How Long Can Chicken Broth Sit Out?

A lot of different soups, stews, gravies, and sauces use chicken broth because it’s flavorful and easy to use. Simmering chicken bones, meat, and vegetables in water is an easy way to make it at home. But chicken broth should be handled and stored properly, just like any other food that goes bad quickly, to stop bacteria from growing and people getting sick. How long is it safe for cooked chicken broth to stay out at room temperature?

Factors That Determine How Long Chicken Broth Can Sit Out

Several factors impact how long chicken broth can sit out before it becomes unsafe to consume:

• Type of broth: Homemade broths have a shorter shelf life than commercially packaged, shelf-stable broths which have been heat treated for preservation.

• What was used: Broths made with meat and vegetables go bad faster than broths made with only bones.

• Temperature Warm broths above 40°F allow more rapid bacteria growth

• Time: The longer broth sits out, the more opportunity for bacteria to multiply to dangerous levels.

• Containers: Broth that is left out in the open or in shallow, wide containers will cool down faster than broth that is kept in tall, narrow pots with lids.

So what do food safety experts recommend for homemade chicken broths?

Recommended Time Limits for Leaving Chicken Broth Out

Most recommendations allow 2-3 hours as the maximum time homemade chicken broth should sit out at room temperature. For example:

• The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says that homemade broths should be frozen or put in the fridge within two hours of being cooked.

• Food safety experts at StillTasty.com recommend boiling and then cooling homemade chicken broth within 3 hours.

• The Institute of Food Technologists suggests a 1-2 hour limit for leaving homemade broths out when kept above 140°F.

So according to food safety guidelines, chicken broth that sits out overnight for 8-12 hours is generally considered unsafe to consume or reheat.

What Happens If Chicken Broth Sits Out Too Long?

If chicken broth sits out too long at room temperature, bacteria can grow rapidly. Two types of dangerous bacteria that can grow in broth left out too long are Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens.

Bacillus cereus can produce toxins that cause vomiting and diarrhea. It thrives between the temperatures of 40-140°F.

Clostridium perfringens also causes diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It grows best between the temperatures of 70-110°F.

If chicken broth contains these bacteria and their toxins, reheating the broth will kill most bacteria but not eliminate the toxins. Consuming the toxins can still lead to food poisoning.

How To Handle Chicken Broth Safely

To keep chicken broth safe and avoid bacterial contamination:

• Refrigerate broth in a covered container within 2 hours of cooking. Broth will keep for 3-4 days refrigerated.

• For longer storage, freeze broth for up to 6 months.

• When reheating broth, bring to a full rolling boil before consuming.

• Don’t let cooked broth cool slowly at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

• When cooling broth to refrigerate or freeze, divide into smaller shallow containers to allow rapid chilling.

• If broth has been left out overnight for more than 8-12 hours, it’s best to discard it even if you reheat it to boiling. The toxins could remain.

What If Chicken Broth Is Left Out Overnight?

Many people wonder if chicken broth left out on the counter overnight can simply be reboiled in the morning to make it safe again. However, food safety experts advise against this for two reasons:

1. Boiling cannot remove toxins already produced by bacteria.

2. Spores of bacteria like Clostridium may survive boiling and contaminate the broth again.

The safest practice is to discard any broth left out more than 2 hours, especially if left overnight. Don’t take risks with homemade chicken broth. When in doubt, throw it out!

Tips to Prevent Leaving Chicken Broth Out Too Long

• Make broth schedules fit your routine. Don’t leave hot broth unattended.

• Chill broth rapidly in an ice bath before refrigerating.

• Know the capacity of your refrigerator. Make broth quantities that will fit.

• Freeze broth in portions to avoid keeping large amounts in the fridge.

• Label broth containers with dates and times. Track time limits.

• If broth won’t fit in the fridge, store overnight in a garage or enclosed porch if temperature is below 40°F.

Following basic food safety rules will keep your homemade chicken broth free of dangerous bacteria. Limit the time warm broth sits out to 2 hours maximum and refrigerate or freeze promptly in shallow containers. While reboiling broth left out overnight may kill bacteria, it doesn’t eliminate toxins so it’s better to be safe and discard broth not properly cooled within the recommended time limits.