How long does kombucha last once it’s been opened? That is an excellent question! If you like vibrant fruit and bubbly kombucha tastes as much as we do, you may be wondering how to keep your favorite kombucha drink fresh.
We understand!
In this post, we will look at the many methods you may preserve kombucha and whether or not it will go bad after opening. Alright, let us begin.
Contents
- How Long Can You Keep Kombucha in the Fridge After Opening?
- Does Kombucha Go Bad Once Open?
- How Can You Tell If Kombucha Has Gone Bad?
- Does Refrigerated Kombucha Go Bad?
- What Happens If You Drink Old Kombucha?
- Can Expired Kombucha Make You Sick?
- Kombucha Expiry FAQ
- How Long Does Kombucha Last After Opening? It Depends!
- FAQs
- How do I know if my kombucha is bad?
- Does refrigerated kombucha go bad?
- What should kombucha look like after 5 days?
- How do you know if kombucha is moldy?
- When should I throw away kombucha?
- When should I avoid kombucha?
- Can 2 year olds drink kombucha?
- How do you store leftover kombucha?
- Can you drink kombucha everyday?
- Can I drink week old kombucha?
How Long Can You Keep Kombucha in the Fridge After Opening?
For the greatest quality and taste, store kombucha in the fridge for 5-7 days after opening.
Note that kombucha is supposed to be fizzy and light in flavor. Because of the way kombucha is created, it is very heat sensitive and must be refrigerated after opening.
It is critical that you consume or refrigerate your kombucha after it has been opened. This will ensure that it is consistent and of high quality. Failure to do so might result in over-carbonated, acidic, and even vinegary kombucha that tastes bad. This might potentially be harmful to your health.
Does Kombucha Go Bad Once Open?
Kombucha may go bad once opened, but not in the manner you would imagine.
Since kombucha has already been fermented, if you open it, it is unlikely to go bad in the classic sense.
It will, however, lose taste, develop mold, and even rise in carbonation with time.
The method by which kombucha is produced may cause your kombucha to vary after it has been opened.
If you open your kombucha and put it out to rest for 48 hours, you may still be able to drink it before the flavor begins to alter. Surprisingly, it may not lose its effervescence, but rather increase in carbonation during this time.
Why?
Because kombucha ferments naturally at ambient temperature. Leaving your kombucha out to ferment after it has been opened will so prolong the fermentation process. That will result in additional bubbles and perhaps the possibility of your bottle exploding!
How Can You Tell If Kombucha Has Gone Bad?
When kombucha has gone bad, it will smell, taste, and maybe even look weird.
Keep in mind that brown floating threads are common in kombucha and are usually not reason for concern. Rather, these brown threads indicate the presence of active cultures in your drink. As so, this is a favorable indicator!
In fact, if your kombucha is absolutely clear, it’s probable that it’s been pasteurized. It may contain little or no probiotics, which defeats the purpose of drinking kombucha.
Does Refrigerated Kombucha Go Bad?
According to most accounts, refrigerated kombucha does not go bad.
Since kombucha is already fermented, it may be stored for up to 2-3 months beyond the expiry date. This is true as long as the bottle stays unopened and chilled.
On the other hand, commercially purchased kombucha that has been opened and refrigerated will only survive approximately a week at optimum flavor and quality. Following that, the quality will deteriorate, and it may no longer taste as fresh as it did before.
Keep an eye out for mold as well. After a time, it may get bubbly and float in your drink (not to be mistaken with stringy living cultures!).
Homemade kombucha, like professionally purchased kinds, should be kept in the refrigerator. Homemade kombucha, on the other hand, may keep much longer. If your kombucha becomes overly bubbly, think about how to decarbonate a drink to get a better consistency.
The widespread assumption is that properly chilled homemade kombucha may last up to 1-3 months. However, you should follow the instructions included with your kombucha kit, which should specify how long your kombucha will last.
What Happens If You Drink Old Kombucha?
Drinking old kombucha, especially if refrigerated, may not be harmful. However, if left at room temperature, you will most likely dislike the taste.
Moreover, ingesting anything that has expired has the potential to be harmful to your health. Drinking homemade kombucha has major health concerns, according to Poison.org.
As a result, anybody brewing kombucha must exercise caution throughout the procedure.
The following risks are related with homemade kombucha:
- Anthrax
- Poisoning with Lead
- Arrest of the Heart
- Muscular Weakness
- Heart inflammatory disease
Please consult your local healthcare practitioner immediately if you or someone you know has undesirable effects after drinking homemade kombucha.
Can Expired Kombucha Make You Sick?
Very likely not.
If you believe you have drunk kombucha that has made you ill or caused you diarrhea, you may be wondering, Is green tea beneficial for diarrhea? while also investigating alternative home cures to give you with some comfort.
Nonetheless, kombucha should not make you ill if kept correctly. It may keep its optimum quality for a long time, particularly if unopened.
If your kombucha is open, however, you should keep it refrigerated and eat it within one week. The kombucha will not taste as wonderful after that.
Even yet, there are hazards to drinking homemade kombucha, several of which are outlined in the preceding section. While drinking homemade kombucha, always use care.
Kombucha Expiry FAQ
Can you drink kombucha after 5 days?
It is acceptable to eat kombucha within 5-7 days after opening as long as it was kept in the fridge. Recall that store-bought kombucha may be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week after opening. Handmade kombucha lasts much longer, up to 3 months, although your kombucha kit will tell you how long you can store your kombucha in the refrigerator.
How Long Does Kombucha Last After Opening? It Depends!
The length of time kombucha lasts after opening is determined on the kind of kombucha and how it is kept.
In general, store-bought and refrigerated kombucha will last around a week. Homemade kombucha will keep for 1-3 months.
The trick to keeping kombucha fresh, no matter what sort you drink, is to keep it cool. Failure to do so will merely prolong the fermentation process. It will gradually render your kombucha acidic, causing additional carbonation to occur.
FAQs
How do I know if my kombucha is bad?
How can I tell if my kombucha has gone bad?
Mold, which is often bubbly and colored, indicates that your kombucha has spoiled. Pictures of kombucha mold may be seen here.
Overfermented kombucha is vinegary or extremely sour.
Floaties, or brown stringy objects floating in your kombucha, are very typical.
Does refrigerated kombucha go bad?
In all honesty, Kombucha does not truly expire (assuming it is kept properly chilled), but if this effervescent drink is kept too long beyond its sell by date, it rapidly becomes a lousy version of a drink.
What should kombucha look like after 5 days?
Around day 4-5, you should see a fresh, thin layer of SCOBY growing over the top. It will conform to the shape of whichever vessel you put your drink in. If you haven’t seen a SCOBY yet, it’s possible that your typical room temperature is lower than mine. That does not imply that anything has gone wrong.
How do you know if kombucha is moldy?
How does kombucha mold appear?
The look might be fuzzy or dry.
The form is round.
Colors vary, but they might be white, green, black, or blue.
On the kombucha’s surface (most mold needs air to survive)
When should I throw away kombucha?
When there are green, slimy, or squishy places on the skin of the scoby (this will happen if it gets wet or damaged), mold (often apparent as black fuzzy spots) begins growing in the culture jar and begins emitting a terrible stench at any moment (it’s acceptable if this occurs once after your…
When should I avoid kombucha?
Kombucha tea should be avoided by pregnant or nursing women, as well as those with compromised immune systems. Others may consume the tea if they like the flavor, but only if it comes from a reliable source.
Can 2 year olds drink kombucha?
While kombucha is largely acknowledged as safe for children, we suggest beginning with modest amounts and diluting with water, particularly for younger children and toddlers. This will assist to balance out some of the natural acidity without sacrificing the great flavor!
How do you store leftover kombucha?
The best method to preserve your kombucha scoby is in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator. Always identify the jar so that no one in the house throws it away by accident! After that, the scoby stays inactive and may be preserved for up to 6 months.
Can you drink kombucha everyday?
Bottom Line: Consuming fermented foods such as kombucha on a daily basis may be part of a healthy diet.
Can I drink week old kombucha?
Homemade Kombucha Shelf Life
Nevertheless, since the flavor of kombucha fades with time, you should aim to eat it within a month or two. If the kombucha does not appear the same after a week after being opened, toss it.