Homemade vegetable stock is a great way to utilize kitchen scraps and reduce food waste. Not only does it add depth of flavor to your dishes, but it's also a versatile base for soups, stews, and sauces. Here's a step-by-step guide to making vegetable stock from kitchen scraps:

1. Collect your kitchen scraps: Save vegetable scraps such as carrot peels, onion skins, celery ends, mushroom stems, and herb stalks. Avoid using scraps that are spoiled or moldy.
2. Prepare your stockpot: Get a large stockpot and fill it with water, leaving enough space to accommodate the scraps. A 1:4 ratio of scraps to water is a good starting point.
3. Add the scraps: Place the collected scraps into the stockpot. You can also add whole vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery for extra flavor.
4. Enhance the flavor: To enhance the flavor of your vegetable stock, add aromatic ingredients such as garlic cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, and fresh herbs like thyme or parsley.
5. Simmer the stock: Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let it simmer uncovered for at least one hour, but you can simmer it for up to four hours for a richer flavor.
6. Skim the impurities: As the stock simmers, impurities may rise to the surface. Use a spoon or a fine-mesh strainer to skim off any foam or impurities that form on the top.
7. Strain the stock: Once you're satisfied with the flavor of your stock, remove it from the heat and strain it through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large bowl or another pot. This will separate the liquid stock from the vegetable scraps.
8. Cool and store: Allow the stock to cool completely before transferring it to storage containers. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze it in smaller portions for later use.

Making vegetable stock from kitchen scraps is an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to add flavor to your cooking. Plus, you'll feel great knowing that you've put those scraps to good use instead of throwing them away!

References:

• The Spruce Eats - Homemade Vegetable Stock Recipe
• Food Network - How to Make Vegetable Stock
• Bon Appétit - Vegetable Stock