in which the feet, or the feet and hands, of criminals were formerly confined by way of punishment.
He shall rest in my stocks.
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Stock
Red and gray bricks, used for the exterior of walls and the front of buildings.
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Stock
Any cruciferous plant of the genus Matthiola; as, common stock (Matthiola incana) (see Gilly-flower); ten-weeks stock (M. annua).
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Stock
An irregular metalliferous mass filling a large cavity in a rock formation, as a stock of lead ore deposited in limestone.
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Stock
In tectology, an aggregate or colony of persons (see Person), as trees, chains of salpæ, etc.
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Stock
A liquid or jelly containing the juices and soluble parts of meat, and certain vegetables, etc., extracted by cooking; - used in making soup, gravy, etc.
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Stock
Raw material; that out of which something is manufactured; as, paper stock.
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Stock
A plain soap which is made into toilet soap by adding perfumery, coloring matter, etc.
At the outset of any inquiry it is proper to take stock of the results obtained by previous explorers of the same field.
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Stock
To lay up; to put aside for future use; to store, as merchandise, and the like.
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Oct 19, 2023
Stock
To provide with material requisites; to store; to fill; to supply; as, to stock a warehouse, that is, to fill it with goods; to stock a farm, that is, to supply it with cattle and tools; to stock land, that is, to occupy it with a permanent growth, especially of grass.
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Stock
To suffer to retain milk for twenty-four hours or more previous to sale, as cows.
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Stock
Used or employed for constant service or application, as if constituting a portion of a stock or supply; standard; permanent; standing; as, a stock actor; a stock play; a stock phrase; a stock response; a stock sermon.
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Stock
The capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest (equity);
He owns a controlling share of the company's stock
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Stock
Liquid in which meat and vegetables are simmered; used as a basis for e.g. soups or sauces;
She made gravy with a base of beef stock
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Stock
The merchandise that a shop has on hand;
They carried a vast inventory of hardware
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Stock
A supply of something available for future use;
He brought back a large store of Cuban cigars
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Stock
The descendants of one individual;
His entire lineage has been warriors
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Stock
The handle of a handgun or the butt end of a rifle or shotgun or part of the support of a machine gun or artillery gun;
The rifle had been fitted with a special stock
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Stock
The reputation and popularity a person has;
His stock was so high he could have been elected mayor
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Stock
A special variety of domesticated animals within a species;
He experimented on a particular breed of white rats
He created a new strain of sheep
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Stock
Lumber used in the construction of something;
They will cut round stock to 1-inch diameter
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Stock
A certificate documenting the shareholder's ownership in the corporation;
The value of his stocks doubled during the past year
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Stock
A plant or stem onto which a graft is made; especially a plant grown specifically to provide the root part of grafted plants
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Stock
Any of several Old World plants cultivated for their brightly colored flowers
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Stock
The handle end of some implements or tools;
He grabbed the cue by the stock
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Stock
Stock up on to keep for future use or sale;
Let's stock coffee as long as prices are low
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Stock
Provide or furnish with a stock of something;
Stock the larder with meat
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Stock
Put forth and grow sprouts or shoots;
The plant sprouted early this year
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Stock
Repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse;
Bromidic sermons
His remarks were trite and commonplace
Hackneyed phrases
A stock answer
Repeating threadbare jokes
Parroting some timeworn axiom
The trite metaphor `hard as nails'
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Stock
A rich, unseasoned liquid made by simmering bones, used as a foundation in cooking.
The chef used a homemade beef stock to enrich the gravy's flavor.
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Nov 17, 2023
Stock
A culinary base created by boiling bones and vegetables to extract flavor and gelatin.
She simmered the bones for hours to make a flavorful stock for the soup.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is broth?
Broth is a flavorful liquid made by simmering meat and vegetables, used in various dishes.
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Nov 18, 2023
How is broth different from stock in flavor?
Broth has a lighter, more seasoned flavor, while stock is richer and more neutral.
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Nov 18, 2023
What are the main ingredients in stock?
Stock is primarily made from bones, sometimes with meat attached, and vegetables.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the cooking time for broth?
Broth typically requires a shorter cooking time than stock.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is broth or stock better for soups?
Broth is often used for lighter soups, while stock is preferred for richer, heartier soups.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can I use broth and stock interchangeably?
While they can be substituted, they may alter the dish's flavor and texture.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the cooking time for stock?
Stock is simmered for several hours to extract flavors and gelatin.
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What are the main ingredients in broth?
Broth is made with meat, vegetables, and often herbs.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is stock?
Stock is a rich liquid made by simmering bones, often used as a base for cooking.
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Nov 18, 2023
How should I store broth and stock?
Both can be refrigerated for a few days or frozen for longer storage.
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Nov 18, 2023
Which has a thicker consistency, broth or stock?
Stock generally has a thicker consistency due to gelatin from bones.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can broth be eaten on its own?
Yes, broth is flavorful enough to be consumed alone.
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Nov 18, 2023
Do I need to season broth?
Broth is typically seasoned during preparation, but additional seasoning can be added.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can I freeze broth and stock?
Yes, both broth and stock can be frozen for several months.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can I use chicken in both broth and stock?
Yes, chicken can be used to make both chicken broth and chicken stock.
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Nov 18, 2023
Are broth and stock gluten-free?
They are naturally gluten-free, but always check for additives in store-bought versions.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is stock used as a base in sauces?
Stock is often used in sauces for its rich flavor and gelatinous texture.
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Should stock be seasoned?
Stock is usually unseasoned to maintain versatility in various dishes.
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Is broth healthier than stock?
Health benefits vary; broth is higher in protein, while stock is rich in collagen.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can I make vegetarian broth and stock?
Yes, both can be made vegetarian using only vegetables.
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Nov 18, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.