Does bone broth go bad in the fridge?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “Does bone broth go bad in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not bone broth goes bad in the fridge. Moreover, we are going to discuss the shelf life of bone broth in different conditions and whether or not you can store a reheated bone broth in the fridge.

So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.

Does bone broth go bad in the fridge?

Like all other food items, bone broth also goes bad after a certain time. Bone broth is made using meaty bones like that of chicken, beef, pork, etc. and as meat is a highly perishable commodity therefore you should handle and store bone broth with care.

What is the shelf life of bone broth when kept in the fridge?

Open canned bone broth can last for up to 4-5 days if it is stored at approximately 40°F or below in the fridge. Moreover, the homemade bone broth also has the same shelf life and lasts for about 4-5 days when stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below in the fridge.

It is a good practice to store bone broth on the shelf of the fridge rather than the door as there is a lot of temperature fluctuation at the door of the fridge that can mess up the quality of the bone broth. 

It is a good practice to store the bone broth on the shelf of the fridge rather than the door as there is a lot of temperature fluctuation at the door of the fridge that can mess up the quality of the bone broth. 

Moreover, as soon as you open a can of bone broth, it is recommended to transfer the leftovers in the air-tight container or plastic zipper bag immediately and store it in the refrigerator.

In the case of homemade bone broth, you should never store the hot bone broth directly in the air-tight container as the moisture can build up inside the container and can provide a suitable environment for bacteria to grow, which can resultantly spoil your bone broth. 

You should let the bone broth cool thoroughly before storing it in an air-tight container.

You can read about bone broth and its benefits here.

Can I keep my bone broth at room temperature?

Homemade or open canned bone broth can last for about 2 hours when kept at room temperature. 

You should discard the bone broth that has been left in open for more than 2 hours as bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40°F and 140°F, therefore there are greater chances of the bone broth being already contaminated with bacteria when left out for more than 2 hours.

Can I store bone broth in the freezer?

Bone broth if kept in an air-tight heavy-duty freezer container can last for up to 4-6 months in the freezer. It can last for even more than that but this is the time during which you can enjoy the best quality of the bone broth.

Thus keeping bone broth in the freezer will increase its shelf life considerably owing to the cool temperature of the freezer that halts the bacterial growth on bone broth.

How to thaw frozen bone broth?

You can either thaw the frozen bone broth by leaving it in the fridge overnight or you can defrost it in the microwave or a bowl of cold water.

Bone broth if thawed in the fridge can be kept there for 3-4 days before reheating and consuming it. If the bone broth is thawed in the microwave or a bowl of cold water, it is better to reheat and consume it immediately. 

You should try to reheat the bone broth till its temperature reaches at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the bacteria that found their way to your chicken broth.  

Can I store reheated broth in the fridge?

Once you have reheated your refrigerated or frozen bone broth, you should never refrigerate it. 

The reason behind this is that when you heat the previously refrigerated or frozen chicken broth, its temperature rises from 40 degrees Fahrenheit and that is the suitable temperature for bacteria to grow, thereby bacteria can grow at a faster pace at it and you should never refrigerate such chicken broth again.

Other FAQs about Bone Broth that you may be interested in.

Does unopened bone broth go bad?

Can you boil broth

Can you eat chicken broth without cooking it?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does bone broth go bad in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not bone broth goes bad in the fridge. Moreover, we discussed the shelf life of bone broth in different conditions and whether or not you can store a reheated bone broth in the fridge.

Citations

Does Chicken Broth Go Bad? How Long Does It Last?

https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16777

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