Sangria is a popular drink that originated in Spain, and its fruity flavor makes it a popular choice for fans of sweet alcoholic beverages. Traditional sangria is commonly made in large quantities, with lots of fresh fruit and berries, and shared amongst family and friends, leaving many people wondering just how long can sangria last before it goes bad?
Sangria lasts around five days in the fridge, provided it’s kept in an airtight container. After five days, you’ll notice signs that the sangria is beginning to go bad and will soon turn sour. Also, if you used sparkling wine, you’ll likely see the bubbles reduce significantly after two days.
Let’s take a closer look at the details of sangria and how to determine when it has gone bad.
How To Make Sangria Last As Long as Possible
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As mentioned, sangria should last around five days in the fridge. Still, there are some ways to ensure leftover sangria lasts as long as possible.
Store Sangria in an Airtight Container
First, you want to ensure that it’s stored in an airtight container. This drastically slows down the oxidation process and allows the sangria to stay fresh for a lot longer than it would otherwise.
You can use an airtight pitcher if you have one available. For example, this No products found. from Amazon.com holds up to two quarts and has a flip lid for easy pouring.
Otherwise, an old orange juice or other fruit juice container will work just fine.
Remember to wash out any reused containers carefully before using them again. Also, don’t be afraid to store sangria in an airtight bowl in a pinch. What it’s stored in isn’t nearly as important as how securely it’s stored.
Don’t Add Carbonation To Sangria Until You’re Ready To Serve
Some ingredients can be kept separate from your sangria until you’re ready to serve it. This is because some ingredients won’t last as long as others.
For example, if you’re adding any carbonated beverages like sparkling water, club soda, or sparkling apple cider to your sangria, make sure you wait until serving before you add it.
Carbonation can cause your sangria to go bad faster than it would otherwise. Also, your carbonated drink may go bad faster if it’s opened and placed in another container days before drinking.
So, it’s best to leave carbonated beverages sealed until you’re ready to drink your sangria to ensure it stays good and the carbonated drink doesn’t go flat.
Freeze Sangria for Longer Storage
Finally, sangria is one of the best drinks to freeze. Not only will the red wine sangria go bad but so will the fruit. So, the best way to preserve both quick to sour ingredients is to freeze the sangria.
Whether you’re trying to store it for a long time or just want to make refreshing sangria popsicles, it’s easy to freeze and will stay well frozen for about three months.
To avoid freezer burn:
- Ensure your sangria is stored in an airtight container when freezing, just like you would for refrigeration.
- Make sure you avoid any carbonated ingredients as they’ll lose carbonation during the freezing and thawing process.
- To ensure your frozen sangria will last as long as possible, you should also consider removing the fruit pieces before you freeze them.
- If you’re using the sangria to make popsicles, removing the fruit is unnecessary.
Not only does this help keep your sangria fresh while it remains frozen, but it’ll allow you to use fresh fruits when you thaw your sangria. Unfortunately, the fruit will go bad before the alcohol and the rest of the ingredients in your sangria.
So, if you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible, leave the fruit out of it until you plan to drink it.
How To Tell If Your Sangria Has Gone Bad?
When sangria has gone bad, it’ll change color and consistency, smell bad, and taste sour. These signs will start to happen after three to five days of storage or less if it’s not stored correctly. This will also change depending on the fruit used.
The Sangria Will Start to Smell and Taste Sour
One of the most prominent signs that your sangria has gone bad is recognizing the smell. Once your sangria starts to go rancid, it’ll smell sour like vinegar.
This happens when the sangria begins the process of oxidation. This process involves the transfer of electrons in sangria, leaving it smelling different than before.
The same goes for the taste. If you notice that sangria smells sour, it’ll also taste the same way.
If you’re unsure about a change in the smell of your sangria, you can taste it to see if it has gone bad. If you notice a sour, bitter taste, then it has gone bad and should no longer be consumed.
Sour sangria will taste like someone mixed vinegar into the drink. You’ll notice the change in taste right away, and it’s important not to ignore that change.
Bad Sangria Will Turn Cloudy
Taste and smell are the most easily recognizable changes, but they’re not the only noticeable signs that your sangria has gone bad. Another way to tell is by looking at the sangria and determining changes in color or consistency.
Some changes may be more obvious. For example, if your sangria has started to go bad, you’ll notice that it’s cloudy. Cloudiness can signify that it’s bad because the ingredients have started to break down and separate. So, cloudy sangria should be avoided.
The Sangria Will Change Color
Finally, you may also notice color changes in the mixture. Sangria can be made with white wine or red wine, depending on your sangria recipe. So, color changes will vary based on the type of sangria.
White wine sangria that has gone bad will appear yellow instead. Red sangria will appear darker and hard to see through. If you notice any of these changes, the sangria has gone bad.
How To Properly Thaw Frozen Sangria
Frozen sangria can be thawed by leaving it out at room temperature for one to two hours or moving it to the refrigerator for a slower thaw.
Once it’s thawed, add the ingredients that you left out when freezing it, like fruit and carbonated drinks.
The thawing process for sangria doesn’t take more than two hours when it’s left at room temperature. However, if you want to slow down the thawing process, you can instead put it in the refrigerator.
Whether you choose to thaw it at room temperature or in the refrigerator, you’ll get the same level of flavor. So, choose whichever fits your timeframe best.
Once your sangria is a liquid again, add the ingredients you left out before freezing it. For example, cut up some fruit to add to the mixture or add some carbonation. Just remember that if these ingredients are frozen with your sangria, they won’t be as fresh as they could be if added after thawing.
Final Thoughts
Sangria will last up to five days in the refrigerator after making it. Just ensure you’re storing it properly to get the longest shelf life out of it.
Remember, if you notice cloudiness or discoloration, it’s best to avoid drinking it as it may have gone bad. Don’t forget that sangria can last for a long time in the freezer. So, freeze what you don’t drink.
