The primary way to clean bone marrow is by soaking it in salted ice water. Here's a breakdown of the process:
Soaking the Bone Marrow
While not strictly necessary, soaking bone marrow helps remove any residual blood and impurities, resulting in a cleaner flavor.
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Prepare the Ice Water: In a bowl, combine ice water with salt. A general guideline is about 1 tablespoon of salt per quart of water.
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Submerge the Marrow Bones: Place the marrow bones into the salted ice water, ensuring they are fully submerged.
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Refrigerate: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. This allows ample time for the blood to leach out.
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Change the Water Regularly: Replace the salted ice water every 4-6 hours with fresh salted ice water. This ensures continuous removal of impurities. You will likely notice the water becoming pink or red as blood is released.
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Final Rinse: After the soaking period, give the bones a final rinse under cold running water.
Why Soak?
- Removes Blood: Soaking helps draw out any remaining blood from the marrow.
- Improves Flavor: Eliminating blood results in a cleaner, richer flavor.
- Whitens the Marrow: Soaking contributes to a whiter appearance of the marrow.
Alternative Cleaning Method
If you're short on time, you can simply rinse the bones under cold running water and pat them dry. While this doesn't clean as thoroughly as soaking, it's a quicker alternative.
