Chicken Broth is commonly used in many recipes, including soups, porridges, or even gravies. Chicken Broth is usually prepared once and then used multiple times by storing it intact for a considerable amount of time. 

“How long can you use chicken broth” is a question which needs a definitive answer. Although, before answering that, we need to first know whether the chicken broth ever goes bad.

Purchased chicken broth can be stored in the fridge for 4 to 5 days maximum if stored in an airtight container. Homemade chicken broth in the fridge has a lesser shelf life than store-bought ones. 

Although some branded chicken broths in aseptic containers are said to last up to a year without any issues.

So it is basically a question of how you preserve the chicken broth. It does go bad but requires careful storage practice, ensuring a longer shelf life for us to use it. 

However, the lifespan is anyway tentative; the longer you keep it, the lesser its quality. Hence use it for a measured time interval before it goes all bad.

In this article, we will dive deep into factors regarding the storage of chicken broth and the allowed duration for its storage.

Does Chicken Broth Ever Go Bad?

Chicken broth bought in the store has a shelf life of about 6 months to 2 years. If you leave it unopened, it is valid for 3 months more than its printed date. It has to be stored in a cool place to have an extended shelf life.

The date which appears in the can is just a sell-by date and not an expiration date. The sellers recommend you use the stock by that time maximum and not have it for a long time.

The quality is the question here, and the liquid will not get spoiled. However, quality is a poignant point when it comes to using a stock.

Although, the chicken broth we are talking about here is the sealed one that has not yet opened. Once you remove it from the can and start using it, it has to be immediately shifted to the fridge.

How Long Does Chicken Broth Last In The Fridge?

Once placed in the fridge, the opened can of chicken broth lasts up to 4 or 5 days. The date will be labeled in the can, and that timeline will hold if you preserve it in the fridge.

Some chicken broth brands have an extended shelf life, and it does not matter if it is preserved in the fridge or outside.

However, an open can of chicken broth is advised to be used for 4 or 5 days after it has been preserved in the fridge. As long as you don’t open the seal, just follow the use-by date and store it in the fridge for the specified time. 

How Long Is The Chicken Broth Good After The Expiration Date?

An exact time is impossible to give in this case. Store-bought boxed chicken broths already have a shelf life of 6 months. An extra 3 months after the expiration date is not too much of an ask.

If you have stored it in the fridge, then 3 months would be appropriate. Jarred or canned broths can go up to 6 or 9 months after expiration.

Since we are talking about the lifespan after the expiration date, it is important to examine the broth for its quality before utilizing it. Any signs of contamination deserve the broth to be discarded. 

Although opened broths that are stored in the fridge should be used within the span of 4 or 5 days. If you seal it and package it tightly, it can last up to a month. You can move it straight away to the freezer if you need it any longer than the given timeline.

How Long Does Homemade Chicken Broth Last?

Homemade chicken broth is just without preservatives and is quite vulnerable that way. It has to be used within 3 to 4 days of cooking and stored in a sealed bottle or a container with no leaks.

If you plan to store it in the fridge, it is safer and lasts up to 4 days. Freezing it could be better if you need to store it longer. Anyway, it is necessary to package it in a tight container with no possible invasion of air or dirt.

How Long Is Chicken Broth Stored In The Freezer?

For best quality, the frozen chicken broth should be used within 2 to 3 months. It stays indefinitely in the freezer, but the longer you keep it, the higher the chance that its quality is strapped.

Hence using the broth as early as possible is recommended. Freeze the broth in small portions so that the shelf life is extended. If you have large volumes of chicken broth frozen for a long time, it is more likely that the quality has been diminished. 

So freezing the broth could help for some time, but it cannot be the ultimate choice and would not survive indefinitely. The maximum you can keep it frozen is only 3 months maximum.

How To Tell If The Chicken Broth Is Bad?

The chicken broth that is spoiled should be discarded at best. It should never even be considered for usage.

1. Smell

It would start smelling right away when it is spoiled. It radiates a sour and funky smell. If you feel the smell is unappetizing, it should be discarded.

2. Opened Longer Than Suggested

Just using the canned broth after the stipulated date ensures that the chicken broth is spoiled. Hence using it 4 or 5 days after the expiration date is not advisable.

3. Not Sealed Properly

If the can is not sealed properly or the package is compromised, there is a high chance of spoiled broth. Unsealed broths can never be used at any cost as there would also be a compromise in their quality.

Homemade chicken broth preserved in the fridge for more than 5 days is bound to get spoiled or would have been contaminated. The smell would be weird and would have become more diluted.

Is It Okay To Have A Fat Deposit On The Broth?

It is completely normal to have fat sediments on the broth. However, the fat deposits can be scraped off, and the broth can be used. 

Broth can be cloudy, and sometimes it can also settle in the bottom. Sediments in homemade broth are very natural, but it is quite doubtful if you happen to see them in the branded broth.

Should The Chicken Broth Be Refrigerated?

Chicken broth should be preserved in a cool and dry place. It has to be refrigerated immediately. Let us look at some pointers that need to be followed when you have chicken broth at home.

1. Once opened, the chicken broth should be stored in a refrigerator in a sealed container.
2. If it has been just cooked, it should be cooled until it turns tepid and then stored in the refrigerator.
3. The open broth can stay at room temperature for not more than 2 hours. If you happen to keep it more than that time, it is better discarded soon.

Storage Aspects Of Chicken Broth

1. Unopened chicken broth lasts up to 6 to 9 months when properly sealed. It can be used for 3 months beyond the expiration date.
2. Chicken broth lasts up to 4 or 5 days in the fridge when opened. However, it has to be stored in an airtight or sealed container. Some brands recommend a longer shelf life, in which case the date can be followed.
3. If it is left open and stored for 4 or 5 days, it is better to be tossed out as there is a high chance that it is swamped with bacteria.

Conclusion

Chicken broth is a commonly used ingredient, and the storage concept of the same deems important. Knowing how long it can be stored makes us more comfortable buying and using it confidently.

The specified timelines given in this article will help a great deal to preserve it and use it safely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)