Unopened Kombucha Not Refrigerated
Leaving your unopened kombucha not refrigerated can cause it to lose its fizz, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gone bad. If your kombucha is still bubbly, it’s probably fine to drink as is (although it might be more acidic and tart than usual). But the longer it sits out of the fridge, the faster it will spoil.
It’s unopened kombucha not refrigerated to keep in mind that kombucha is a live beverage, meaning it has active cultures that are constantly fermenting. This means that even when the bottle is sealed and refrigerated, a little bit of fermentation continues to take place. This is what gives kombucha its unique taste and health benefits.
But if you leave your kombucha out of the refrigerator for too long, those culture will start to go into hiatus and slow down the fermentation process. In other words, the kombucha will become less bubbly and more vinegary. Eventually, it will completely sour out and be no good for drinking. And if it’s not thrown out at that point, it can become a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria.
Unrefrigerated and Unopened: The Shelf Life and Safety of Kombucha
When it comes to home brewed kombucha, you can usually let it go a few days before you have to throw it out, provided it’s been kept at the correct temperature and in a dark spot. But when it comes to store bought kombucha, you’ll want to pay close attention to the date on the label. Even though there is no legal requirement to put a best by or sell by date on kombucha, many companies do so as a way of alerting consumers that the kombucha is no longer as fresh as it once was.