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It is necessary to store kombucha correctly if you need a break. After all, the gelatinous, strange-looking substance is alive and represents a symbiosis of two microorganisms – acetic acid bacterium and yeast fungus. When placed in a nutrient solution of weak brew and sugar, it turns the liquid into a soft drink called kombucha.
The tasty infusion, which has many medicinal properties, is especially pleasant in the summer. In winter, most people prefer hot drinks. In addition, you cannot constantly drink kombucha - take a break every 2-3 months. It’s also common for people to go on vacation and visit. There can be many reasons for the suspension of kombucha production, and the issue of storing kombucha for a long time becomes relevant.
In the absence of owners for a long time, the issue of the safety of kombucha becomes urgent.
How to store kombucha at home
Usually the infusion is prepared in a three-liter jar, pouring 2 liters of nutrient solution. The same amount of drink is obtained at the exit. Since the process is continuous, 2 liters of kombucha appears in the house every 5-10 days.
For some families, this amount is not enough, and they infuse several containers of kombucha at once.
Some people deliberately do not drink the medusomycete infusion right away. They bottle the drink, cap it, and leave it to “ripen” in a dark, cool place, like wine. The yeast bacteria continue to work, and the alcohol level in the kombucha increases.
It is important to ensure that the kombucha does not ferment, otherwise it will turn into vinegar. And it’s good to think about how to seal containers, since the carbon dioxide produced can tear off a poorly fitted lid. Usually, additional infusion at room temperature is limited to 5 days.
Do not leave kombucha to ferment in a jar with kombucha, because the acid produced can damage the body of the medusomycete (the scientific name of the symbiont). It is difficult to determine the moment when a solution turns from nutritious to dangerous for a colony of microorganisms. Therefore, the infusion is filtered and bottled.
How to store ready-made kombucha
Ready-made kombucha does not last long at room temperature. Even if you boil it. But you can put kombucha in the refrigerator. At the same time, all processes in the drink slow down greatly, but do not stop completely.The beneficial properties remain the same, but the acid and alcohol content increases slightly.
Is it possible to store prepared kombucha in the freezer?
If you have medusomycetes at home, there is no point in storing the finished drink in the freezer. But if you really need it, then you can.
Since yeast and acetic bacterium make the environment aggressive for many materials, it is better to store kombucha in the freezer in glass. To do this, pour the drink into a container, for example, a liter jar, without filling it to the brim (liquid expands when frozen), and place it open in the tray. The usual caution will help to avoid spilling the infusion.
It is easier to hermetically package kombucha in a factory environment than at home.
How long does kombucha drink last?
Kombucha infusion can be stored at home at room temperature for 5 days. In a cool room, at 18 °C and below, the period increases slightly. But there is a danger that the drink will turn into vinegar. So it’s better not to keep it in the room or kitchen for more than a week.
If a bottle of kombucha is sealed airtight, it will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 months. We are talking specifically about an impenetrable container - a nylon lid, even if it fits very firmly to the neck, is not suitable. It will explode, and the refrigerator will have to be washed quickly and thoroughly - the infusion is dangerous for rubber gaskets and plastic parts.
You can store kombucha kombucha for up to a month without sealing it tightly.Before putting in the refrigerator, the neck is tied with several layers of clean gauze.
How to store kombucha when you're not using it
The body of the medusomycete can be stored in different ways. It all depends on how long he must remain idle.
How to store kombucha in the refrigerator
During the holidays, you can store kombucha directly in the nutrient solution by placing the jar in the refrigerator. The action of microorganisms will slow down, and the medusomycete will safely stay there for 20 to 30 days.
Upon return, you need to take it out of the refrigerator and let it warm up to room temperature naturally. Then the medusomycete is washed, filled with a new nutrient solution and placed in its usual place.
How to preserve kombucha during long-term absence
If the owners are leaving for a long time, the above method is not suitable. Kombucha can be kept in the refrigerator immersed in the solution for no more than a month, then it and the jar are washed, and if necessary, put back.
In any case, it cannot be done without human intervention. Leaving a container with medusomycetes at room temperature unattended for a long time is out of the question. Returning owners will most likely see something dried at the bottom of the jar, covered with fluffy spores, which, if handled carelessly, will fly in all directions.
Kombucha can be stored for a long time without intervention:
- in the freezer;
- by drying the body of the medusomycete.
In this form, kombucha can last in the freezer for up to six months.
How to Preserve Kombucha Until Next Summer
Young and mature medusomycetes, consisting of several plates, work differently. This property should be used if long-term storage is necessary. It is recommended to remove one or two of the top plates and place them in a small amount of regular nutrient solution until they float to the surface. And only then prepare for storage.
How to properly store kombucha in solution
You can preserve kombucha in a weak brewing solution in winter by placing the jar in a cool, dark place. Then the infusion should be drained once every 2 weeks, and the medusomycete and container should be washed.
You can store kombucha in the refrigerator without hygiene procedures and changing the solution twice as long - up to a month.
How to dry kombucha
There is a way in which you don’t need to take care of the symbiont at all. It can be dried. To do this, the medusomycete is washed and dipped in a clean cotton napkin (a regular one will stick to a damp surface, but a linen one is too rough). Then place it on a clean plate.
This, in turn, is placed in a deep pan or bowl and covered with gauze. This is done in order to protect the surface of the symbiont from debris and midges, without blocking the access of oxygen. Dishes with high edges will prevent you from placing gauze directly on the body of the medusomycete.
You need to make sure that the mushroom dries evenly and does not become moldy. To do this, turn it over to the other side from time to time, and wipe off any remaining moisture from the plate.
The medusomycete will turn into a thin, dry plate.It is carefully put into a bag and kept in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator or kitchen cabinet. Keep for a year or longer.
If necessary, the medusomycete is placed in a small volume of nutrient solution and placed in its usual place. The first finished kombucha is discarded, even if some people find it tasty. The second portion can be used for its intended purpose.
Is it possible to freeze kombucha?
The frozen body of a medusomycete can be stored for 3 to 5 months. The kombucha is removed from the nutrient solution, washed, and excess moisture is removed with a soft, clean cloth. Place in a bag and put into the freezer section with the lowest temperature.
Then it can be moved to another tray. It is necessary to freeze kombucha quickly, so that small ice crystals form inside and on the surface without disturbing its structure. Slow action promotes the formation of large pieces that can damage the body of the medusomycete.
When the time comes, the frozen cake is placed in a small volume of nutrient solution at room temperature. There the kombucha will thaw and start working. The first portion of kombucha is poured out. The second one is ready to eat.
The first portion of kombucha obtained after long-term storage of medusomycetes should be poured out
How not to store kombucha
In order for the medusomycete to survive during storage and then quickly get to work, no special effort is required. But the owners manage to make the same mistakes. The most common of them when stored in solution:
- They leave the kombucha in its usual place, simply forgetting about it.
- They make a solution that is too concentrated to store in a jar.
- Do not wash periodically.
- Block air access.
- Ready-made kombucha is poorly sealed.Fermentation processes will continue even in the refrigerator, only slowly. Sooner or later the lid will come off and the drink will spill.
When drying and freezing, you must not:
- Send kombucha for storage without preliminary rinsing.
- Cool the medusomycete gradually. This creates large pieces of ice that can damage the symbiont’s body.
- Forget to turn the mushroom over when drying.
Conclusion
There are different ways to store kombucha if you need a break. They are light and effective, you just need to choose the right one and do it right. Then the medusomycete will not be harmed, and when the owners want it, it will quickly recover and start working.
