Can sugar water go bad in the fridge? (3 Things to know)

In this brief guide, we will answer the question, can sugar water go bad in the fridge? We will discuss the reasons that cause sugar water to last long and the proper way to store it in the refrigerator. 

Can sugar water go bad in the fridge?

Sugar water can go bad in the fridge when stored for more than a few months. Leftover sugar water must be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. Also, make sure to add the expiry date on the container to avoid doubts later. 

Sugar water has a long shelf life owing to the antibacterial properties of sugar.

Sugar water will last for over a month to as long as three months in the fridge. An airtight container made of glass works the best at preserving the life of sugar water. 

The life of sugar water also depends on the strength of sugar syrup. Simple sugar syrup has the same ratio of water to sugar and will last for under three months. On the other hand, sugar syrup made at a 2:1 ratio will last for around six months.

The more concentrated the sugar water is, the longer it will keep. 

Why does sugar water have an extraordinarily long life?

Sugar is a natural preservative. Sugar binds the free water molecules to itself, preventing bacteria from approaching the commodity. 

Bacteria are the foremost cause of food spoilage. If food spoilage bacteria are kept at bay, food lasts for a significantly long time to spoil.

The criterion for a food item to spoil; lies in the moisture content. The unavailability of active water means that sugar water lasts for quite a long time and is not susceptible to bacteria.

A low water activity means that bacteria that spoil food are suppressed, hence making it last for a long time.

A high sugar concentration also causes an osmotic effect on the bacteria by driving water out. Consequently, it forces the bacteria to die. 

Can sugar syrup go bad?

Sugar syrup can and will go bad. After over a month of storage, you might observe that the solution has become cloudy. As the sugar syrup continues to deteriorate, you will notice a hint of the foul odor that marks the spoilage. 

Unlike some other foods that have plenty of sugar added, sugar syrup is home to many food spoilage microorganisms. As the process of evaporation and condensation of water occurs, it becomes susceptible to spoilage. 

If the white substance in the sugar syrup feels slimy or doesn’t resemble sugar crystals, it is probably mold and means that sugar syrup needs to be discarded.

How to make sugar water?

Sugar water is used in beverages such as cocktails as a flavoring agent. To make sugar water, you primarily need just sugar and water. 

To make 1:1 sugar water, you need the same amount of sugar and water. For reference, take a cup of sugar and a cup of water. Measuring water and sugar precisely will help you get a good syrup.

Take a medium saucepan, and add sugar and water. Let the water come to a boil, all the while stirring to make all of the sugar dissolve. 

Before you use the syrup, allow it to cool.

Use the simple syrup, not only for cocktails but to flavor coffee and tea. It can also be used to moisten and brighten up a dry cake. 

If you want to make rich, simple syrup, you will need twice the amount of sugar as water. Follow the same procedure used to make simple syrup. 

Rich, simple syrup is preferred because of its thicker and smoother texture. It makes cocktails have a richer mouthfeel and enhance the experience. 

What is sugar water for hummingbirds?

Sugar water for hummingbirds is used to attract the birds. We use a hummingbird feeder to make the solution and cater to the birds.

Sugarwater for hummingbirds uses a cup of hot water and dissolves ¼ cup of white sugar. You can not use honey or brown sugar. 

A person needs to keep the feeder clean and replenish it to attract hummingbirds. The sugar water goes bad eventually, keeping it fresh or even installing multiple feeders is a good idea to attract more hummingbirds.

The hummingbird sugar water, like regular sugar water, will spoil. Hence, you need to store extra in the refrigerator which will keep for around a week.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question, can sugar water go bad in the fridge? We discussed the reasons that cause sugar water to last long and the proper way to store it in the refrigerator. 

Citations

https://www.quora.com/Can-simple-syrup-go-bad

https://food52.com/hotline/6936-making-a-simple-syrup-how-long-can-it-be-stored-for-and-what-is-the-best-type-of-container-to-store

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/20216/simple-syrup/

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-simple-syrup-240337

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