How Long Does Kombucha Last After Opening? {And Does It Spoil}
How long does kombucha last after opening? I pretty recently started brewing my own kombucha, a popular fermented drink that everyone seems to know the benefits of. Kombucha can have a long shelf life due to its beneficial bacteria. And I’ll occasionally buy a bottle from one of the countless companies that started selling their own brews commercially too. But I’m never quite sure how long it lasts after opening, so I did some research.
Kombucha needs to be drunk within a week of opening. Different kombucha brands might recommend a different number of days. It’s best to adhere to the directions on the packaging. Kombucha’s taste and flavor deteriorate with time, so it’s best to consume it when it’s still fresh. Homemade kombucha which is not pasteurized and full of live cultures can last about the same.
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Whether you purchase store-bought Kombucha or make your own at home, you’ve probably wondered when that bottle in your refrigerator will expire at some stage. Here is how long Kombucha lasts when opened and refrigerated, unrefrigerated, and how to tell when it has gone bad.
How Long Kombucha Lasts Once Opened
After packaging, Kombucha typically lasts between 6 and 8 months, depending on several variables. However, it is generally recommended that it be consumed much sooner than that once it has been opened.
So check the expiration date first obviously.
Kombucha’s low pH level and distinctive, sour, vinegary bite are the results of the fermentation process.
A serving of Kombucha typically has a pH level of 2.5 to 3.5. Therefore, Kombucha’s remarkably extended shelf life results from its acidity. Similar to vinegar, kombucha tea can, in theory, be stored indefinitely if it is shielded from external contamination and stored in a sealed bottle or jar in a cool climate.
This does not always imply that it will always taste well.
How Long Does Kombucha Last When Opened & Unrefrigerated?
Fermentation is used to create Kombucha. Although Kombucha doesn’t really spoil, fermentation advances more quickly when it’s kept out in the open. Keep in mind that Kombucha has living organisms in it.
If you keep it out of the refrigerator, it might go through a second fermentation that turns it more vinegar-like and carbonated, but it won’t harm you to drink it.
Within 48 hours of being left out of the fridge, your Kombucha would still taste and look fresh as it was originally.
Kombucha’s inherent properties at room temperature can change if left out for more than 48 hours. It might cease to be pleasant at a certain point.
Additionally, you would have to be on the lookout for any gas accumulation that could cause the bottle to explode.
How Long Does Kombucha Last When Opened & Refrigerated?
The best way is to store Kombucha in a fridge as fermentation is slowed by the cold temperature of refrigeration. Since the yeast and bacteria are still alive, the product is alive, and the carbonation process continues even after bottling.
Although Kombucha can keep for a while in the fridge, if you keep it there for too long, the flavor may not be what you want.
The longer it is kept in the refrigerator, the more sour and vinegary it will get since the fermentation process is still slowly happening.
Therefore, if you want to preserve the flavors, consuming it within a week when store-bought and two weeks following brewing are recommended.
The main goals of refrigeration are to reduce fermentation and stop bacterial development. If you intend to consume it quickly, refrigeration is not necessary. The tea won’t go bad.
Suppose you drank the Kombucha directly from the bottle. In that case, you have effectively injected the Kombucha with your oral germs if it has come into touch with your mouth. Depending on the quantity and whether they are still active, the acetobacters in the kombucha tea may be potent enough to kill your mouth flora. If not, it is recommended that the leftover tea gets consumed within 3 to 5 days.
Can Kombucha Go Bad & Spoil?
All foods can spoil. Old kombucha can have mold growth. Bad bacteria can proliferate.
Those with a weakened immune system may be most vulnerable and in extreme cases can get very sick from this fermented beverage. Some people (very rare cases) have even had allergic reactions to the mold in bad batches.
Like most things, Kombucha deteriorates with time. Homemade Kombucha is more prone to spoilage because a sterile brewing environment cannot always be ensured.
Your Kombucha may become moldy for various reasons, including using improper equipment or storing it in the wrong location.
In any case, it’s necessary to say goodbye to this carbonated beverage if you notice layers of color on the surface, such as black, white, pink, blueish, or greenish.
Your bottle of kombucha may also have particles floating or at the bottom of the bottle. These may appear as brown chunks or silt in the bottom of the container. So be careful you don’t mistake that for mold.
Although Kombucha typically has a sour taste and a slight vinegar smell, an exceptionally intense fragrance could mean that the tea has now turned into vinegar or has been infected and gone bad.
Furthermore, after being sealed, Kombucha continues to ferment. It may be wise to toss out a batch and pick up a fresher one if it smells excessively yeasty, acidic, or smelly when you open it.
FAQ
Bottled kombucha should be resealed tightly and stored in the refrigerator, whereas canned kombucha cannot be resealed and should be drank the same day before it loses carbonation.
Pasteurized kombucha is shelf-stable and can be stored safely at room temperatures and drank. However, pasteurization literally kills the point of making kombucha so homemade kombucha needs to be treated differently. Store in cooler temperatures with no fluctuations or light — like in the refrigerator once it is done fermenting.
You can drink overfermented kombucha but it may be very unpleasant. Diluting with sweet tea or fizzy water may make it more enjoyable. I like to brew up a ginger tea with lemon and use that.
Conclusion
How long does kombucha last after opening? As can be seen, Kombucha can hypothetically last for a long time when sealed due to its low pH level. However, once opened, it is recommended that it is consumed within 2 weeks regardless of whether it is homemade or store-bought. There are several ways to tell when Kombucha has gone bad. Ensure you get another batch if you check and see weird moldy colors and when the vinegary smell gets too harsh.
