Question about penzey soup base

[tea4one]

How long will it keep? I am trying to get away from using bouillon cubes and want to try the soup base. Does it have to be refrigerated after you open it? I can't find any information on this. I think I will order the Szechuan peppercorns also, it's only $4.79 for a 4 oz. bag.

[Melman]

I LOVE the soup base. I think someone on the board did the research and found out it was supposed to be refrigerated after the container was opened. I always kept mine in the fridge, so I was glad to hear I was storing it the right way.

It lasts for months! I use it whenever a recipe calls for chicken broth. I haven't bought a can of Swanson's in years. I don't think I've had a container more than 6-8 months though, but I've had never had any type of problem with it getting old.

[wallycat]

I've had mine for months and months as well. Between the sodium and any sweeteners, it may last quite a while.

[brr9270]

I have had mine for a while. I have the chicken and the Ham. the Ham is wonderful. I put a smidge in all of my snaps and butter beans. It adds great flavor. Mine are about 5-6 onths old, and still good. I keep them in the fridge.

[SDMomChef]

I love Penzeys, but have never tried their soup bases...do you use it as a substitute whenver you need chicken broth, or just when you are making soup? Also, is it more comparable to real stock than broth? I am ashamed to say this, but I have never been successful at making stock - it always turns out cloudy. :mad: I hadn't thought about buying soup bases before....hmmmm....

[brr9270]

I feel it is pretty comprable. It is in a plastic jar and looks like a thick paste. You use 1/2-3/4 tsp for each cup of hot water. You can concentrate it as much as you want for the right flavor. It is a little cloudy,and a little "yellow", but in my opinion a great time saver, and I add it to a lot of things. I put it in veggies, my potato cooking water for mashed potatoes, rice water, and soups.
The jar says it has 45 servings, which is 45 cups of broth. That makes it pretty cost effective too.

[Bawstinn]

I have tried the turkey, chicken, beef and ham bases. The only one I didn't particulary care for was the beef - and I only think that was becasue I had a hard time getting it out of the container.

I have had the turkey for over a year :eek: and it still seems to be fine. It is still somewhat soft, unlike the beef, which seemed to be hard when it arrived. Ham base is also good for split pea soup.

I get the most use out of the chicken (obviously). It is so easy to take out a half teasoon for a half cup broth then have leftovers in the refrigerator, which always end up getting tossed.

[tea4one]

Thank you. I think I will go ahead and order it, at least I will be storing it properly when I put it in the refrigerator.

[SDMomChef]

O.K., I'm convinced, I must try the soup base. :D Thanks to Blazedog's post on Penzey's spices for grilled steak, I'm in a Penzey kind-of mood today. I love that store!