Exact Answer: Up to 7 days
The shelf life of bone broth would last for around 7 days. Bone broth is known for its versatile nature and nutrient values. People can use bone broth in many ways. The bone broth is almost similar to the stock. The ingredients and preparation method of the bone broth would influence its shelf life.
The main ingredients present in the bone broth would be water, animal bones, vegetables, apple cider vinegar, and any other aromatic ingredients. The person would have to use acidic ingredients such as apple cider vinegar in the bone broth.
The collagen and minerals would get extracted from the bone of the animal if something acidic is present in the bone broth. The bone broth would last longer if it is made with proper hygiene.
How Long Does Bone Broth Last?
Bone Broth | Time |
In days | 7 days |
In weeks | 1 week |
The bone broth shelf life would get affected by its storage. Everyone should follow food safety storage techniques for making the bone broth last for more than 2 to 3 days. The bone broth would not last long if they are stored in hot places. The bone broth should not be stored at room temperature as it would start hosting bacterial growth.
The vegetables and other ingredients present in the bone broth would not last long if they are stored in dirty places. The location where the bone broth would get stored should be free from bacteria and pathogens. The best place to store the bone broth is in the fridge or freezer.
If someone wants to store the bone broth for around 5 to 6 months, then they can store it in the freezer. People can use silicone molds, and mason jars to store the bone broth. If you are storing the bone broth in the fridge, then you should store it Mason jar or any air-tight container.
The air-tight container would help in keeping the bone broth fresh for around 3 to 7 days. In-room temperature, the bone broth would not stay fresh for more than 1 to 2 hours. In summers, the bone broth would stay fresh for around 1 hour at room temperature.
Winters are good seasons make the bone broth last for 2 to 2.5 hours at room temperature. Before transferring the bone broth in the containers or jars, everyone should try to clean it properly. As any single bacteria present in the jars or containers would cause the bone broth to spoil faster.
Why Does Bone Broth Last This Long?
The bone broth could be prepared on the stovetop, slow cooker, and instant pot. People need to be careful while they are cooking the bone broth. Overcooking or undercooking the bone broth would not keep it fresh for a long time. For better flavors, people can roast the bones before using them in the bone broth.
The shelf-life of each ingredient present in the bone broth would make a huge impact on the shelf life of bone broth. Everyone should use fresh ingredients for making the bone broth. If a single ingredient present in the bone broth would go bad, then it would make the whole bone broth go bad within a few days.
Make sure to use clean water or filtered water for making the bone broth. Maintaining good hygiene while cooking the bone broth is vital for holding its flavors and nutrient value for a long time. People should avoid storing the bone broth at hot temperatures.
Heat and sun exposure would not allow the bone broth to stay fresh for a very long time. Moisture would reduce the shelf life of the bone broth. Therefore, everyone should avoid moisture contact with the bone broth. If you are storing the bone broth in the freezer, then don’t skip covering the bone broth.
Covering the bone broth would help in maintaining the texture and flavors of the bone broth. As ice crystals inside the freezer may affect the texture of the bone broth. If you are willing to use silicone molds or muffin trays for storing the bone broth. Then don’t skip covering the trays or molds with an air-tight plastic bag for keeping them last long.
Conclusion
The shelf life of the bone broth would be around 5 to 7 days depending on the storage and preparation. Everyone should avoid storing the bone broth in open containers inside the fridge or freezer. People should clean their hands before transferring the bone broth to a container.
Everyone should check the expiry date or condition of the ingredients before using them for making bone broth. The cooking time of the bone broth would depend on the cooking method used by the person.