Homemade Vegetable Broth in the Instant Pot: Simple, Zero-Waste, and Full of Flavor!

Audrey Sckoropad
Mar 18
2 min read

Making your own vegetable broth at home is easy, quick (with the Instant Pot), eco-friendly, and allows you to extract maximum flavor while avoiding food waste. With a few vegetable scraps and a little patience, you'll have a delicious base for your soups, risottos, and sauces.

Why make your own broth?

Zero waste : Using vegetable scraps (peels, tops, cores) helps reduce waste.
Rich and natural taste : Without additives or preservatives, your broth will be much more flavorful than an industrial cube.
Practical and economical : It’s a smart way to recycle what often ends up in the trash.

Ingredients for Homemade Broth in the Instant Pot

Here are the ingredients I used for my broth:

Vegetable scraps : Carrot, onion, sweet potato peelings, celery tips
Whole vegetables for extra flavor : 4 celery stalks, 1 yellow onion with peel, a few carrots
Herbs : A bunch of parsley
Flavor boost : 1 bag of dried mushrooms (optional, but very umami!)
Water : About 8 cups (adjust according to the capacity of your Instant-Pot)

How to do it?

Fill the Instant Pot : Add all your vegetable scraps and whole vegetables to the slow cooker.
Add Water : Pour in about 8 cups of water, or until the vegetables are fully submerged.
Cook : Simmer for 35 minutes on the "pressure cook" setting at high temperature (HI).
Strain : Pass the broth through a sieve or cheesecloth to collect only the liquid.
Store : Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze in portions for later use.

Tips & Variations

You can add aromatic herbs (thyme, bay leaf, rosemary) for even more flavor.
For a darker, fuller-bodied broth, roast the vegetables in the oven before adding them to the slow cooker.
No salt during cooking! It's best to add it directly to your dishes to better control the seasoning.

Uses of Homemade Broth

This versatile broth can be used as a base for:

Soups and broths
Cooking rice, legumes or quinoa
Sauces and stews
Infusion to deglaze a pan and enhance flavors

What is an Instant Pot?

It is an electric pressure cooker or electric pressure cooker . It is a versatile appliance that allows you to cook food quickly using pressurized steam.

🔹 How does it work?

The Instant Pot uses heat and pressure to cook food much faster than a traditional saucepan. It's especially popular for:

✔️ Reduce cooking time (e.g.: a broth in 30 minutes instead of several hours)

✔️ Preserve the nutrients and flavors of food

✔️ Be a multifunctional appliance (it can also simmer, steam, sauté food, make rice, yogurt, etc.)

It's a modern, programmable version of the pressure cooker, but safer and easier to use. 😊

No Instant Pot? No worries! You can also make this broth on the stovetop by letting it simmer on low heat for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or in a slow cooker (Crock-Pot) for 6 to 8 hours. The important thing is to have a good quantity of vegetables and

allow time for the flavors to develop!

Have you ever tried homemade broth? What are your favorite ingredients for flavoring it? Share your tips in the comments! 😊