Chicken wings are a popular appetizer and finger food. However, one part of the wing often gets overlooked – the tip. The tip is the skinny end of the wing that has little meat. So what should you do with these bony ends? Here are some options for making use of chicken wing tips.
Make Chicken Stock
One of the best uses for chicken wing tips is to make homemade chicken stock. The tips contain cartilage and bones that release gelatin when simmered in water. This results in a rich and flavorful stock perfect for soups, stews, risotto, and more.
To make stock with wing tips:
- Rinse the tips and place them in a stockpot.
- Add any vegetable scraps like onion ends, carrot peelings, or herb stems.
- Fill the pot with water until the tips are covered.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 hours.
- Strain out the solids. Refrigerate or freeze the stock.
This method extracts maximum flavor from the wings and reduces waste.
Make Bone Broth
For an even more nutrient-dense stock, simmer the wing tips longer to make bone broth. Bone broth cooks for 12-24 hours so the bones release minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus into the water.
To make bone broth:
- Follow the same steps as making stock.
- Simmer the wings for at least 12 hours, adding water as needed.
- Skim off any foam or fat that rises to the top.
- Strain the liquid and use within 5 days or freeze up to 6 months.
The long cook time extracts more gelatin, collagen, and nutrients from the wings. Bone broth supports digestion and may reduce inflammation.
Make Crispy Wing Tips
Instead of simmering, you can roast the wing tips until browned and crispy. Coat the tips in seasoning or breadcrumbs first to add flavor. Bake at 400°F for 20-30 minutes until deeply golden. Flip once midway through baking.
Serve crispy wing tips on their own or chop them up to use as a topping for soups, salads, nachos, tacos, and more. Their crunch adds great texture.
Add to Sauces and Gravies
Wing tips can boost the flavor, texture, and nutrition of sauces and gravies. As they simmer, the collagen melts into the liquid to thicken it while the cartilage adds body.
Try adding a few wing tips when making:
- Turkey gravy
- Chicken pot pie filling
- Creamy mushroom sauce
- Beef stew
Strain out and discard the wing tips before serving the finished dish.
Make Dog Treats
Pets go crazy over chicken wings! Roast or boil the wing tips and then chop them into bite-sized pieces for an easy homemade dog treat. The natural cartilage is great for their joints.
For extra flavor, drizzle the tips with a little bit of chicken broth or sprinkle on some grated cheese after baking. Let cool completely before serving.
Compost Them
If you don’t want to eat or cook the wing tips, you can still put them to use by adding them to a compost pile. The bones provide valuable calcium to fertilize your soil. Chop or crush them first so they break down easier.
Avoid composting any raw chicken that could contain bacteria. Only add cooked wing tips to compost.
Discard Responsibly
If none of the previous options work, discard the tips in the trash rather than putting them down your garbage disposal. The small bones can potentially clog pipes.
You may also check if there are any local farms, zoos, or rehabilitation centers that accept food scraps to feed their animals.
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Once you start collecting chicken wing tips, get creative with how you use them! Here are some unique recipe ideas:
Wing Tip Hash
Sauté chopped wing tips with potatoes, peppers, and onions for a crispy hash.
Wing Tip Fried Rice
Stir small bits of roasted wing tips into fried rice for added crunch.
Wing Tip Tacos
Simmer wing tips in Mexican spices and shredded chicken. Pile onto warmed corn tortillas.
Crispy Wing Tip Salad Topper
Toss baked crispy wing tips onto any salad for a protein punch.
Wing Tip Broth Ramen
Elevate ramen noodles by using homemade wing tip broth as the base.
Conclusion
Chicken wing tips are often discarded, but they still have a lot of uses. Simmer them into rich homemade broths and bone broths. Roast them for crunchy toppings and mix-ins. Or get creative and incorporate them into homemade dog treats, compost, and unique recipes.
With a little innovation, you can reduce waste and make the most of the entire chicken wing.