Do you have a few bottles of kombucha sitting in your fridge, and you are wondering whether you should drink them tonight or toss them in the trash? How can you tell if kombucha has gone bad since it already contains bacteria and yeast?
Kombucha is made by fermenting black or green tea using a culture of bacteria and yeast called SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). The fermentation process produces acid, a small amount of alcohol, and gases that add to the drink’s fizziness. But these microbes don’t run free – they are systematically controlled to produce probiotics that aid digestion and gut health.
Since kombucha uses a SCOBY, it can lose its quality and flavor if not stored and handled correctly. Leaving your kombucha outside the refrigerator or not sealing the bottle properly can impact the fermentation process.
It all comes down to controlling the microbial population if you want to increase your kombucha’s shelf life. Keep reading to find out the tell-tale signs of kombucha gone bad, whether you should consume it, how long to keep it in the refrigerator, and whether old kombucha can make you sick.
How can you tell if Kombucha is bad?
Kombucha may already be considered “bad” by all conventional standards due to its thriving yeast and bacterial population. But it depends on the type of microbes growing that determines whether or not it is safe for consumption.
If your kombucha has been lying around for a couple of days and you have second thoughts before drinking, here are a few helpful tips.
The Kombucha has mold
As mentioned earlier, kombucha is made via fermentation with a SCOBY. So, it is not uncommon to see a juvenile SCOBY in the form of a few strands of gel-like substances in the drink. But sometimes mold may start growing on the young SCOBY.
Mold indicates that your kombucha has gone bad. So, if you see any mold around the bottle, you should discard it immediately. While mold is rare due to the acidic environment, there is still a tiny chance it can occur.
But how can you tell whether those floating objects are mold or SCOBY? Well, SCOBY looks more like pudding and is white-ish in color. In contrast, mold is blue-white or black and has a fluffy consistency. Mold also does not form inside the liquid but at the top or around the sides of the bottle. So, on the other hand, SCOBY would mostly be floating inside the bottle.
It Tastes Like Vinegar
Kombucha is naturally an acidic drink due to the acetic acid produced by fermentation. However, suppose it is left at room temperature for far too long. In that case, the fermentation process will speed up, and it will soon turn highly acidic and unfit for consumption. Kombucha is a balance between tea, sugar, and acid. If this balance is disrupted, the kombucha starts to go bad. Since the SCOBY is alive and well, it inevitably uses up all the sugar, which is then replaced by a strong acidic taste.
Most people encounter this type of kombucha when it becomes too sour to drink, but it is still not vinegar quite yet. So you can either throw it out or let it sit at room temperature for another week so that it can transform into vinegar.
To conclusively determine if your kombucha is drinkable, you can do a taste test. Drinking a small amount will not do any harm, and you can quickly tell if it is too acidic or not. But if you’re not comfortable with this method, get a pack of pH strips to test its pH level. If the pH is greater than 2.4, then your kombucha is no longer fit for consumption.
There is a foul smell from the bottle
Given that kombucha does not have the most pleasant smell, it still should not reek an acrid odor. If that is the case, then it’s a strong indication your kombucha is contaminated with mold or some other microbe. It also smells when it starts turning into vinegar.
There are also other inherent properties of kombucha, which people often mistake for bad kombuchas, such as sediment; sediment at the bottom of the drink is pretty standard. It may look unaesthetic and a bit gross. You can gently tilt the bottle to mix it up. However, be careful – do not shake the bottle vigorously as it may explode the way champagne does, due to the carbonation.
Kombucha is an effervescent drink due to the presence of living microbes. But the level of effervescence or fizz depends on various factors such as the storage conditions and storage time.
So, fizz or lack of thereof does not mean your kombucha has gone bad. However, if the fizz is less than you anticipated, it means the fermentation is slowing down, and your kombucha may not retain its quality for much longer.
Lastly, there are bound to be many strands forming in the liquid. These strands are newly created SCOBY. SCOBY is used to make kombucha, so new SCOBY is developed over time even if the original SCOBY is filtered out during bottling. The newly formed SCOBY is safe to consume since these are good bacteria and yeast. But if you find it disgusting, then you can use a coffee filter to filter it out.
Is it ok to drink Kombucha past the expiration date?
In simple words, yes, you may drink kombucha beyond the expiry date. Many people assume kombucha does not expire because it is a fermented product. However, that’s not true. Kombucha does expire, but the fermentation makes the product last longer than other drinks.
If you’re keen on consuming kombucha beyond the expiration date, you should keep a few factors in mind. Unopened, expired kombucha can be safe to drink months after the expiry date if it is well sealed and stored correctly. Proper handling entails refrigeration and preventing air from getting into contact with the beverage. If it starts to smell and has an overly tart taste, you should reconsider consuming it.
However, once you’ve opened your kombucha, things can get a little tricky from here. It is exposed to various factors such as moisture and contaminants in the air, speeding up the fermentation process. Gradually, it will start losing flavor and fizz. In this case, try to store your kombucha in a sealed container to prevent decomposition and consume it within a few days of opening.
How long can you keep kombucha in the refrigerator?
Kombucha can safely be stored in the refrigerator for 6 – 8 months because the highly acidic environment and presence of good microbes prevent any bad ones from making their home in the bottle. Refrigeration also slows down the fermentation process as the SCOBY becomes inactive; this helps preserve its taste and flavor.
However, if you have a can of kombucha, you should consume it immediately after opening since it is challenging to reseal a can after opening. In contrast, a resealable bottle can last for approximately 3 – 5 days in the refrigerator after opening.
Can old Kombucha make you sick?
Generally, consuming old kombucha well past its expiry date does not cause any problems. But if you have some underlying health issues such as a compromised immune system, your body may struggle to fight off the bacteria you ingested.
In some instances, expired or old kombucha may contain an excessive number of harmful bacteria that may cause an upset stomach, mild infections, or allergic reactions.
So, to be on the safe side, it is better not to experiment with kombucha that you feel is old and has not been stored properly.
The final word
The bottom line is that kombucha may last longer than other drinks due to its low pH, but it may still go bad after a particular time. However, the time frame dramatically varies on the packaging, storage conditions, exposure to contaminants, etc.
Drinking old or contaminated kombucha might not do you harm if you’re healthy but may affect those with weak immune systems. Thus, if you want your kombucha to last long, make sure to keep it refrigerated and sealed to keep enjoying the benefits of this ancient drink.
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