Beef Stock Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts

Nutritional summary

Beef stock is a liquid base primarily composed of water and protein extracted from meat and connective tissue, making it a lower-calorie alternative to solid red meat while still providing savory flavor .
Major health institutions recommend limiting the intake of red meat products to approximately 10.6 ounces (300 g) per week to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and other chronic diseases .
While beef stock contains significantly less fat than solid cuts or tallow, it may still contain small amounts of saturated fats which, in high quantities, are consistently linked to increased LDL cholesterol (a risk factor for cardiovascular disease) .
Commercial beef stocks and broths are often categorized as processed foods and can be significant sources of sodium, which is a primary focus for dietary guidelines aimed at preventing hypertension .

Interesting fact

The distinction between stock and broth historically relied on the use of bones; stock is derived from bones to achieve a thicker mouthfeel through gelatin extraction, whereas broth is made primarily from meat.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Water

kcal per 100g

Protein1.55g

Fat0.15g

Carbs0.35g

Sugar0.27g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat0.01g

Monounsat0.07g

Saturated0.07g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

PescatarianGluten FreeDairy FreeKetoPaleo

Sustainability

Heavier footprint

While often made from byproduct bones, the primary source (beef) has the highest carbon footprint of all livestock.

Confidencehigh

Storage

Refrigerate

3–5 days

Store in a sealed container

Freeze

3–6 months

Freeze in portions for easy use

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 1 validated source

USDA

USDA FoodData Central

2 contributing source foods

Claim citations

A critical examination of the available data sources for estimating meat and protein consumption in the USA - PMC

[1]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Clinician’s Guide for Trending Cardiovascular Nutritional Controversies in 2026 - PMC

[4]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Nutri-Score in Relation to Dietary Guidelines and Food ...

[7]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status: Trends and Assessment - Diet and Health - NCBI Bookshelf

[8]www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Strategies for Eating Well on a Budget - The Nutrition Source

[11]nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

32.4

Version

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