If you like drinking sake, you might be wondering if a steak will go bad or last forever. This is a common question because many people assume that sake has a very long shelf life.
Sake is an alcoholic beverage made from rice, creating a very unique tasting alcoholic beverage. But like any other product, you should store it properly and know when it may start to spoil.
Because it’s never a good idea to drink or eat something that has gone bad or been sitting around longer than it should. Since during this period it was most likely contaminated with bacteria.
Read on to find out whether or not sake will go bad, and if so, what it looks and tastes like once it’s no longer safe to drink.
Sake can go bad
If you like drinking sake, you might be wondering if this alcoholic beverage will eventually go bad. Unfortunately, sake spoils over time, whether opened or not and stored in different ways.
Most people say that sake will keep for 6 to 10 years if not opened during that time. If this is the case, you can leave the bottle at room temperature anywhere in your home and it will last a very long time.
This is because the bottle wasn’t opened and bacteria couldn’t get into the drink. Therefore, like any other alcoholic beverage, it has a very long shelf life.
But it will eventually go bad after being shelf stable for several years. This can happen sooner if the sake is exposed to warmer temperatures than just room temperature or exposure to sunlight.
There are several ways to tell if sake has gone bad, and if you see any of these signs, you should not drink that beverage. As you don’t want to expose yourself to the bacteria that may have developed in the sake.
Yellow COLOUR
Sake is an alcoholic beverage that is usually crystal clear, just like water. Because of this, it’s easy to tell when the color has faded and could indicate that the sake has gone bad.
Usually, in this case, the sake turns a light yellow color, which is not what it normally should look like. This indicates that oxidation has taken place and the alcohol has been damaged throughout the time you have had the bottle.
If your sake has turned yellowish, you should not drink it as this indicates that it is no longer safe to consume. It may be technically safe, but it will no longer taste as it should because the alcohol has been damaged and discolored.
Bad smell
Because steak is made from rice, it smells very pungent when it goes bad. As soon as you remove the cap from the bottle, you should be able to tell immediately whether the sake is still drinkable or not.
It usually has a very strong and pungent odor that can also smell foul or moldy. No matter what it smells like, you should be able to tell right away that it doesn’t smell like it should, which usually means it’s gone bad.
bad taste
If the steak you bought looks normal, you can try it to see how it tastes. Sometimes sake can spoil and doesn’t necessarily show visible signs of spoilage, but usually it tastes good in some way.
Unless it smells bad, it most likely isn’t very bad, just a little past its lifespan. If it does, it will most likely have a bad taste or a slightly rancid taste.
In this case, you should stop drinking the sake and pour it out to be on the safe side.
How long is Sake last open?
Once your bottle of sake is opened, it can last 1 to 2 years if refrigerated. This is still an impressive shelf life considering this is a drink prone to bacteria once opened.
If the bottle isn’t refrigerated, it’s likely to only last six months to a year, depending on the environment. Since the cold environment of the refrigerator helps the sake stay fresher for much longer.
However, it is recommended to drink the sake within a year of opening, as the taste is at its best then. After that point, it just doesn’t have the same flavor or freshness as before.
Does sake need to be chilled?
One of the good things about sake is that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Like most alcoholic beverages, it is safe to keep at room temperature whether opened or not.
However, it is important to remember that refrigeration keeps the sake fresher for longer. It stays fresh longer, tastes better and doesn’t spoil as quickly as it does at room temperature.
Final Thoughts
If you have a bottle of sake you must drink it within 6 to 10 years if you leave it unopened until you are ready to drink it. However, once you open the bottle it will keep for 1 to 2 years if kept in the fridge during that time.
Sake can definitely spoil and you should make sure you always check it before drinking to make sure it shows no signs of spoilage.
