Bone broth is used as a flavor enhancer and a cure for the cold. Luckily, bone broth is a freezer-friendly food and, with proper handling, can retain the nutrients well even in the freezer. So most people prefer making bone broth in a huge quantity and freezing the extra part so that they may be able to use it later.
However, if you thawed the tub of frozen bone broth, took out the required amount, and are still left with a lot of leftovers, you might wonder whether it is safe to refreeze bone broth?
It is safe to refreeze bone broth if you handled it well before refreezing. You can keep the refrozen bone broth in the freezer for almost 6 months. Since bone broth refreezes exceptionally well, it won’t show a significant quality loss. But, constant refreezing might lead to a compromised taste and quality.
Refreezing bone broth is safe: however, improper handling might lead to spoilage. So, you can check out this article to learn more about the two best ways for safe storing and other essential guidelines to achieve successful refreezing of bone broth.
Table of Contents
Is it Safe to Refreeze Bone Broth?
Like most other foods, it is entirely safe to refreeze bone broth if you thawed it slowly in a refrigerator. However, broth that has been sitting in the fridge for more than three days shouldn’t be refrozen.
Refreezing the broth once might not bring a significant change in the taste and quality of the broth. However, constant refreezing might change the taste and overall quality.
So, if you have pre-planned to thaw the bone broth, you might have to refreeze it again. It is suggested to refreeze it in smaller portions.
This way, you can save the unrequired broth from needless thawing.
Please remember, if you thawed the broth at a room temperature greater than 40 degrees F, it’s better not to refreeze it. The germs multiply rapidly at temperatures between the mentioned limits, so there’s a very high chance that the broth might have started spoiling.
If you intend to refreeze the broth, you should first bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 1-2 min. Proper reheating is mandatory as it will kill any bacteria present in the broth that might have started multiplying. Once you have reheated the broth and cooled it down thoroughly, you can safely pack and refreeze it.
Also, keep in mind that the broth might stay safe for consumption for a long time. However, the longer you wait before using it, the greater the quality loss.
How to Refreeze Bone Broth?
It is mandatory to bring the thawed bone broth to a boil before refreezing because boiling the broth will help eliminate the bacteria. After the bone broth has boiled, take it off the stove and try to cool it down immediately. It is essential to cool down the broth before you place it into the freezer, or else it might increase the freezer’s temperature and thaw everything present inside.
Once the broth has cooled down completely, you can follow one of the following step-by-step methods mentioned in this guide to ensure the safe refreezing of the bone broth.
How to refreeze broth in an ice cube tray?
- With the help of a spoon, pour the broth into the ice cube tray. Make sure to leave a little bit of headspace on the top so that the broth has room to expand.
- Now, place the ice cube tray into the freezer and let it sit there until the broth has frozen solid.
- Once frozen, take the ice cube tray out of the freezer and pop the frozen cubes out of the tray.
- Put the broth cubes inside a freezer-safe bag and seal it well. Again, try to press out as much air as you can before sealing the bag.
- Label the bag with the date of refreezing and place the bag into the freezer.
How to refreeze bone broth in airtight bags/containers?
- Take the airtight bag/container in which you wish to store the bone broth and label it with the date of refreezing. Make sure the bag/container you are using is not too small or too large.
- Next, pour the broth into the bag/container and seal it tightly after removing as much extra air as possible.
- Lastly, put the bag/container on a flat surface inside the freezer and let it sit until you are ready to use.
Can You Refreeze Store-Bought Bone Broth?
Whether store-bought or homemade, you can safely refreeze bone broth that has been thawed inside a refrigerator (unless the packaging says otherwise).
Store-bought bone broth might show a more significant loss in quality. But, due to the presence of preservatives, it will last you for a longer duration.
Can you refreeze beef bone broth?
You can refreeze homemade/store-bought beef bone broth once. However, the beef bone broth might show more significant degradation in the quality after refreezing. So, it is better to refreeze it in portions.
Can you refreeze chicken bone broth?
Homemade/store-bought chicken bone broth can also be refrozen after you have thawed and reheated it. Chicken bone broth will last you for almost six months. But it is advised to use it up within the first three months to enjoy the optimum taste.
Can you refreeze Bonafide bone broth?
It is strictly advised against refreezing Bonafide bone broth. You can keep the bone broth in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. If you want to store the bone broth for a longer time, you can go ahead and freeze it. However, it should be either used or discarded immediately once thawed, as refreezing is not safe.
How Long Can You Refreeze Bone Broth?
It is safe to store the homemade bone broth for 6 months after refreezing. But it is recommended to use it within three months of refreezing. Because once the 3-month time limit crosses, the quality loss starts taking place.
It means that the bone broth will taste best when used within three months after refreezing. However, you can safely consume the bone broth for up to six months. The quality might be a bit compromised, but the bone broth will not be dangerous to your health.
In the case of store-bought bone broth, you can store it as long as the expiration date allows. But, once the best before date has crossed, you should discard the bone broth as it might be harmful to your health.
How Many Times Can You Refreeze Bone Broth?
There is no fixed limit to how many times you can refreeze bone broth. Still, most people recommend not to refreeze bone broth more than once. The more times you thaw and refreeze, the more the quality deterioration.
Refreezing the bone broth into portions is a preferred way of storing it. This method allows you to thaw the required amount only, which saves the rest of the bone broth from defrosting. As a result, the broth retains the overall quality in a better way.
Instead of thawing and refreezing constantly, you can refreeze the bone broth in an airtight bag/container or an ice cube tray. Both these methods will enable you to refreeze the broth in portions.
Conclusion
Bone broth freezes very well. When it comes to refreezing, you can safely get away with refreezing it once without expecting a drastic difference in taste and quality. Refrozen bone broth will last you for a maximum of 6 months, but it will taste best if used within 3 months of being refrozen.
Although bone broth won’t be affected by refreezing, doing it more than once will definitely make it less enjoyable. You can refreeze the bone broth in meal-size portions to avoid this situation so that you may defrost the needed amount of broth without defrosting the unneeded portion.
