Does Beef Broth Need to Be Refrigerated? Opened or Unopened

Table of Contents

• Does Unopened Beef Broth Need to Be Refrigerated?
• Does Beef Broth Need to Be Refrigerated After Opening?
• Should You Keep Opened Broth in the Carton or Pour It Into a Container?
• How Should You Store Unopened Broth in the Pantry?
• Does Homemade Beef Broth or Stock Need to Be Refrigerated?
• How Long Can Beef Broth Sit Out While You Cook?
• Is It Normal for Refrigerated Beef Broth to Turn Solid?
• What Can You Make With Opened Beef Broth?
• Does Beef Broth Need to Be Refrigerated FAQ
  • Does beef broth need to be refrigerated?
  • Does unopened beef broth need to be refrigerated?
  • Does beef broth need to be refrigerated after opening?
  • Does beef stock need to be refrigerated?
  • Does beef bone broth need to be refrigerated?
  • Does homemade beef broth need to be refrigerated?
  • Do you have to cool beef broth before refrigerating it?
  • Can you store unopened beef broth in the refrigerator?
  • Can opened beef broth stay in the carton in the refrigerator?
  • How long can beef broth sit out?
  • Does Margarine Need to Be Refrigerated? What USDA Guidance Actually Says
  • What temperature should the refrigerator be for beef broth?
  • What happens if you don’t refrigerate opened beef broth?
  • Why is some beef broth on the shelf and some in the refrigerated aisle?
  • Where should you store unopened beef broth?
  • How long does opened beef broth last in the refrigerator?
  • Why do labels give different times after opening?
  • Why did my refrigerated broth turn solid?
  • Does Swanson beef broth need to be refrigerated?
  • Does College Inn beef broth need to be refrigerated?
  • Does canned beef broth need to be refrigerated?
  • What kind of container should opened broth go in?
  • How long can unopened beef broth stay in the pantry, and what do the dates mean?
  • Can you get sick from broth that was not refrigerated?
  • Can you freeze beef broth in the carton?
  • What can I make with opened beef broth?
• Further Reading

You bring home a carton of beef broth for the pot roast, and it came off an ordinary shelf, not out of a cold case. Does it really need to take up room in a crowded refrigerator? And what about the half-used carton from last week, or the pot of stock cooling on the stove? The answer depends on which kind of broth you have and whether it has been opened. Here is what USDA, extension and brand guidance says, and how to read your label.

Does beef broth need to be refrigerated?

The Short Answer: It depends on the carton. Shelf-stable beef broth, the kind sold on the ordinary pantry shelf, doesn’t need refrigeration until it is opened. Once opened, refrigerate it promptly and follow the storage and container directions on your package. Broth sold refrigerated or frozen must stay cold. USDA’s charts differ on refrigerated beef broth, listing 3 to 4 days for gravy and meat broth and 1 to 2 days for cooked beef broth. We’d plan on 2 days for homemade, refrigerated within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.

For a complete pantry and fridge reference, see our Food Storage Guide. For how long broth lasts once it is open, see whether beef broth goes bad. The same rules apply to chicken broth.

📋 Refrigerating Beef Broth: At a Glance

Key Takeaways

• USDA’s Shelf-Stable Food Safety page lists broths among aseptically packaged products. It describes filling a sterilized package with a commercially sterile food and sealing it in a hygienic environment, and says to store shelf-stable foods in a cool, dry place.
• The same page says unused portions of opened canned food must be refrigerated and may stay in the can, though glass or plastic is better for quality. It lists opened low-acid canned food, which includes soups, at 3 to 4 days.
• USDA’s general chart lists gravy and meat broth at 3 to 4 days. Its beef chart lists cooked beef gravy or beef broth at 1 or 2 days. Neither row is written specifically for opened cartons.
• USDA says to refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F, and to keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below.
• Swanson’s FAQ says to store non-refrigerated items where temperatures rarely exceed 70°F, and to follow the label once opened.
• The manufacturer FAQs and product-label directions we read give opened times of 4 to 14 days. These are product-specific, so follow your own label.
• USDA says hot food can go directly into the refrigerator, so homemade broth doesn’t need to cool on the counter first.

How to Tell Which Kind You Have
As a rule of thumb, which is our own reading, a carton on an ordinary shelf whose label says to refrigerate after opening is shelf-stable. A carton from a refrigerated or frozen case, or one whose label says keep refrigerated or keep frozen, needs to stay cold. If you can’t tell, read the label, and if it still isn’t clear, we’d refrigerate it as a precaution, which is our own suggestion. For a related staple, see whether gravy needs to be refrigerated.

Not if it is shelf-stable. USDA’s Shelf-Stable Food Safety page lists broths among aseptically packaged products. In aseptic processing, it says, a sterilized package is filled with a commercially sterile food product and sealed within a hygienic environment. The package’s thin foil layer then forms a barrier against light and oxygen, which USDA says eliminates the need for refrigeration. It says to store canned and shelf-stable foods in a cool, dry place. USDA lists soups other than tomato among low-acid canned goods, so we apply the same pantry rule to canned broth. Pacific Foods’ FAQ says its products are shelf stable and don’t need refrigeration before opening, though the answer covers its products in general. A SmartLabel page for a store-brand 32 oz beef broth carton from Publix says to store the unopened carton at room temperature and to refrigerate it promptly after each use.

USDA also says not all canned goods are shelf stable. Some, such as some canned ham and seafood, are labeled Keep Refrigerated and are not safe at room temperature. That is a canned-food example, but it shows why the label matters. Broth sold from a refrigerated or frozen case is a different product, and we’d keep it cold, which is our own reading, so go by the label.

Does Beef Broth Need to Be Refrigerated After Opening?

Yes. USDA says unused portions of opened canned food must be refrigerated, and its chart lists opened low-acid canned food, a category that includes soups, at 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. USDA’s Keep Food Safe page lists gravy and meat broth at 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and 2 to 3 months in the freezer. It also says to refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours, or 1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F, and that the refrigerator should be at 40°F or below. Those rows are for canned food, leftovers and meat broth, and we apply them to opened beef broth cartons, which is our own reading. Every manufacturer direction in the table below that we could open also says to refrigerate after opening. Pour out what you need and put the rest back promptly. See our beef broth shelf-life guide for how many days it lasts.

These directions come from manufacturer FAQs and package directions where we could open them, a SmartLabel page for Publix and a Hannaford retailer listing for Swanson, all checked in November 2026. A retailer listing for College Inn’s 32 oz beef broth carton says 10 days, not the 4 to 5 on its FAQ, which is one more reason to read your own carton. Labels change, so treat the table as a reason to check your package, not as a time for your product. Swanson’s FAQ says that once the product is opened, you should follow the directions on the label for storage and disposal. A time on a package is the manufacturer’s direction for that product, not a general safety limit. If the label gives no after-opening time, 3 to 4 days is a general USDA reference for opened low-acid canned foods and for gravy and meat broth. USDA’s beef chart gives a shorter 1 to 2 days for cooked beef broth, and it is not written specifically for opened cartons. For homemade beef broth, we’d use the more conservative 1 to 2 day figure, which is our own choice.

Should You Keep Opened Broth in the Carton or Pour It Into a Container?

Follow any container directions on your package first. The Publix beef broth above, for example, says to keep opened broth in a separate container. Opened canned broth can stay in the can in the refrigerator, per USDA, but USDA says to place the unused portion in a glass or plastic storage container to preserve quality and flavor. For a carton with no such direction, USDA’s page doesn’t say. We’d keep it in the carton only if it reseals tightly, and otherwise pour it into a clean jar or airtight container. Either way, write the date you opened it on the container. Those tips are our own.

How Should You Store Unopened Broth in the Pantry?

Somewhere cool and dry, away from heat. USDA says not to put canned and shelf-stable goods above or beside the stove, under the sink, or in a damp garage or basement. It says temperatures below 85°F are best and that temperatures over 100°F are harmful to canned goods. Swanson’s FAQ is stricter and recommends a spot where temperatures rarely exceed 70°F, while Pacific Foods’ FAQ gives a range of 32 to 80°F. We’d aim for the cooler end.

In winter, don’t leave broth where it could freeze. A Swanson direction reproduced in a retailer listing says not to freeze it in the carton and to discard a damaged or unusually inflated carton, so follow that warning if a carton freezes accidentally. USDA says frozen cans can swell because the food expanded, but that cans can also swell from contamination, so swollen cans should be discarded. It also says to discard frozen cans that were allowed to thaw at 40°F or higher. USDA’s page has more steps for an intact can that is still frozen, so check it before using one.

Does Homemade Beef Broth or Stock Need to Be Refrigerated?

Yes, promptly. USDA’s leftovers guidance says to divide large amounts into shallow containers. It also says hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath first. You don’t need to wait for a pot to cool on the stove. The 2-hour rule applies here too, or 1 hour above 90°F. USDA’s beef chart lists cooked beef gravy or beef broth at 1 or 2 days in the refrigerator, while its general chart says 3 to 4 days for gravy and meat broth. NMSU Extension says up to about 3 days for homemade broth, including bone broth and stock. Penn State Extension says finished chicken or turkey stock can be refrigerated for up to three days, and we apply that to beef stock ourselves. We’d plan on 2 days, which is our own conservative lean toward the beef figure. Stock and bone broth follow the same rules as broth, as far as we found.

How Long Can Beef Broth Sit Out While You Cook?

Perishable broth shouldn’t sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. USDA’s Danger Zone guidance says bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F and 140°F and that food shouldn’t be left out of refrigeration over 2 hours. That applies to perishable broth: opened, homemade or refrigerated. An unopened shelf-stable carton in the pantry is a different case. So is broth kept hot at 140°F or above, and the CDC says to keep food heated to 140°F or hotter until serving, or cold at 40°F or below. A pot cooling on the stove is not hot holding. If you leave opened broth out overnight, we would pour it out.

Is It Normal for Refrigerated Beef Broth to Turn Solid?

For bone-based broth, yes. Swanson’s FAQ says bone broth may gel in colder temperatures because of the high concentration of stock, and that the gelling disappears when heated. We’d expect homemade beef stock to behave the same way. A jelly-like set is not a spoilage sign by itself, but it doesn’t show the broth is safe either. Melting when warmed and a normal smell don’t prove it, because USDA says you can’t see, smell or taste harmful bacteria. Keep counting the days since opening. Penn State Extension says the fat will solidify on top once stock has cooled.

What Can You Make With Opened Beef Broth?

Soup is the easiest way to use up an open carton within its days. We have red lentil soup, tortilla soup, cauliflower soup with scallops, clam corn chowder and New Orleans seafood gumbo. Check each recipe for the type and amount of broth it calls for. If a soup comes out thin, see how to thicken soup without cream, and for more on soup, see common soup mistakes. Cooking rice or grains in broth instead of water is our own suggestion. Refrigerate the finished dish promptly and see our guides to how long leftovers last and whether roast beef goes bad.

Signs Something Is Wrong

• Visible mold on or in the broth. Don’t sniff it. Discard it.
• A sour, rancid or off smell. USDA lists a foul odor as a warning sign for canned food. For broth in general, this is our own checklist, not an agency list.
• A bulging, swollen, leaking or deeply dented can. USDA says to discard swollen cans, not to use food from leaking, bulging or badly dented cans, and to discard cans with a deep dent, especially on a seam.
• A damaged or unusually inflated carton. A Swanson beef broth carton direction reproduced in a retailer listing says to discard it.
• A can that hisses loudly or spurts liquid when opened. USDA says not to taste or use such food.
• Left out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F). Throw it out, even if it looks fine.
• Opened longer than the label allows. With no label time, we use USDA’s 3 to 4 days for store-bought and 1 to 2 for homemade.
• Stored somewhere hot. USDA says temperatures over 100°F are harmful to canned goods. We’d apply the same caution to cartons.

We don’t suggest tasting broth to test it. A good look and smell don’t prove it is safe, so count the days.

Things That Don’t Automatically Mean Trouble

• An unopened shelf-stable carton stored in the pantry instead of the refrigerator. USDA says foil-lined aseptic packaging eliminates the need for refrigeration.
• Broth that turns jelly-like in the refrigerator, especially bone broth. Swanson says the gel disappears when heated.
• A layer of fat that firms up on top of chilled stock. Penn State Extension describes this.
• A best-by date that has passed on a sealed carton with no bulge, leak or damage. USDA says dates are about quality.

These are quality observations, not safety tests. Days since opening and storage matter more.

Quick Storage Reference

• Unopened shelf-stable: Pantry, cool and dry, away from the stove and sink.
• Unopened, sold refrigerated or frozen: Keep cold, per the label.
• Opened store-bought: Refrigerate promptly. Label time, or 3 to 4 days if none.
• Homemade: Refrigerate within 2 hours, in shallow containers. Plan on 2 days.
• Counter: 2 hours at most, 1 hour above 90°F.
• Refrigerator: 40°F or below.

How We Checked This
In November 2026 we read USDA’s Shelf-Stable Food Safety page, its Keep Food Safe page and cold storage chart, its leftovers guidance, its Danger Zone page, its Beef From Farm to Table chart and its food product dating guidance. We read Penn State Extension’s page on homemade chicken or turkey stock, an undated NMSU Extension fact sheet on homemade bone broth storage, the CDC’s C. perfringens pages and Swanson’s FAQ. We read the FAQs of Pacific Foods, Kitchen Basics and College Inn, a SmartLabel page for a Publix beef broth and Hannaford retailer listings for Swanson and College Inn beef broth. USDA’s general chart has a gravy and meat broth row and its beef chart has a cooked beef gravy or beef broth row, and we apply both to beef broth ourselves. The USDA pages we read give no after-opening time for aseptic cartons. The pantry locations and temperatures come from USDA and manufacturer guidance. The container tips, the opening-date tip, the 2-day target for homemade broth and the smell checklist are our own judgment. Our own suggestions say we’d or we suggest. This article is general information, not medical advice.

Does Beef Broth Need to Be Refrigerated FAQ

Does beef broth need to be refrigerated?

Not while it is sealed and shelf-stable. Once opened, yes. Broth sold from a refrigerated or frozen case, and homemade broth, need to stay cold.

Does unopened beef broth need to be refrigerated?

Not if it is shelf-stable. USDA lists broths among aseptically packaged products, which are filled into sterilized packages with commercially sterile food. If the label says keep refrigerated or keep frozen, keep it cold.

Does beef broth need to be refrigerated after opening?

Yes. USDA says unused portions of opened canned food must be refrigerated. Use the time on the label, or 3 to 4 days if it gives none.

Does beef stock need to be refrigerated?

Opened or homemade beef stock does. We found no guidance that stores stock and broth differently, and NMSU Extension’s homemade bone broth fact sheet says up to about 3 days for homemade broth, including bone broth and stock.

Does beef bone broth need to be refrigerated?

Opened and homemade bone broth does. NMSU lists bone broth with other homemade broth at up to about 3 days in the refrigerator. Chilled bone broth may gel, which Swanson says disappears when heated.

Does homemade beef broth need to be refrigerated?

Yes, within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. USDA says hot food can go directly into the refrigerator or into an ice or cold water bath first, and to divide large amounts into shallow containers.

Do you have to cool beef broth before refrigerating it?

No. USDA says hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath first. Dividing it into shallow containers helps it cool quickly. Don’t leave the pot on the stove to reach room temperature.

Can you store unopened beef broth in the refrigerator?

You can. We found no source that says a shelf-stable carton must be refrigerated or that it is unsafe to, so the pantry is the usual spot and the fridge is a matter of space. That is our own reading, so check the label.

Can opened beef broth stay in the carton in the refrigerator?

Follow any container direction on the package first. Publix’s beef broth says to keep opened broth in a separate container. Otherwise, if the carton reseals tightly, we’d say yes, and if not, pour it into a clean airtight container. USDA says opened canned food may stay in the can in the refrigerator but recommends a glass or plastic container for quality. Mark the date you opened it.

How long can beef broth sit out?

Perishable broth shouldn’t sit at room temperature more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F, per USDA. After that, discard it. Broth kept hot at 140°F or above, or cold at 40°F or below, is a different situation.

See also

What temperature should the refrigerator be for beef broth?

40°F or below, per USDA, and the freezer at 0°F or below.

What happens if you don’t refrigerate opened beef broth?

It becomes a perishable food sitting in the temperature range where bacteria grow fastest. USDA says bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F and 140°F and that perishable food left out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F, should be thrown away. USDA also says you can’t see, smell or taste harmful bacteria, so appearance isn’t a test.

Why is some beef broth on the shelf and some in the refrigerated aisle?

They are different products. Shelf-stable broth is commercially processed and sealed in cans or aseptic cartons. USDA says the foil layer in the carton eliminates the need for refrigeration before opening. Broth sold refrigerated or frozen is meant to be kept cold. We found no source on store placement, so go by the storage line on the label.

Where should you store unopened beef broth?

In a cool, dry place away from the stove and sink. USDA says below 85°F is best, Swanson recommends a spot rarely above 70°F, and Pacific Foods gives 32 to 80°F for its products.

How long does opened beef broth last in the refrigerator?

Follow the label if it gives a time. With none, 3 to 4 days is a general USDA reference for opened canned food and for gravy and meat broth. USDA’s beef chart lists 1 or 2 days for cooked beef broth, and we’d use that for homemade. See our guide to whether beef broth goes bad for the full breakdown.

Why do labels give different times after opening?

Manufacturers set their own directions for their products, and the FAQs and package directions we read range from 4 to 14 days. College Inn’s FAQ says 4 to 5 days, while a retailer listing for its carton says 10. USDA’s 3 to 4 days is a general figure for opened low-acid canned food, gravy and meat broth and leftovers.

Why did my refrigerated broth turn solid?

Usually the gel from a bone-based broth. Swanson says bone broth may gel in cold temperatures and that it disappears when heated. Melting and a normal smell don’t prove it is safe, because USDA says you can’t see, smell or taste harmful bacteria. Discard it if you see mold or it smells sour.

Does Swanson beef broth need to be refrigerated?

Not while it is sealed, if it is the shelf-stable carton. Swanson’s FAQ says to store non-refrigerated items in a cool, dry place and, once opened, to follow the directions on the label. A retailer listing of the 32 oz Swanson beef broth carton reproduces the direction to refrigerate promptly below 41°F and use within 14 days of opening. Check your own carton, because directions can differ by product.

Does College Inn beef broth need to be refrigerated?

Once opened, yes. College Inn’s FAQ recommends using broth within 4 to 5 days if refrigerated and within 60 days if frozen. A retailer listing for its 32 oz beef broth carton says to keep it refrigerated and use it within 10 days. Check the carton in your hand.

Does canned beef broth need to be refrigerated?

Not until it is opened. USDA lists soups other than tomato among low-acid canned goods and says to store them in a cool, dry place. Once opened, refrigerate the unused portion. USDA says it may stay in the can but recommends a glass or plastic container for quality.

What kind of container should opened broth go in?

A clean, airtight one. USDA says opened canned food may stay in the can but recommends a glass or plastic storage container. Penn State Extension says to divide homemade stock into multiple small containers and to leave space at the top if you freeze it.

How long can unopened beef broth stay in the pantry, and what do the dates mean?

For cartons, follow the best-by date and storage directions on the package. USDA says that apart from infant formula, product dates are not an indicator of safety. It lists low-acid canned soups at 2 to 5 years. See our guide to whether beef broth goes bad for more.

Can you get sick from broth that was not refrigerated?

It can happen with perishable broth. The CDC says C. perfringens outbreaks most often involve food cooked in large batches and held between 40°F and 140°F, and lists meat such as beef and pork and gravy among foods commonly involved. USDA says bacteria grow most rapidly in that range. We found no source specific to broth, so we apply the general rule and discard perishable broth left out more than 2 hours.

Can you freeze beef broth in the carton?

Not if the label says not to. A Swanson direction reproduced in a retailer listing says not to microwave or freeze in the carton and suggests an ice cube tray. Kitchen Basics suggests a freezer-safe container and use within 60 days for best flavor. Penn State Extension says to leave space at the top of the container for expansion.

Further Reading

• Does Beef Broth Go Bad?
• Does Gravy Need to Be Refrigerated?

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