Does Chicken Bouillon Go Bad?: Chicken Bouillon is a condensed or dehydrated chicken broth or stock. It is available in different forms like cubes, paste, powder or liquid. It adds chicken flavor and a bit of spiciness to your dishes.
As it is not used daily in cooking you might think about its expiration date. Like all other products, chicken bouillon also has a shelf life and eating expired dishes is not good for health. Here we are providing a few facts about does chicken bouillon go bad, its shelf life, storage tips and others.
- Does Chicken Bouillon Go Bad?
- How Long Does Chicken Bouillon Last?
- Can You Freeze Chicken Bouillon?
- Can I Eat Expired Chicken Bouillon?
- Best Tips to Store Chicken Bouillon
- How To Tell If Chicken Bouillon Has Gone Bad?
- Best Substitutes for Chicken Bouillon
- Does Knorr chicken flavor bouillon expire?
- How can you tell if chicken bouillon is bad?
- How long is chicken bouillon good for after opening?
- Can you use expired bouillon paste?
Does Chicken Bouillon Go Bad?
Yes, chicken bouillons do go bad. It is a concentrated cube of dehydrated chicken stock. When compared to other foods, chicken bouillon has a higher shelf life as it can stay good even after the expiration date. It is safe to eat bouillons for one to 2 years after the best-by date when you don’t notice spoilage.
Before going to confirm that your expired chicken bouillons are good, have a look at the indications to tell that bouillons are turned bad and their shelf life.
How Long Does Chicken Bouillon Last?
Bouillons are mainly prepared to improve the flavor of your foods. As it is made from dehydrated chicken, it has a higher shelf life. At the manufacturing unit, the cubes will lose 90% of moisture which makes the chicken bouillon last for a longer period.
The store-bought chicken bouillons come with a best-by date which indicates for how many days your bouillon will retain its high-quality flavor. After that particular period, the cubes begin to lose their quality, flavor, color, and odour slowly.
The exact shelf life of chicken bouillon may depend on the storage place. The unopened chicken bouillon bottle will last good for 2 years after the expiration date in the pantry and 1 year in the fridge. While opened chicken bouillon will maintain its quality for 2 years in the pantry and 1 year in the fridge.
When compared with commercially made products, homemade bouillon has a lesser lifespan i.e. 5 days in the refrigerator and 3 hours at the kitchen countertop. The following table represents the chicken bouillon shelf life.
| Pantry | Refrigerator | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken bouillon (opened) | Best by date +One – two years | 1 year |
| Chicken bouillon (unopened) | Best by date+ Two years | 1 year |
| Home-made Bouillon | 2-3 hours | 5 days |
Can You Freeze Chicken Bouillon?
Yes, you can freeze chicken bouillon. Store-bought chicken bouillons will last for a longer period without storing them in the refrigerator. But freezing helps to extend the shelf life for 2 years. The homemade chicken bouillons when stored in the freezer can last for 6 months.
How To Freeze Chicken Bouillon?
Freezing is the best way to store chicken bouillon. The simple steps to freeze them are along the lines:
- If you have an opened packet of chicken bouillon, then place it in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag. It is best to remove air from the bag before storing the bouillon.
- Now place the containers in the freezer and write the best-by date on them. The unopened packets can be placed in the freezer directly.
For using the frozen chicken bouillon, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator for several hours or place it on the kitchen counter for quick defrosting. You can use the thawed bouillon directly in the cooking process.
Can I Eat Expired Chicken Bouillon?
Yes, it is safe to eat expired chicken boullion, as we already know that it can’t go bad easily. But it is best to check the signs of spoilage before adding them to your dish. The expiration date mentioned on the package represents how long the product will stay in its best quality.
After that, the bouillon can start to degrade its quality, but it is safe to eat until you see it is spoiled. If you eat the damaged or mold-formed chicken bouillon, then you might get stomach pain, vomiting and so on.
Best Tips to Store Chicken Bouillon
Better storage is always needed for any food, and it is true for chicken bouillon too. As we know that chicken bouillon has a longer shelf life, but the best storage can increase its shelf life.
There is no need to store the market-bought bouillon cubes in the fridge. Instead, you can place them in the pantry. The storage place should be cool, dark and dry.
Exposing them to any moisture or air can lead to mold growth. If your pantry is not dark and cool, then you can transfer the chicken bouillon into an airtight container.
Air, moisture and sunlight can damage your bouillon. So, keeping your food away from all those can make them last longer. But this won’t work out for homemade bouillon as they don’t have added preservatives.
Take an airtight container and place all the bouillon cubes in them by leaving some gap between them also use parchment paper as a barrier. Close the lid and store them. The unopened pack can be placed in the pantry directly.
Placing the chicken bouillon in the refrigerator is the safest way to store them longer. Refrigerating works best for even homemade bouillon cubes.
Before storing them in the fridge, move them into an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bags or leave them in the original package. Once the packing is done, place it in the fridge.
How To Tell If Chicken Bouillon Has Gone Bad?
The easiest signs to tell that chicken bouillon has gone bad are mentioned here:
Mold Growth
If you observe any mold forming on the chicken bouillon, then it is not safe to consume them.
Color Changes
Chicken bouillon cubes will begin to change color after the expiration date. If you notice any white specs on them, then they should not be used anymore.
Bad Smell
The best way to tell that chicken bouillon is bad is the smell. Fresh bouillon cubes have a pleasant smell with added seasoning. If you get aby rotten smell, then it is not suitable for eating.
Funny Taste
Boil a small amount of water in the chicken bouillon cubes and take a small portion to taste it. If you feel any rotten taste, then throw it in the trash box.
Check more:
Best Substitutes for Chicken Bouillon
When your chicken bouillon is turned bad, you can add the following products as alternatives to your dishes.
- Mineral Salt
- Chicken Broth
- Baking Soda + Water
- Bouillon Powder
- Vegetable Bouillon Cubes
FAQs on Does Chicken Bouillon Go Bad or Expire
1. Does Knorr chicken flavor bouillon expire?
Yes, Knorr chicken flavor bouillon expires after the best-by date mentioned on its original package.
2. How can you tell if chicken bouillon is bad?
The simple techniques to tell that chicken bouillon is bad or spoiled are bad odor, foul flavor or appearance, mold formation, or rotten taste. If you notice any of these, then it has gone bad.
3. How long is chicken bouillon good for after opening?
The store-bought chicken bouillon is good for at least one year after opening as it is made with dehydrated food.
4. Can you use expired bouillon paste?
Yes, you can use expired bouillon paste but we can’t give a guarantee on its quality.
Key Takeaways
Chicken bouillon cubes are useful and versatile ingredients that enhance the flavor of your homemade dishes. But when you ask does chicken bouillon go bad? The answer is yes but it has longer shelf life.
Storing it in cool, dark and dry environments can even increase the shelf life. Be sure that your bouillon doesn’t have mold or a bad smell before consuming the product. Keep in touch with our site canfoodgobad.com to know more similar food-related articles.