Vegetable broth, safe to use?
May 5, 2017 3:07 PM   Subscribe

Veg broth stored in fridge for couple of months – safe to use?

Back in the winter I got into storing vegetable scraps and boiling them for broth. I still have one batch from about 2 months back and was thinking of using it in some couscous veggies today or tomorrow.

Points that may be relevant: the broth was in the fridge in a standard plastic storage thing with a snap-on lid, not in the freezer. It smells OK and is neither moldy nor fermenty. There was zero meat in the ingredients, just odds and ends of veg trimmings, which I put into the compost after straining the broth, so there are no bits in it.

Could this broth seem OK but be full of toxic microorganisms I can't detect? Or is it very likely perfectly OK?
posted by zadcat to Food & Drink (24 answers total)
 
I wouldn't eat that. (I'm on the cautious side.)
posted by purple_bird at 3:18 PM on May 5, 2017 [13 favorites]


I would not eat that. I'd recommend tossing it even if you said it had been stored for two weeks, never mind two months.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:22 PM on May 5, 2017 [7 favorites]


Nope nope nope. Things that stay safe in the fridge for long periods of time also are things like acidic or highly salty which also inhibits bacterial growth in addition to the cold. It's not worth risking getting sick over $1.50 worth of veggie broth. You're probably fine, especially if you have a healthy immune system, but why risk it?

Could this broth seem OK but be full of toxic microorganisms I can't detect?

Yes. Many of the bacteria and molds that will make you sick don't have a smell.
posted by Candleman at 3:26 PM on May 5, 2017 [10 favorites]


I will eat almost everything that gets asked about on AskMe, but I would not eat that.
posted by jacquilynne at 3:35 PM on May 5, 2017 [15 favorites]


Boxed vegetable broth generally says to use within 7 days of opening.
posted by lazuli at 3:36 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


No way.
posted by thebrokedown at 3:46 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


I'd boil it again for about twenty minutes, and then use it.
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 3:47 PM on May 5, 2017


I'm a terrible example for food safety and I wouldn't eat it.
posted by brilliantine at 3:47 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


I probably shouldn't, though, since there may be some heat-stable toxins that can't be killed or destroyed by boiling.
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 3:48 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


God no, don't eat that.
posted by lydhre at 3:53 PM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]


I will eat a lot, but not that.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 4:16 PM on May 5, 2017


I'm another one who'll eat anything without worrying about safety, mostly, and I wouldn't.
posted by LizardBreath at 5:10 PM on May 5, 2017


I've gotten in arguments here about people being overcautious. I wouldn't even open the container if it were disposable. Straight to the garbage.
posted by JPD at 5:22 PM on May 5, 2017 [5 favorites]


Oh hell no. I eat all kinds of marginal stuff from the fridge but no way would I eat that.
posted by misskaz at 5:36 PM on May 5, 2017


Nope. Please don't eat that
posted by kinddieserzeit at 5:37 PM on May 5, 2017


I'm another mefite who usually lives in the Hell Yes I'd Eat It camp and I would not eat that.
posted by rtha at 5:56 PM on May 5, 2017


Oh yeah, I'll eat almost anything, but that's just a standard plastic storage thing full of calling in sick for the next few days.

I freeze leftover stock flat in a ziplock bag if I don't have very concrete plans to use it in the next couple days. That way it thaws super quickly when I do have another use for it.
posted by padraigin at 6:01 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


I don't abide by food safety regulations in my personal life and i would 100% NOT eat that. Freeze it next time!
posted by love2potato at 6:18 PM on May 5, 2017


I am almost always on the side of Eat That in Can I Eat Thats, but I would not eat that.
posted by rodlymight at 6:25 PM on May 5, 2017


Former professional cook here and "no way" is the correct answer.
posted by spitbull at 6:26 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I'd meant to use it up fast but, well, I never did.

I won't eat it.
posted by zadcat at 6:46 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]


Fuck no.
posted by so fucking future at 7:56 PM on May 5, 2017


I am very relieved to read your update! Thank you for not eating that!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:08 PM on May 5, 2017


If it had been frozen for two months I'd eat it for sure. Just fridged? Nope.
posted by flabdablet at 8:35 AM on May 6, 2017


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