How Long Does Vegetable Broth Last?

How long does vegetable broth last?

By TheWholePortion

Page last updated: 03/21/2023 | Next review date: 03/21/2025

Author bio

The Whole Portion is your go-to source for reliable nutrition, health, and wellness information. We are a team of passionate and experienced nutritionists, dietitians, and food science writers dedicated to providing high-quality content that helps you make informed decisions about your health. You can view our writers and review board here. Our articles are reviewed by PhD Food scientists and we only cite from Government or Scientific publications. We are owned and funded by PressPublish.

TheWholePortion

View More north_east

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long does vegetable broth last” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of a vegetable broth. Moreover, we are going to discuss whether or not you can refrigerate the reheated vegetable broth.

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

How long does vegetable broth last?

The shelf life of vegetable broth varies depending upon whether it was commercially processed store-bought vegetable broth or if it was homemade along with the storage conditions in which it is kept.

Store-bought vegetable broth

Unopened store-bought vegetable broth lasts for about 1-3 months past the “best by” date when stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.

As soon as you open the can of your store-bought vegetable broth, the clock starts ticking and you have a limited time in which you can enjoy the good quality and flavor of vegetable broth. Once opened, store-bought vegetable broth lasts for about 4-5 days. It is the time in which you can enjoy the best quality and flavor of your vegetable broth.

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

Homemade vegetable broth

Homemade vegetable broth lasts for about 5-7 days when stored properly in the fridge in an air-tight container at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

You should never store the hot vegetable 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 vegetable broth. You should let the vegetable broth cool thoroughly before storing it in an air-tight container.

It is worth mentioning that these figures are just the estimated shelf life of the vegetable broth and you can enjoy the best quality of vegetable broth within this time. Vegetable broth can last for longer than this, provided that it is stored properly.

You can read how to make vegetable broth here.

Does vegetable broth go bad?

Yes, vegetable broth has a very short shelf life and only lasts for a maximum of 5 days. This too is possible if it is continuously refrigerated and not used during this time period. The more you expose it to room temperature, the quicker it will spoil.

Is vegetable broth safe to use after the best-before date?

The “best by” or “best before” date that is written on the can of store-bought vegetable broth refers to the quality rather than safety so the vegetable broth doesn’t necessarily go bad immediately after the best before date.

It is the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality and flavor of vegetable broth but you can still use a vegetable broth that is past this date as long as it was stored properly and there is no mold, off-smell, or off-flavor in it.

Other FAQs about Vegetables which you may be interested in.

How to boil an artichoke without a steamer?

How long do cooked vegetables last in the fridge?

4 ways to preserve fruits and vegetables

How long does vegetable broth last at room temperature?

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

You should discard the vegetable 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 vegetable broth being already contaminated with bacteria when left out for more than 2 hours.

Can I freeze vegetable broth?

Yes, you can easily freeze vegetable broth. Vegetable broth if kept in an air-tight heavy-duty freezer container can last for up to 4-6 months in the freezer. Thus keeping the vegetable broth in the freezer will increase its shelf life considerably owing to the cool temperature of the freezer that halts the bacterial growth on the vegetable broth.

Vegetable broth if thawed in the fridge can be kept there for 3-4 days before reheating and consuming it. If the vegetable broth is thawed and reheated in the microwave, it is better to consume it immediately

Can I refrigerate the reheated vegetable broth?

Once you have reheated your refrigerated or frozen vegetable broth, you should never refrigerate it. The reason behind this is that when you heat the previously refrigerated or frozen vegetable 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 vegetable broth again.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long does vegetable broth last” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of a vegetable broth. Moreover, we discussed whether or not you can refrigerate the reheated vegetable broth.