Chicken broth is a versatile and flavorful ingredient that can be used to enhance soups, stews, sauces, gravies, rice dishes, and more. Many cooks like to make chicken broth in large batches and freeze the leftovers for later use. But how long does homemade chicken broth last in the freezer? Here’s what you need to know about freezing and storing chicken broth.
How Long Does Chicken Broth Last In The Freezer?
Properly stored, chicken broth can last 3-6 months in the freezer. The shelf life depends on a few factors:
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Air exposure – Broth stored in an airtight container will last longer compared to broth stored in a container that allows air inside Exposure to air can cause freezer burn,
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Freezer temperature – Broth will maintain quality longer if frozen at 0°F or below,
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Power outages – Temporary power losses can cause freezer temperature fluctuations and shorten shelf life
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Opening the freezer – Repeated openings allow warm air inside, which can also shorten shelf life.
As long as the broth maintains proper frozen temperature and has minimal air exposure, it can safely stay in the freezer for 6 months. However, for best flavor and texture, try to use frozen broth within 3-4 months.
How To Freeze Chicken Broth
Freezing chicken broth in small portions makes it easy to thaw just what you need for recipes. Here are some tips:
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Let broth cool completely before freezing. Transfer hot broth directly into the freezer can cause containers to crack.
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Freeze broth in ice cube trays, muffin tins, or silicone molds. Once frozen, pop out the cubes/portions and transfer to freezer bags or airtight containers.
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Label bags or containers with the broth amount and date. Freeze in ready-to-use portions like 1 cup or 2 cups.
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Leave headspace in containers to allow for expansion during freezing.
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Use freezer-safe bags, plastic containers, or mason jars. Glass jars work well if properly sealed.
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For best quality, use frozen chicken broth within 3-4 months.
How To Thaw Frozen Chicken Broth
Frozen chicken broth is easy to thaw:
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Refrigerator thawing – For slow thawing, place frozen broth in the refrigerator. Allow overnight or up to 24 hours to thaw completely.
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Cold water bath – For quicker thawing, submerge the frozen broth container in a bowl of cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until thawed.
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Microwave thawing – Thaw frozen broth in short 10-15 second bursts in the microwave, stopping to stir in between. Take care not to overheat.
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Add frozen broth to cooking – Frozen broth cubes or portions can be added directly to hot soups, stews, or sauces. The heat will thaw and incorporate the broth as it cooks.
Always thaw broth in the refrigerator or with cold water. Never use hot water thawing methods. Refrigerate thawed broth and use within 2 days. Do not refreeze thawed chicken broth.
How To Use Thawed Chicken Broth
Thawed chicken broth is a versatile kitchen staple. Here are some great ways to use it:
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Make chicken soup or stew from scratch
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Cook grains like rice, quinoa or barley in broth instead of water
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Use as a base for sauces, gravies and pan sauces
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Add to braised meat dishes for extra flavor
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Make a simple soup by simmering veggies in broth
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Use in place of water when cooking veggies, beans or lentils
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Add richness and moisture to stuffing and dressing dishes
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Make a broth-based risotto for extra creamy texture
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Add to baked goods like bread or muffins for a savory twist
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Use as a poaching liquid for lean proteins like chicken breast or fish fillets
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Simmer broth with aromatics to make a simple sipping broth
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Cook beans, lentils or grains in diluted broth instead of plain water
Homemade chicken broth is prized for its rich flavor. With proper freezing and storage methods, you can keep a stash in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw frozen broth overnight in the fridge or with a cold water bath. Use thawed chicken broth to make delicious soups, braises, grains and more.
Choosing Containers To Freeze Broth In
There are a variety of containers that you can use to freeze chicken broth. And there are several things to consider when you’re deciding which of them is best for your purposes.
You can use a plastic storage container designed for food storage. These are not airtight. They will keep your broth in the freezer for a month or so, but at that point there is a pretty prominent risk of freezer burn developing on the broth.
Glass containers that don’t have an airtight lid will produce the same result. Personally, when I use a container to store my broth in, I go for glass jars, such as a mason jar, with a plastic lid.
This works well and it allows me to easily freeze either a 2 cup (pint jar) or a 4 cup (quart jar) portion of broth without measuring it out. It is also very easy to monitor the condition of the broth in a mason jar. They have great visibility.
To freeze smaller portions of chicken broth, you can use muffin tins or ice cube trays. And then transfer the frozen portions to an airtight container or a freezer safe baggie.
Im not a proponent of using plastic in the kitchen. So, a plastic bag is not my favorite choice for storing broth in the freezer. But it does work better than other containers, unless you can find something that is truly airtight.
Freezing Chicken Broth In Different Portions
Once you’ve decided on what size portion you want to freeze your chicken broth in, it’s time to get it in the freezer. Before you put your broth in it’s long term storage container, take a minute to label and date the container.
This is one of those things that always seems unnecessary in the moment. It feels like there’s no way that you’ll not know what’s in that container when you pull it out of the freezer later. After all, you’re the one who packaged it, right?!?!
Well … I can assure you that forgetting what’s in a container, frozen or otherwise, happens quite often. And, besides, you want to know when your broth is coming to the end of it’s life cycle so you can use it up.
So, you need to date it anyway. The whole point of freezing it is to keep from wasting it’s yummy goodness. Don’t drop the ball now.
Go ahead label and date the container. All you need is a little tape and a waterproof marker. Masking tape works well for this purpose, and it’s inexpensive and easy to remove from the container. If you’re using ziploc freezer bags, you can write directly on the baggie.
When you’re freezing broth for future use in canning jars, be sure that you leave a little head space in the container before you put it in the freezer. The broth will expand as it progresses from room temperature to freezing, and you don’t want it’s expansion to break the container or, more likely, the lid.
The first time I used a jar to store my broth, I put it in the freezer without the lid on it until it was frozen. By doing this, I was certain there was enough space in the jar for the broth to expand.
Now I know about how much it expands, so I no longer have to do that. But if you are freezing in a container for the first time, this is one of the best options for you to avoid having any issues with overexpansion of your broth.
If you are using muffin trays to freeze your broth, you’re going to want to fill the muffin cups on the tray with broth, put the tray in the freezer, and let it freeze completely.
Then remove it from the freezer and pop the broth out of the tray. Using silicone muffin pans makes it very easy to pop the broth out. So, if you have them, use them.
Place the frozen portions of broth in a freezer safe, airtight container and put them back in the fridge. This is where a plastic freezer baggie almost becomes a necessary evil. It is probably the best way to go for this storage method.
It is not a great option for the environment, but it works better than any other way I’ve found. I simply use the bag for as long as I possibly can. It lasts through many batches of broth.
Finally, if you’re using an ice cube tray to turn your tasty, homemade broth into chicken broth cubes so that you have smaller amounts at your fingertips in the kitchen, follow the same procedure that you would when using a muffin tray.
Any of these different methods will serve you very well.
How to Freeze Broth with Zero Freezer Burn
FAQ
Can frozen chicken broth go bad?
Chicken broth can be refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen (for best quality) for 2-3 months.
How long can stock keep in the freezer?
Freeze: Homemade chicken broth will keep for up to six months in the freezer, and store-bought broth will last for four months.Aug 20, 2024
How to freeze and store chicken broth?
I generally use quart-sized Ziploc freezer bags. Don’t overfill the bags: Liquids expand as they freeze, so be sure to leave a little extra room to account for this. In a quart-sized bag, I usually put only two to three cups of food. In gallon-sized bags, I put about three quarts (12 cups) or so.
How long can a stock be frozen?
Once frozen, transfer blocks to a sealable container. You can take out as many cubes as you need and reseal tub. Stocks can be frozen for up to 3 months. Always remember to clearly label and date what you’re freezing so you can keep track of what you have and use it in good time.
Can you freeze chicken broth?
To store in freezer bags, place a freezer bag in a large bowl. Fold the top of the bag over the edge of the bowl for easier filling. Pour the chicken broth into the freezer bags and then seal the bags, leaving some headroom at the top to allow for expansion. Freezing the broth in equal measures can make it easy to thaw the correct amount later.
Can You thaw frozen chicken broth?
When it comes time to use that frozen chicken broth and you just want to get dinner done, it can be tempting to thaw food in the worst way by dropping your bag of frozen chicken broth into a bowl of hot, steamy water. However, this should be avoided as it can encourage bacterial growth.
Should frozen broth be refrigerated before cooking?
In an ideal world, you should put frozen broth in the fridge the night before you plan to use it and let it slowly thaw in that chilled environment. Doing that will ensure that it doesn’t warm all the way to dangerous temperatures until you’re ready to cook with it.
How long does chicken stock last in the freezer?
However, if you plan to hold onto it for longer than that, then you’ll want to transfer it: Chicken stock will keep in the freezer for two to three months. It is worth noting that, while the USDA’s recommendation for the refrigerator is related to safety, for the freezer, it’s all about quality.
How long does it take to cook chicken in broth?
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 45-60 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove chicken from broth and cool for 10-15 minutes. Cut the meat from the bones then return the bones to the broth and simmer another 40-45 minutes.
Should you put broth in cold water before cooking?
Doing that will ensure that it doesn’t warm all the way to dangerous temperatures until you’re ready to cook with it. However, if you’re still in a bit of a rush, put the broth in a bowl of cold water on the counter so that it thaws faster, but still at a safe temperature.