Homemade or opened chicken stock lasts up to 3 days in the fridge, covered and kept at 5°C or below. That’s the NSW Food Authority’s leftovers guidance. After that, freeze it or throw it out.
Key takeaways
- Homemade and opened chicken stock keeps for up to 3 days below 5°C (NSW Food Authority).
- Refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking.
- Frozen stock keeps for up to 3 months.
- Throw out stock left out of the fridge for more than 4 hours.
- An opened jar of our concentrate keeps for 12 months in the fridge.
How long does each type of chicken stock last?
The NSW Food Authority says to eat leftovers stored in the fridge within 3 days and to freeze them for up to 3 months. Homemade chicken stock and opened cartons follow the same rule. Preserved stock concentrate is the exception, because it’s made to keep much longer once opened.
| Type of stock | Fridge (5°C or below) | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade chicken stock | Up to 3 days | Up to 3 months |
| Opened carton of stock | Up to 3 days, or the pack’s limit | Up to 3 months |
| Stock made up from concentrate | Up to 3 days | Up to 3 months |
| Opened jar of our concentrate | Up to 12 months, lid sealed | Not needed |
Unopened cartons keep until the date on the pack. Once opened, the clock starts, so write the date on the carton.
How to store chicken stock so it keeps
Cool stock quickly. The NSW Food Authority advises putting leftovers in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours, split into smaller portions so they chill faster. A big pot of stock left on the stove overnight stays in the temperature danger zone for far too long.
- Pour stock into shallow, airtight containers once it stops steaming.
- Write the date on each container.
- Keep your fridge at 5°C or below. A fridge thermometer tells you for sure.
- Reheat stock until it’s steaming hot before you use it.
Won’t use it within 3 days? Freeze it on day one, not day three. Ice cube trays suit small jobs, and 250ml containers suit soups. Leave room at the top for expansion.
Batch cooking? Our chicken and zucchini lunchbox meatballs and sweet potato and ricotta frittata both suit make-ahead meals.
How to tell if chicken stock has gone off
The Food Safety Information Council’s advice on leftovers is to use perishable leftovers within two to three days, and to throw out anything left in the temperature danger zone for more than 4 hours. Smell is a back-up check, not the first one.
- It smells sour or sharp instead of savoury.
- The texture is slimy, or the stock has turned cloudy when it was clear.
- There’s mould on the surface or under the lid.
Any one of these means it goes in the bin. Boiling won’t rescue stock that’s turned, so don’t try.
Make only the stock you need
Australian households waste about 2.5 million tonnes of food a year, according to the federal environment department’s food waste figures. Half-used cartons of stock at the back of the fridge are part of that pile.
Our natural chicken stock concentrate works differently. Stir 1 teaspoon into 250ml of water for a cup of stock, with nothing left over. Once opened, the jar keeps for up to 12 months in the fridge, as long as you seal the lid and use a clean spoon. You’ll find more storage answers on our stock concentrate FAQs page.
How long does chicken stock last in the fridge? FAQs
Can you use chicken stock after 5 days in the fridge?
We wouldn’t. Australian food safety guidance puts the limit at 3 days for homemade or opened stock. Stock can look and smell fine on day five and still carry bacteria that make you sick. Freeze anything you won’t use within 3 days of making or opening it.
Can you freeze chicken stock?
Yes. Freeze it in airtight containers or ice cube trays for up to 3 months, and label each one with the date. Defrost it in the fridge rather than on the bench, then use it within 24 hours of thawing. Small portions thaw fastest.
How long can chicken stock sit out?
No more than 2 hours before it goes into the fridge, which is the first half of the 2-hour/4-hour rule. If it’s been out of the fridge for more than 4 hours in total, throw it away, even if it looks fine.
How long does stock made from concentrate last?
Treat it like any homemade stock: up to 3 days in the fridge, or up to 3 months in the freezer. Most of the time you won’t need to store it at all, because you only mix the amount your recipe calls for.
Cook with stock, not waste
Browse our weeknight recipes made with stock or shop the full range of stock concentrates. Questions about a jar? Get in touch with our team.
