How Long Is Kombucha Good For After Opening? Learn Its Shelf Life, Storage Tips

How Long Is Kombucha Good For After Opening? The Shelf Life and Storage Tips You Need

Kombucha has become an incredibly popular probiotic drink in recent years. Loaded with beneficial probiotics, antioxidants and enzymes, kombucha provides a wide range of health benefits. However, there are some questions around how long kombucha lasts after opening. Can you drink kombucha months after purchasing or does it go bad quickly? Here’s what you need to know about the shelf life and storage of kombucha to get the most out of this healthy beverage.

The Shelf Life of Kombucha

In an unopened, sealed bottle purchased from a store, kombucha can last 2-3 months past its printed expiration date when stored in the refrigerator. However, once opened, the shelf life decreases rapidly due to exposure to oxygen.

Opened kombucha only lasts 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator before going bad. Some signs that your kombucha has spoiled include:

Foul smell
Flat, vinegary taste
Stringy texture
Visible mold

If you notice any of these changes in your kombucha, it's best to discard it. Drinking spoiled kombucha can cause gastrointestinal distress.

Does Kombucha Go Bad or Become Toxic?

While opened kombucha doesn't necessarily spoil in a dangerous way, it does lose quality and taste over time. Here's what happens as kombucha sits after opening:

The probiotics begin to die off, reducing the health benefits.
The flavor becomes more sour and acidic as the tea oxidizes.
Carbonation is lost as CO2 escapes.
In very old kombucha, mold can grow.

None of these changes make kombucha toxic or unsafe to ingest. However, it becomes less palatable and loses its nutritional value. For the best taste and health benefits, drink kombucha within 1-2 weeks of opening.

Does Refrigeration Extend the Shelf Life?

Yes, refrigeration can extend the shelf life of opened kombucha. The cold temperature slows down microbial growth and oxidation, keeping kombucha fresher for longer. While room temperature kombucha may only last 5-7 days, refrigerated kombucha stays drinkable for up to 2 weeks.

For longest shelf life, be sure to refrigerate kombucha immediately after opening. Allowing it to sit out starts the clock on its expiration date. Refrigeration buys you more time to enjoy it.

Should Kombucha Be Refrigerated Before Opening?

Kombucha you purchase from the store can be stored at room temperature before opening. Manufacturers use a special canning process that creates a seal, preventing oxygen from interacting with the kombucha until the bottle is opened. This allows the kombucha to remain shelf stable for months.

However, refrigeration before opening helps extend the shelf life even further. Stored in the fridge, unopened kombucha lasts 6-8 months past its sell-by date. If you don't plan to drink it soon after purchasing, pop it in the refrigerator for maximum longevity.

Do Flavors Matter?

The shelf life is mostly dependent on exposure to oxygen rather than the flavor. However, juices, fruits and spices can reduce the stability of kombucha slightly.

In general, plain or ginger flavored kombucha has the longest shelf life. Fruity flavors come second. Herbal blends with many ingredients tend to expire a bit faster. This is because the fruits, juices and herbs provide nutrients and hydration for the culture, allowing fermentation to continue.

To extend the life of flavored kombucha, consume refrigerated bottles within 1-2 weeks and minimize exposure to oxygen once opened.

Does a Second Fermentation Extend or Reduce Shelf Life?

A second fermentation, where you add juice, herbs or fruit to bottled kombucha, reduces the shelf life slightly. The additional ingredients restart fermentation which continues until you refrigerate the bottles. While second fermented kombucha may contain more probiotics, it also oxidizes faster due to the renewed fermentation process.

Enjoy second fermented kombucha within 7-10 days for best flavor and health benefits. The fermentation process can cause carbonation and pressure to build up, so refrigerate these bottles immediately after the second ferment.

How to Tell if Your Kombucha Has Spoiled

Here are some sure signs your kombucha has gone bad and should be discarded:

Mold growth - You may see fuzzy mold either floating on the surface or around the edges of the bottle. This is a sign of contamination.
Strange odors - Kombucha should smell lightly sweet and acidic. A putrid or rotten smell means it’s spoiled.
Soft or deflated bottle - If the bottle feels soft or deflated rather than rigid, gas has escaped and your kombucha is overage.
Changes in appearance - Over time, kombucha may become darker, cloudy or develop strings or blobs. This indicates the culture is dying off.
Expired taste - Flat, vinegary, bitter, metallic, or overly sour kombucha has gone off.

Trust your senses. If your kombucha doesn't seem quite right visually or aromatically, or the taste has degraded, do not drink it.

Can Spoiled Kombucha Make You Sick?

Generally, consuming a small amount of expired kombucha does not cause food poisoning. However, drinking kombucha with substantial mold growth or very high acidity can lead to GI upset, nausea, or diarrhea. Babies, elderly people, pregnant women, and those with compromised immunity are most susceptible.

Spoiled kombucha may also irritate existing health conditions like acid reflux, IBS or leaky gut. If you have doubts about a bottle of kombucha, it's safest to discard it.

How to Store Kombucha After Opening for Maximum Freshness

Here are some tips for storing open kombucha to optimize shelf life and quality:

Refrigerate immediately and keep refrigerated until finished
Minimize exposure to oxygen by keeping cap tightly sealed
Finish within 1-2 weeks
Store bottles upright to prevent leaking
Check bottles periodically for carbonation buildup and "burp" if needed
Keep away from direct sunlight to avoid degradation from UV light

With proper refrigeration and minimal oxygen exposure, an opened bottle of kombucha will stay fresh and potent for up to 14 days.

Does Freezing Extend the Shelf Life?

Freezing prevents kombucha from spoiling for an extended time. However, freezing and thawing destroys the live cultures in kombucha. So while frozen kombucha won't go bad, it loses probiotic potency.

Generally, freezing is not recommended unless you plan to use the kombucha for cooking instead of drinking. The flavor and nutrition will be significantly compromised after freezing.

Can You Safely Drink Kombucha Years After the Sell-By Date?

Drinking kombucha years after the sell-by or best-by date is not recommended or safe. Even if refrigerated and unopened, kombucha becomes highly acidic and degraded in quality over time. Older kombucha may not make you sick, but it will likely taste very sour and the health benefits will be minimal.

For probiotic-rich kombucha with an enjoyable tangy flavor, consume bottles within 8-12 months of purchase. Extremely old kombucha has reduced microbial potency and an altered taste profile.