jlmom Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I made homemade chicken broth 2 weeks ago. (it will be 2 weeks on Sunday). I put it in the fridge, intending to take it to our downstairs freezer but I forgot all about it. Can I still freeze it for another time? Would you use 2 week old broth if it's been refrigerated the whole time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Nope. But I am cautious that way. 2 weeks in the fridge is past my limit on meat products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thyme4tea Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I wouldn't either...sorry, I do that sometimes too I try and stick to about 5 days before I throw it out, but I am probably over cautious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virg Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I might re-boil it to kill any germs and freeze it but I live on the wild side! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassoonaroo Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 (edited) Nope. Refrigeration slows the growth of germs but doesn't stop it. Broth is a meat product so I'd go no more than 3 days... Rapid boiling for 10 mins or so WILL kill the bacteria but won't destroy the toxins that the bacteria produced during the two weeks. Here's an analogy. Pretend that food is a nice yard. And the harmful bacteria in the food is a pack of dogs in the yard. Well, these dogs are capable of doubling in number every 20 minutes (but they are a bit slower than that because they are cold...). You want to go out and enjoy your yard (eat the food...) but the dogs are everywhere and your immune system, while it doesn't demand sterile, needs food with no more than a little harmful bacteria. Anyway, you can take out your shotgun (boiling) and kill every last dog. Okay, the dogs are gone. The problem is, your yard is covered in dog doo. That's the toxins. The dogs are killed and gone, but the dog doo is still there. Boiling is like killing the dogs but it is not like scooping poop. The toxins (bacteria waste) are still there. So, boil the broth all you want, but if there was bacteria there for any length of time, you have the toxins (dog doo) that they made. You cannot kill the toxins. Plus just like dog waste, the toxins ruin the quality of food. If this were not true, you could buy a side of beef, keep it on the counter for a year and simply cook it really hot whenever you wanted a beef dinner. The cooking would kill any bacteria and the beef would be good! However, you cannot keep a side of beef sitting on the table for weeks or months (or even a day) without it deteriorating! Toxins are work. So, toss the broth and make more or buy more. If you make more, immediately freeze what you don't need. Edited February 4, 2012 by Bassoonaroo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Nope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 No. If you boil it again, it destroys the bacteria, that's true- but it will not destroy the toxins the bacteria have produced, and these can make you very sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I would not eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
********* Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I wouldn't either...sorry, I do that sometimes too I try and stick to about 5 days before I throw it out, but I am probably over cautious Five days is my max, too, for cooked food leftovers. Sorry, I'd toss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Have to vote no on this one! Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I rarely say toss it, but two weeks is even beyond me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Another no. Sorry. That would pain me as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 No, sorry, I know how awful it is to forget to freeze the broth after all that work, but it's just not worth your family's health when realistically you can buy a box of it for a couple of bucks, KWIM? Next time set your kitchen timer for an hour and freeze it when the timer goes off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellers Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Toss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 :ack2: Toss it. You could get very ill from eating broth that old. Sorry you forgot to freeze it. I have done similar things, and am always so annoyed with myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Definitely not! Not worth the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abigail4476 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 No way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Nope. Refrigeration slows the growth of germs but doesn't stop it. Broth is a meat product so I'd go no more than 3 days... Rapid boiling for 10 mins or so WILL kill the bacteria but won't destroy the toxins that the bacteria produced during the two weeks. Here's an analogy. Pretend that food is a nice yard. And the harmful bacteria in the food is a pack of dogs in the yard. Well, these dogs are capable of doubling in number every 20 minutes (but they are a bit slower than that because they are cold...). You want to go out and enjoy your yard (eat the food...) but the dogs are everywhere and your immune system, while it doesn't demand sterile, needs food with no more than a little harmful bacteria. Anyway, you can take out your shotgun (boiling) and kill every last dog. Okay, the dogs are gone. The problem is, your yard is covered in dog doo. That's the toxins. The dogs are killed and gone, but the dog doo is still there. Boiling is like killing the dogs but it is not like scooping poop. The toxins (bacteria waste) are still there. So, boil the broth all you want, but if there was bacteria there for any length of time, you have the toxins (dog doo) that they made. You cannot kill the toxins. Plus just like dog waste, the toxins ruin the quality of food. If this were not true, you could buy a side of beef, keep it on the counter for a year and simply cook it really hot whenever you wanted a beef dinner. The cooking would kill any bacteria and the beef would be good! However, you cannot keep a side of beef sitting on the table for weeks or months (or even a day) without it deteriorating! Toxins are work. So, toss the broth and make more or buy more. If you make more, immediately freeze what you don't need. How are you going to eat your chicken broth and not think about eating doggie doo? :lol::lol: Good analogy, btw. Very descriptive. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 She hasn't been back since she asked us... I wonder if she ate it. :ack2: Should someone call 9-1-1? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlmom Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 No calls to 911 necessary!!! Thanks everyone--I'm going to toss it! I hate when I do something like that. I was so proud of myself for stretching a whole chicken like that, but you're right--not worth it!! I'll blame this one on pregnancy brain and try not to do it again!!:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Good call and doubly so since you're pregnant. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 No calls to 911 necessary!!! Thanks everyone--I'm going to toss it! I hate when I do something like that. I was so proud of myself for stretching a whole chicken like that, but you're right--not worth it!! I'll blame this one on pregnancy brain and try not to do it again!!:tongue_smilie: Hey, what you did is nothing! After Passover one year, we left a bunch of matzo ball soup in our basement refrigerator for 6 months! Ick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassoonaroo Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Hey, what you did is nothing! After Passover one year, we left a bunch of matzo ball soup in our basement refrigerator for 6 months! Ick! Ewww. I would've thrown out the soup AND container without opening it up. Bag it and declare it a Superfund Site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyBC Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 For the first time ever, I think, I vote NO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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