Homemade chicken broth is a versatile ingredient that can add flavor to many dishes. Unlike store-bought broths, homemade broth doesn’t contain preservatives. This means that homemade chicken broth has a shorter shelf life. Knowing how long you can store homemade chicken broth can help prevent waste and foodborne illness.
How long does homemade chicken broth last in the fridge?
In the refrigerator, homemade chicken broth will usually stay fresh for 3-4 days. To maximize freshness, be sure to store the broth in a tightly sealed container to prevent fridge odors from seeping in. Some chefs recommend transferring the broth into smaller containers to limit exposure to air. This can help extend the shelf life by a day or two.
Here are some signs that refrigerated homemade chicken broth has gone bad:
- Cloudy appearance
- Slimy texture
- Sour smell
If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to discard the homemade chicken broth. Consuming spoiled broth can potentially cause food poisoning.
How long does homemade chicken broth last in the freezer?
The freezer time for homemade chicken broth is much longer. Frozen properly, homemade chicken broth can last 4-6 months in the freezer.
To freeze broth, let it cool completely after cooking. Transfer the broth into freezer-safe airtight containers, leaving about 1 inch of headspace to allow for expansion. Flat containers like freezer bags take up less space. Seal the containers tightly and freeze.
For best quality, use frozen homemade chicken broth within 6 months. Frozen broth keeps longer, but the flavor begins to fade over time.
Does salt help preserve homemade chicken broth?
Yes, adding salt can extend the shelf life of homemade chicken broth. Salt works to inhibit bacterial growth. Broths salted to taste after cooking can last up to 5 days in the fridge. Heavy salting to preserve broth can keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
However, heavily salted broth may need to be diluted before use in recipes. Too much salt can make dishes inedible.
Should you reheat homemade chicken broth?
It’s best to avoid reheating homemade chicken broth more than once. Reheating allows bacteria an opportunity to grow and multiply faster. The general rule is to reheat broth only once after initial cooking.
To reheat, bring the broth to a simmer on the stovetop or heat in the microwave until steaming hot. Avoid letting the broth come to a full boil as this can cause a loss of flavor. Reheated once, broth should be cooled, refrigerated, and used within 3-4 days.
Can you tell if homemade chicken broth has gone bad?
Here are some common signs that homemade chicken broth has spoiled and should be discarded:
- Mold growing on the surface
- Strange colors like red, green, or black
- A thick layer of film or foam
- Very acidic or rancid smell
- Curdled texture
Trust your senses. If homemade broth smells, looks, or tastes off, it has likely expired and may contain harmful bacteria. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to store homemade chicken broth properly
Proper storage is key to maximizing the shelf life of homemade chicken broth. Here are some tips:
- Cool the broth rapidly after cooking and refrigerate within 1-2 hours. Broth left out too long risks breeding bacteria.
- Store broth in airtight glass or plastic containers. Metal containers can react with acids in broth over time, affecting taste.
- Leave space at the top of containers to allow for expansion as broth freezes.
- Label containers with the date and contents.
- Use older broth first. Move newer broth to the back of the fridge or freezer.
- If freezing broth in bags, place in containers or bowls to avoid leaks.
Can you save homemade chicken broth if it spoils?
It’s not recommended to try to save broth that has already spoiled. There is no safe way to revive broth with off colors, smells, or textures. Consuming spoiled broth can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and food poisoning.
Prevention is key when it comes to homemade broth. Properly store broth in the fridge for 3-4 days max or freeze for 4-6 months. Discard if any signs of spoilage appear.
Is it safe to taste expired homemade chicken broth?
It’s not advised to taste homemade chicken broth that has expired. Even a small taste of spoiled broth could make you sick. Bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Clostridium perfringens can survive in broth and cause foodborne illness when ingested.
Err on the side of caution and stick to broth that has been stored properly within recommended time limits. When broth has expired, discard it.
How long does opened vs. unopened chicken broth last?
| Chicken Broth Type | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened | 6-8 months past expiration date | 6-8 months past expiration date |
| Opened | 4-5 days | 4-6 months |
An unopened, properly stored package of chicken broth lasts about 6-8 months past the printed expiration date. Once opened, homemade chicken broth only lasts 4-5 days in the fridge.
The freezer time limit applies whether chicken broth is opened or unopened. For best quality, freeze broth for no more than 4-6 months.
Does cooking chicken broth extend the shelf life?
Cooking chicken broth does help extend the shelf life compared to raw ingredients like vegetables, raw chicken, etc. However, the broth still has a limited shelf life and proper storage is important.
Cooking broth to a rolling boil can kill potentially harmful bacteria, extending the fridge life by a few days. But over time, new bacteria can grow in cooked broth so it’s critical to adhere to safe storage limits.
Cooking alone doesn’t make broth shelf-stable. Unless canned or pressure processed, store-bought and homemade chicken broth still require refrigeration.
Can you freeze chicken broth twice?
It’s not recommended to freeze homemade or store-bought chicken broth twice. Freezing and thawing broth twice increases the chance of bacterial growth.
Broth that has been thawed in the refrigerator can be safely refrozen once, but the quality may decline. Refreezing thawed broth more than once is not advised.
For best quality and food safety, try to freeze broth in the appropriate portion sizes needed for recipes. This avoids having to thaw and refreeze broth multiple times.
How long does chicken broth last once thawed?
Thawed chicken broth should be used within 1-2 days for food safety. It’s best to thaw broth in the fridge overnight rather than at room temperature. This helps prevent bacterial growth.
You can reuse thawed chicken broth in cooking. Boiling it for a few minutes can help extend the shelf life by a day or two. But thawed broth should never be refrozen without boiling first.
When reheating thawed broth, be sure to stir occasionally and heat it thoroughly until steaming hot all the way through. Never use broth that smells or looks questionable after thawing.
Does the type of chicken broth affect storage time?
The ingredients in different types of chicken broth can affect how long it lasts:
- Clear broth – Up to 5 days refrigerated, 6 months frozen
- Broth with meat – 3-4 days refrigerated, 4-6 months frozen
- Vegetable broth – 5-7 days refrigerated, 8-10 months frozen
- Canned broth – Unopened up to 2 years shelf-stable, opened up to 5 days refrigerated
Broths with extras like vegetables, noodles, or meat generally don’t last as long as plain clear broth. Canned broth keeps for up to 2 years unopened at room temperature because of preservatives.
Conclusion
Knowing the refrigerator and freezer shelf life of homemade chicken broth can prevent waste. In the fridge, homemade broth stays fresh for 3-4 days. Frozen properly in airtight containers, it will keep for 4-6 months.
Always inspect broth for signs of spoilage like off-colors, sliminess, or rancid odors. These are indicators homemade chicken broth has expired and may be unsafe to consume. When in doubt, throw expired broth out.
With proper storage techniques, homemade chicken broth can be enjoyed for several days refrigerated or many months frozen.
