4 Best Bone Broths to Buy for 2025 (and Why)

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What are the best bone broths to buy for 2025 + which broths to avoid (+ why!). I looked into this issue for you with health in mind. That means: I looked at sourcing, packaging, additional ingredients and the diet of the animals.

The results you’ll find below are quite different than what other articles tell you.

I only found four companies whose broth I would drink regularly. And with my preferences for quality + my food restrictions, there are only two broths below that I use.

I think you’ll be surprised how many bone broths seem healthy, but really, they’re not.

Most of the other articles written on this topic simply rank the best selling broths. They take terms like “grass fed” at face value and don’t look at the true nutrition or risks in each broth.

Benefits of buying bone broth

Although I’ve made my own for years, and we even owned a bone broth café, I still see two reasons why many people benefit from buying bone broth:

• Good bone broth products are standardized, so we know we’re getting a concentrated dose of collagen (not collagen peptides, which is different and more refined). The extraction of amino acids can vary in homemade batches quite a bit.
• Many people would not get bone broth at all without commercially made products. Convenience. Frequency of consumption.

Best Bone Broths to Buy: Sourcing of bones & animal husbandry

A lot of bone broths masquerade as healthy. But, what really makes bone broth healthy?

Healthy animals make healthy bones and broth. While many bone broth companies use grass-fed beef, these same cattle are actually finished on grain.

Bone broth needs to source from grass-finished animals.

Grain-fed beef and broth is estrogenic.

Unfortunately, even the term pasture-raised has now been hijacked and is used deceptively. (What pasture-raised should mean is that cows graze on grass their whole lives right up until they’re slaughtered. But companies use the term loosely to mean the animal was pasture-raised at any one point in their life [yet finished on grain in a feedlot].)

Also, most articles about the “best” bone broths are not accurate:

• For example, these articles (1, 2) mention the minerals inherent in quality bone broth. Bone broth is actually not mineral-rich at all. (What we get from the long cooking time is more protein.) (source)
• Largely written by AI or ghost writers, the articles repeat and parrot the same information written everywhere else.
• Recommended broths often contain unhealthy additives.
• Issues like sourcing of bones, packaging and company values are not explored.
• Articles often mention whether or not broths are GM or organic, but we need to look beyond those buzz words.

Which broths aren’t nightshade free and/or AIP

Of course, most bone broths on the market should be avoided for healthy diets, because the animals the broths are sourced from are not grass-finished. But some of the bone broths that seem healthier should also be looked at closely.

Some of the more popular broths use tomato to create a richer flavored product. Watch out for these if you react to or avoid nightshades, and observe ingredients closely.

Other ingredients for everyone to avoid: yeast extract, natural flavors and spices, terms which may legally be used for MSG. Whether MSG with a different name or simply high in glutamate content, these are not safe additives for bone broth products.

Bone broth is already high in glutamate, so adding more brings it to unnatural and potentially unhealthy levels. If you’re sensitive, expect headaches, nausea, histamine reactions and possible cramping from ingredients like these.

Similarly, watch out for ingredients like xanthan gum, guar gum (emulsifiers), maltodextrin (an anti-caking agent) and stevia (in the sweetened bone broths).

The following (often-recommended) broths use tomato, or other non-AIP ingredients, so avoid them for AIP or nightshade-free diets: Bare Bones and Ancient Nutrition.

What’s the best packaging for bone broth

Tetra Paks are the most common packaging for broths, but in fact, they come with serious hazards.

Single use plastic is common packaging for bone broth powders.

The best packaging options are glass, paper, and to a lesser extent, lightweight thin recyclable material.

I understand most of you don’t want to stress over packaging. But it’s always good to raise awareness of our choices, so in that spirit, I discuss these packaging options more. Also, it isn’t too hard to opt for the better options below:

Tetra Paks (how healthy are they)

• Tetra Paks, while deemed safe by most people, actually degrade and leach into the contents of the packaging (your broth).
• 24% polyethylene plastic and 6% aluminum make up the lining of this packaging. (source)
• Avoid Tetra Paks. Because we drink bone broth for its health benefits, it’s not beneficial to consume plastics and heavy metals at the same time. Conclusion: For regular use, look for the best alternative.
  

Plastic

• Bone broth packaged in single use plastic has two drawbacks, both for health and environmental reasons.
• Most bone broth powders are sold in plastic containers. Health-wise, because this food is not wet or heated in the plastic, it is likely affected very little by the packaging. But, avoid any products with packaging labeled with the numbers 3, 6 or 7. Unfortunately, this labeling is not mandatory. (source)
• Environmentally, 70% of all plastic packaging is derived from fossil fuels. Plastic manufacturing contributes as much as 1% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. (sources 1, 2, 3) By choosing foods not packaged in plastic, we help to reduce emissions.
• Lastly, very little plastic is recyclable in most cities. So that canister or bag will end up in the landfill or the ocean.

Glass

• Bone broth sold in glass jars is a good option, but harder to find. One leading brand is sold in glass jars, but none of the ingredients are organic. (This is shocking to me. Please avoid conventional products. Conventionally grown chicken is not health food, and their bones are not safe.)
• Toxic compounds called chlorohydrins have been detected in foods closed in glass screw-cap jars.
• Despite chlorohydrins, it’s hard to trace any negative impacts on health or the environment resulting from packaging in glass.

Note: While packaging is important, the bone broth product itself needs to be pesticide and GM-free, as well as grass-finished. If you see a glass jar of bone broth, check to be sure it’s an organic product.

Paper (wins)

• A polyethylene (PE) plastic sealant to keep the product fresh oftentimes lines single use paper packets. But, increasingly, these are made from biopolymers to provide a more eco-friendly approach. (source)
• Paper packaging and its coating aren’t ideal for the environment when made with PE, but increasingly bone broth companies are using newer more natural technology.
• If made with biopolymers, this packaging is a good alternative to petroleum-based packaging.

Best Bone Broths to Buy: Who owns the bone broth company?

Advertising on bone broth packaging would lead us to believe that the companies care about our health and animal welfare.

But, does the company really care about our health or the environment?

Or, are the words on the packaging used as a marketing gimmick to sell bone broth?

Sadly, mass corporations built for profit now own bone broth companies. These monopolies invest in other companies that actually harm human health and the environment.

One example is Vital Proteins brand of bone broth, now owned by Nestlé. As you may know, Nestlé has committed egregious crimes of child slave labor in West Africa for their chocolate manufacturing. Despite initial promises, 20 years later, this company still supports abuse for profit, affecting 2.1 million children. (source) Please do not ever buy any Nestlé products, including Vital Proteins.

The takeaway is: If you’re going to buy any brand of bone broth repeatedly, check into who owns the company and that company’s mission statement, other investments and core values.

Long enough cooking time of the bones

Most bone broths on the market do cook their bones for a minimum of 18 to 24 hours, which earns the product the title of bone broth.

A shorter cooked broth is sometimes okay, too, for smaller bones. With big bones, a short cook time yields fewer amino acids. (source)

Some less-good bone broths actually boil their bones for too long or at too high of temperatures, resulting in bitter tasting broth (caused by the proteins denaturing).

Finally, the amount of free glutamate in bone broth increases with the length of time it’s cooked. While the topic is a bit controversial, if you get a headache (or other symptoms: insomnia, anxiety, racing heart, exacerbated pain where you’ve had chronic pain or difficulty concentrating) from drinking long-cooked broth, know it’s okay to stop and try Meat Stock instead.

Does bone broth have to gel to be good

Actually, no.

Your homemade or store bought broth may have had a long cooking time and be very concentrated with collagen, but still be thin.

Typically, the longer collagen is heated, the shorter the resulting polypeptides. So sometimes a very long-simmered bone broth will not gel.

However, a good-quality bone broth will have a decent amount of protein per serving, usually between 8 to 10 grams, or higher. Protein indicates the amino acids in the broth.

A gel is great, though. This assures us that the ratio of bones to water was high, and that the broth is rich with gelatin.

Best store bought bone broth brands to consider

Store bought bone broth comes in three forms: frozen, cartons off the shelf and powder form (either in packets or canisters).

Best frozen bone broths

1. Bonafide

• • Pros: Made with organic chicken and vegetables. Gels when chilled. Good flavor. Frozen for integrity of nutrition. No additives or preservatives. No plastics used in the cooking process, no tap water. Lab tested and lead-free, which is especially helpful to know because they use sea salt in their recipe which can be contaminated with lead. Their broth is cooled completely before being filled into BPA + EA free bags. Created by a GAPS practitioner. 10 grams of protein per cup.
  • Cons: No specific information about the chickens other than organic and free-range, which are loose terms. They definitely need to have supplemental feed, so what is it? Usually it’s soy and corn. I have emailed this company but have not yet heard back from them. Contains apple cider vinegar, so not fruit-free. Expensive (but understandably).
  • Find Bonafide Bone Broth here.

Best bone broth in a carton

2. Kettle and Fire

• • Pros: Made with organic chicken or beef bones, high in protein, good flavor options, no MSG or other additives. Non-GMO. The website claims the beef is grass-finished. Nightshade-free. Of the packaging they say, “Our cartons are made of FSC Certified Paperboard, fully recyclable, and produced in a factory certified to meet World-Class Manufacturing standards.” I emailed this company and heard back from them that their packaging is considered eco-friendly because it uses 80+% renewable resources. Less expensive than the above frozen products. 10 grams of protein per cup.
    
  • Cons: PACKAGING — Packaged in Tetra Paks. Although their packaging uses plant polymers like sugarcane-based plastic, Tetra Paks still use plastic and metal materials that shed into our broth. For a health food, the emphasis should be equally on health and the sustainability of the packaging. Right now, Tetra Pak is eager to share the renewable nature of their components, but NOT about how healthy it is for humans to drink out of these containers regularly. COST — Some people claim that it’s a bit expensive. But honestly, you don’t get this quality of a product for a cheap price. To me the price seems fair for the quality of product.
  • Side notes: Veggies are added to the broth, which makes it less pure for those who have food sensitivities. A very small amount of onion and other vegetables, but no nightshades.
  • Find Kettle and Fire here.

Best powdered bone broths

3. Bluebird Provisions — The newer kid on the block … now well-established

• • Pros: Bluebird Bone Broth is made from pasture-raised, certified organic chickens. They offer both frozen bone broth pouches (only in Canada) and shelf-stable bone broth powder. Their powder is VERY versatile and contains only one ingredient! (So, allergy-free, and AIP-compliant.) I now use it regularly, as it’s easy to keep in the cupboard, then so nice to have it on hand when I need it. I use it when I’m making soups or sauces. It mixes in very well to water. All of Bluebird’s bone broths use truly sustainable packaging. Slow cooked with low heat. Lab tested and free of heavy metals.
    
  • Cons: By the mug, all by itself, I don’t find the powdered broth makes the most delicious broth. (But I do like its flavor fine in soups, gravy and sauces.) You can’t get the liquid broth outside Canada, and it’s made with more ingredients than their powdered product (so less allergy-friendly). A bit expensive.
  • I still highly recommend this company’s powdered broth (even if I don’t enjoy it by the mug). For cooking, I think it may be the best option available: a truly clean, well-sourced and well-prepared product, with sustainable packaging, small and privately owned, free of extra ingredients that many people can’t have. Can be used in smoothies, with 10 grams of collagen per serving.
  • I reached out to this company because I like their product, and they kindly gave my readers a discount code! At checkout, use code MEGAN15 for 15% off your order. Find their Chicken Bone Broth Powder HERE.

4. Paleovalley

• • Pros: It’s hard to beat Paleovalley’s sourcing and quality: Made with grass-finished beef. Convenient powder. Can even be used in smoothies, coffee (just stir it in, or blend it in if you want it foamy) or baked goods, because it has a mild flavor. Better than collagen, but can be used similarly. Very high protein of 15 grams per serving. Non-GM, pesticide-free grass. Third party tested for pesticide residue. Not collagen peptides (which is highly processed). Only 2 ingredients (bones and water), great for AIP or most restricted diets. No additives at all. No antibiotics or hormones given to the cows. 60-day money back guarantee. Now offered in four flavors.
  • Cons: Not as flavorful as some broths, to drink by the mug, but still good. Blend with a little sea salt to enjoy it as broth. This is not a negative for everyone, but if you want the full rich flavor of broth, it is. Expensive but fair price. PACKAGING UPDATE: I emailed Paleovalley about their packaging and was sorry to hear they use traditional plastics and aluminum. While powdered products will be less affected by these sorry ingredients, they are also not renewable.
  • DISCOUNT CODE: Overall I still appreciate this company, but hope they improve their packaging (feedback from consumers helps). Eat Beautiful readers can enjoy 15% off with this link. If you Subscribe, there’s a 30% off discount (!), and shipping is free if you buy a few containers. Lots of good savings.

Final powdered product:

5. Bare Bones (I do not recommend this product, but it is the third best powdered product on the market for flavor and moderately decent ingredients. Use caution: it does contain maltodextrin and is not sourced from pasture-finished animals. This product is not AIP.)

• • Pros: Bare Bones has a good flavor on its own. Bare Bones is tested, and is negative, for heavy metals. Bare Bones is organic. Comes in a convenient powder form. One packet can replace one bouillon cube. 10 grams of protein per serving.
  • Cons: It contains maltodextrin (an anti-caking agent), has 3 grams of carbs per serving and is not technically Paleo, Ancestral or Keto. Does not come from pastured animals. Contains nightshades, not AIP-friendly.
  • Find Bare Bones here.

If you have a bone broth that isn’t mentioned here: I did not feature bone broth companies that aren’t using organic and/or pasture-finished animals. I consider it harmful to consume the water from simmered bones of conventionally raised animals.

What makes bone broths healthy when trying to choose a brand

What makes bone broths healthy is the kind of animals from which they’re sourced. The broth is only as healthy as the food the cows or chickens are fed and the way they’re treated.

This means they need to be grazing on pesticide-free grass, without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics. If their diet is supplemented, it should be with non-GM grain that’s sprouted or fermented to support its digestion.

From the broth, we consume compounds that reduce inflammation. We ingest a variety of non-essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein that help to create elasticity and healing in our skin, joints, cartilage, bones and digestive lining.

When the gut heals, our immune system is able to balance itself.

The gelatin in broth (and meat stock) helps restore the strength of the gut lining and can resolve food sensitivities.

So, we don’t want a product with lead, pesticide residue or one that’s estrogenic because the cows were fed soy or corn.

Instead, healthy broth, should soothe, restore and help the body to detoxify.

Tips when buying broth Conclusion

To sum up this article, here are the bullet points:

• Don’t be fooled by marketing that advertises: “grass-fed”, “non-GMO”, “no growth hormones” or “keto/paleo-friendly”. While these selling points are important, the wording is often a smoke screen for not complying with even more important measures.
• Look not just for “organic” or “pasture-raised”. Seek out grass-finished and the fine print on a company’s website (or email them) about how they raise their animals.
• Many bone broth articles recommend bone broth products with yeast extract or other additives. This is unacceptable. A food with added glutamate or emulsifiers should not be considered health food.
• Look for packaging that doesn’t degrade into the broth. Glass and paper are best. Frozen bone broths seem like a good alternative to Tetra Paks. Powdered broth is another good option, if the packaging used is sustainable.
• My favorite broth to buy is Bluebird Provisions’ Bone Broth Chicken Powder (find it here). Use code MEGAN15 at check out for 15% off your order.

Best alternative to buying bone broth

For me, the best alternative to buying bone broth is: making Meat Stock. Find easy fastest 15 Minute Meat Stock Recipe here, or Meat Stock from Ground Beef here.

Meat stock is rich in gelatin and very fast to make. It’s more gentle than bone broth and buttery in flavor.

Meat stock is high in collagen and wonderful for healing. It’s lower in glutamic acid and histamines.

If you’re really after the higher level of glutamic acid in bone broth, I recommend using a pressure cooker to make homemade bone broth; it’s the fastest, easiest and the most mess-free method.

This article shares how to make Meat Stock or Bone Broth in a pressure cooker (your Instant Pot or similar).

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