Can Sake Go Bad If Left Unopened? – How to Tell If Sake Has Gone Bad? – The Ultimate Sake Shelf Life Guide: Dos and Don’ts

Can Sake Go Bad?: Do you have Sake bottle stock in your liquor cabinet and want to you its shelf life? If yes, here you can check the safest sake storage process, indications of spoilage of sake, answer whether does sake go bad after opening, and other details.

Sake is a wine which is made from fermented rice. It is normally seen in most Japanese homes. This traditional drink can be consumed directly or used in cooking. Learn how long does sake last in the fridge, can sake go in the freezer, what is the sake shelf life after opening, and more below.

• Can Sake Go Bad?
• How to Store Sake?
• How to Tell If Sake is Bad?
• How Long Does Sake Last After Opening?
• Interesting Facts About Sake
• Can You Freeze Sake?
• What happens if you drink expired sake?
• What does bad sake taste like?
• Can old sake make you sick?

Can Sake Go Bad?

Yes, sake goes bad. An opened sake bottle will be good in the refrigerator for up to 1 or 2 years and an unopened bottle can stay good for 6 to 10 years in the pantry. Sake is nothing but fermented rice which stays good for a long shelf life.

As sake is fermented, it stays good for a longer time. However, there is no alcohol that is truly good forever. Sake drink will stay for a longer time but it will go bad at some point in time.

Sake drink can easily get damaged as it is always made by hand. This product doesn’t have preservatives, so it is prone to spoilage. Premium quality Sake bottle is very expensive. That’s why storing the bottle properly is helpful to extend the shelf life of the drink.

We already know that air exposure is an enemy of most fermented drinks. So, an unopened Sake bottle has a longer life when compared to an opened bottle. Hence, always seal your bottle after a single use to extend its shelf life.

How to Store Sake? – How long can sake be kept after opening?

Sake is an alcoholic drink that is made by fermenting rice. Because of that, we call it Japanese rice wine. In Japan, rice is one of the most used food products, so they produce alcohol from it too.

The storage process of Sake is similar to wine. There is a different storage system for opened Sake bottles and unopened sake bottles. An unopened bottle should be placed in a cool and dark place where there is no sunlight, other sources of heat, and humidity. Air exposure to the bottle causes oxidation that can reduce the storage life of the sake.

Opened sake bottles or bottles that are near their expiry date should be kept in the refrigerator. It is better to store the opened sake bottle with a seal in the lower rack of the fridge so that its temperature won’t affect it. Opened sake bottles will keep in the fridge for 1 to 2 years and unopened bottles will stay good for 6 to 10 years.

How to Tell If Sake is Bad?

It is difficult to tell whether your sake has turned bad at a visit. You need to taste the product to know whether it is safe to consume the drink. Also, check the expiry date on the sake bottle to know whether it is good or bad. Here we have mentioned a few signs to say sake is spoiled.

• Yellow tint: The sake drink is clear when you see a yellow hue in the bottle means that the oxidation process has done damage to the alcohol.
• Off, rotten, or pungent smell: If it smells bad, then it is spoiled.
• Off taste: Just have a small amount of drink to check the flavor. If it is not good, throw it away.
• Particles, either floating or on the bottom of the bottle: The presence of any particles at the bottom of the bottle means it started to decompose.

Also, Check

• Can Vermouth Go Bad
• Can Brandy Go Bad
• Can Vodka Go Bad

Nutritional Information

How Long Does Sake Last? – How Long Is Sake Good After Opening?

Yes, sake can last from six to ten to 10 years in a pantry. If you want to consume it fresh, then have it within 1 or 2 years of the product date on the label. The actual sake shelf life is longer, but it lowers with time. This means the longer product quality becomes worse.

To have the best quality sake, you need to complete the whole bottle in a single day. Otherwise, put the opened bottle in the fridge to consume the remaining in the future weeks.

The point to be noted is the taste of the sake drink will change and become softer with time. The speed at which the taste changes is based on the quality of the alcohol. Here is the chart that shows how many days a sake bottle will keep its taste.

Interesting Facts About Sake

The surprising facts about Sake are given here:

• Sake has more in common with beer than wine.
• Brewing sake can be a communal process.
• Sake has a higher alcohol content than either beer or wine.
• It is the oldest known spirit in the world.
• Sake serving has changed dramatically.
• Sake popularity has withered in Japan.
• But Sake’s popularity is blossoming abroad.

FAQs on Does Sake Go Bad?

1. Can You Freeze Sake?

Yes, you can place sake bottles in the freezer. But it is not a recommended storage process for sake. The harsh temperature will affect the delicate flavors of the alcohol.

2. What happens if you drink expired sake?

Actually, sake doesn’t have any expiration date. It maintains the same taste for up to 10 years if stored perfectly. You can have sake that was manufactured a long back without any health issues, but its taste will change.

3. What does bad sake taste like?

Sake tastes like white wine as both are dry and smooth beverages.

4. Can old sake make you sick?

Yes, if the sake bottle is not stored properly may lead to health issues. If the sake bottle is sealed properly and tastes/smells fine, it may not fall sick.

Key Takeaways – Does sake need to be refrigerated?

I hope that the details enclosed here regarding Can Sake Go Bad are useful in checking whether the drink is spoiled or not. It is best to store it properly at room temperature without exposure to sunlight, and heat and keep the bottle sealed after usage to avoid spoilage.

Also, put the opened sake bottles in the fridge. To know the signs of spoilage and storage of other Food Beverages, visit our site.