The recipe called for half a cup, so you opened a whole carton of chicken broth, and now the rest has been in the refrigerator since the last time anyone made soup. Or there is a pot of homemade stock from the weekend that you can’t quite remember cooling. It still looks like broth. But how long does it really last? Here is what USDA and extension guidance says about opened and unopened broth, homemade stock, freezing, and when to pour it out.
Does chicken broth go bad?
The Short Answer
Yes. Unopened shelf-stable broth keeps according to the date and storage directions on the package, and USDA says dates are about quality rather than safety. Once opened, USDA gives 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator for opened low-acid canned food, which includes soups, for leftovers, and for chicken broth or gravy. We use 3 to 4 days as our default for opened and homemade broth or stock. Some labels give a longer time, so follow the label when it has one. We found no guidance that stores stock and broth differently. Don’t leave perishable broth out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Freezer times of 2 to 3 months are about quality. Throw out broth with mold or a sour smell, or in a bulging or leaking container.
For a complete pantry and fridge reference, see our Food Storage Guide. For a related kitchen staple, see whether gravy goes bad.
Chicken 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 broth, refrigerated
The label time if it has one. Otherwise 3 to 4 days, per USDA for opened low-acid canned food
Homemade broth or stock, refrigerated
3 to 4 days, per USDA leftovers guidance and its chicken broth row. NMSU says about 3 days
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’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.
Some commercial labels give a different time after opening. Retailer listings for Swanson and Stater Bros. chicken broth reproduce directions to refrigerate after opening and use within 14 days, so follow the label when it gives one.
USDA’s Keep Food Safe cold storage chart lists gravy and meat broth at 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and 2 to 3 months in the freezer. Its Chicken from Farm to Table chart lists chicken broth or gravy at the same 3 to 4 days and 2 to 3 months.
USDA’s leftovers guidance says cooked leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, and that large amounts should be divided into shallow containers s
