How Long Does Sake Last? How to store sake?
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Sake is a Japanese wine made of fermented rice. Sake is usually served on special occasions and to finish off good meals in restaurants. This traditional drink can also be used in cooking. Sake is a highly prized ingredient in Japan. Most Japanese households keep one bottle of sake on display. Sake is extremely perishable as it is almost always handmade. The product is preservative-free, so it can easily spoil. Sake won’t spoil if it is properly stored. Not just Sake! Find more on how to store food.
Can sake go bad? Sake is fermented and has a long shelf-life. But, no alcoholic drink can keep forever. Sake will last for a long time but it will eventually go bad. It’s not easy to find high-quality sake, and it can be quite expensive. Proper storage is essential if you want to prolong the shelf life.
An unopened bottle will last longer than one that has been opened. Air exposure is a problem with fermented beverages in general. To extend shelf life, seal the product immediately after use.
How to store Sake? How Long Does Sake Last?
Sake is often called Nihonshu. You should generally store nihonshu in the same way you store wine.
Unopened sake bottles can be stored at room temperature in the pantry, at around 20 degrees (68degF), out of direct sunlight, heat, and humidity which is ideal for most types of sake. A pantry can store unopened sake for up to 6-10 years, but the taste might not be the same. The drink can be damaged if it is exposed to air due to oxidation.
Namazake or unpasteurized sake is an exception to the rule. It should be kept in the fridge.
After you have opened a sake bottle, it should be kept in the refrigerator and sealed tightly at all times, much like wine.
Opened sake bottles and sake nearing expiry should be stored in the refrigerator. The sake should be kept in the lower chilly part of the refrigerator to preserve its delicate flavor.
Sake bottles that have been opened will last for up to two years in the refrigerator. For the best flavor, it is recommended to consume the product within one year.
Unpasteurized Sake should be stored in the fridge all the time, unopened sake can last 6 months and an opened sake can last 1 – 2 weeks.
Ideally, you can best taste sake when consumed immediately after opening it. Any time after that it tends to become softer. Keeping sake in the fridge can slow down its losing taste and can last as mentioned above.
Can you freeze Sake?
Sake can be frozen as any other drink. However, when you freeze sake, its delicate flavor will be affected by the extreme temperature. Sake is a fermented product and doesn’t need to be frozen.
How to tell if Sake is Bad?
It can be difficult to say if sake is bad by looking at it. To determine if the sake is unsafe to consume, you must smell and taste it. A bad sake could have just a slight change in taste or smell. Sake should not be stored for more than a few days to avoid potential problems. Consume the product no later than the expiry date.
Unopened sake bottles are unlikely to go bad. After a long time when you open it, it is safe to drink, but might not be of the best taste.
A bottle that has been opened won’t spoil quickly if it is kept in the refrigerator. You are more likely to throw it out for quality reasons.
Let’s now look at signs that sake might have been spoiled.
- Sake, which is usually clear, gets a yellowish hue that indicates that alcohol was damaged by the oxidation process.
- Discard if it has a pungent or rotten smell.
- Particles floating on or near the bottom of the bottle. This indicates that nihonshu is starting to break down.
- Try a small amount to taste the difference. You should throw it out if it’s not right. You might mistake spoiled sake for the sake if you don’t enjoy it. However, if you don’t like the taste, throw it.
In conclusion, Can sake go bad? Sake has a long shelf life, but it can go bad. There won’t be any problems using up your stock before expiry! Sake is expensive so it is important to store the product correctly in order to get the best out of it.
