Do Bouillon Cubes Go Bad?

Bouillon is another name of broth that is usually prepared by simmering cattle, poultry, fish, and veggies like onions and celery. It would be best if you strained off the soup once the ingredients are perfectly cooked; this is known as bouillon.

Bouillon cubes or broth cubes are solid versions of broth; they are produced from dehydrated vegetables and meat, blended well, and molded-in cube forms. Bouillon cubes don’t go bad easily. It is because they possess a large amount of salt in them, which acts as a preservative.

The only thing that can make them worse if molds begin to form within them. Mold formation occurs if bouillon cubes are not stored properly.

How to store bouillon cubes?

They were keeping in view the fact that bouillon cubes come with long shelf life. Properly storing them is significant to make them last longer. Market ones are not spoiled easily as they hold preservatives in them. You can store your homemade or market bought cubes in the following ways.

Store in an airtight container.

If you have homemade cubes, you need to store them in an airtight container and leave some space between them. Use a sheet of parchment paper to stack them up in the container.

Market ones have foil packaging that keeps them fresh and long-lasting, but you need to rest in an airtight jar to avoid any spoilage after utilizing them.

Keep them in a cool and dry place.

Store bouillon cubes in a cool and dry environment as moisture can cause mold formation in them. That’s why bouillon cubes last long in people’s pantry—placing them in a cool, dry place helps keep them fresh for a longer period.

Exposure to air causes tiny spores to reside on cubes more likely to damp ones, giving rise to mold formation. So, they need to be stored in a cool, dry environment.

Refrigerate it

You can refrigerate bouillon cubes in case if they are homemade. They stay good in the refrigerator somewhere around fifteen to twenty days. Please don’t put them directly into the refrigerator.

Always pack them in an airtight bag or container first. There is no need to refrigerate store-bought cubes; if you have rehydrated them with water, you should keep the stock in the refrigerator as their shelf life is reduced when treated with water to make broth.

Can you freeze bouillon cubes?

Bouillon cubes have a long shelf life; they last around 24 months if stored properly. So why you want to keep them in the freezer if they already come with a long expiration date.

In the case of homemade cubes, you need to place them in the freezer for long term use as they lack preservatives. You can also put market ones but keeping in view that you have to defrost it first to use it in any dish.

Frozen bouillon cubes take much more time to melt when rehydrated with water to make broth or stock.

How long do bouillon cubes last?

Keeping in mind that bouillon cubes are just dried herbs and meat put together and used as a flavor enhancer. About 95-97 percent moisture is removed from them during manufacturing, so as they are already compact and dry, it becomes harder to destroy them. That’s why they last longer, usually for a couple of years, if stored properly.

These cubes contain a large salt ratio, which acts as a preservative, so there is no chance that they go bad easily. Moisture is the biggest enemy of bouillon cubes’ life. It can cause them to spoil.

Bouillon cubes are made of dehydrated vegetables and meat content, due to which they have a long shelf life because moisture leads to mold formation and other bacterial growth. If you observe their packaging, these cubes are packed in a foil sheet that acts as an insulator for water and air.

How to tell if bouillon cubes are bad?

Although bouillon cubes can last for a long time, it might still go bad. In case you have kept them in the pantry, and your pantry has pests, then there is a very high risk of cubes getting deteriorated before the expiry date.

Bouillon cubes can go bad if something gets in them or there is mold formation. Following are the way that can help you to know whether bouillon cubes are good to go or not.

• Changed taste: Take a cup of boiling water and crush bouillon cubes to dissolve them; when the broth is ready, taste it; if the broth tastes bad probably time to say goodbye.
• Foul Smell: Bouillon cubes usually have a pleasant smell. If you notice any alter the smell or not like how bouillon cube used to smell, you need to throw them away.
• Mold Formation: If you notice any mold formation in cubes, you must have to garbage them as it’s not safe to use them.

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