The pot roast recipe called for two cups, so you opened a 32-ounce carton of beef broth, and the rest has been sitting in the refrigerator ever since. Or there is a jar of homemade beef stock from the weekend that you can’t quite place. It still looks dark and rich. But how long does it really last? Here is what USDA and extension guidance says about opened and unopened beef broth, homemade stock, freezing, and when to pour it out.
Does beef broth go bad?
The Short Answer
Yes. Opened store-bought beef broth keeps about 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator by USDA’s general guidance, unless the carton gives its own time. Homemade or cooked beef broth is shorter. USDA’s beef chart says 1 to 2 days, while its general chart says 3 to 4 and NMSU says about 3. Unopened shelf-stable broth keeps to the date and storage directions on the package. Throw out perishable broth left out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Freezer times of 2 to 3 months are about quality. Discard broth with mold, a sour smell, or a bulging or leaking package.
For a complete pantry and fridge reference, see our Food Storage Guide. The same rules apply to chicken broth, and for a related staple, see whether gravy goes bad.
Beef Broth Shelf Life: At a Glance
Unopened carton
Follow the best-by date and storage directions. USDA says dates are about quality
Unopened can
USDA lists low-acid canned soups at 2 to 5 years on the shelf
Opened store-bought broth, refrigerated
The label time if it has one. Otherwise 3 to 4 days, per USDA
Homemade broth or stock, refrigerated
USDA beef chart: 1 to 2 days. USDA general chart: 3 to 4. NMSU: about 3
Left out on the counter
2 hours at most, 1 hour above 90°F, per USDA
Freezer at 0°F
2 to 3 months for best quality. USDA says it stays safe
Broth vs stock
No storage difference found. Same rules for both
Mold, sour smell, bulging or leaking package
Discard it
Key Takeaways
USDA publishes two refrigerator times for cooked beef broth. Its beef chart says 1 or 2 days, and its general Keep Food Safe chart lists gravy and meat broth at 3 to 4 days. Both list 2 to 3 months frozen.
USDA’s Shelf-Stable Food Safety page lists low-acid canned goods, including soups, at 2 to 5 years on the shelf and 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator once opened. It gives no separate shelf life for aseptic cartons, so follow the package for cartons.
Commercial labels give their own times for their own products. College Inn’s FAQ says 4 to 5 days, a retailer listing of Swanson’s carton reproduces 14, Pacific Foods says 7 to 10 and Kitchen Basics says 7. Check the carton you have.
New Mexico State Extension treats homemade broth, including bone broth and stock, as one category, with a refrigerator time of up to about 3 days. We lean toward USDA’s shorter beef figure for homemade.
USDA says perishable food left out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F, should be thrown away.
USDA says food stored constantly at 0°F remains safe and that
