Does soju go bad?

In this brief article, we are going to answer the question “does soju go bad?”. We will discuss the difference between wine and soju and why it doesn’t go bad like them. In the end, we will define what soju is, its history and how it’s made.

Does soju go bad?

No, soju doesn’t go bad. It is a distilled beverage and doesn’t spoil. The sugars in soju, however, can separate out if soju is poorly stored for a longer time.

A bottle of soju can usually last for about a year or more without the sugars being separated.

Commercially made soju normally contains preservatives to keep it fresh for a long time, although the flavor may degrade with time. As soju is only alcohol, it might not ever go bad, but if the taste seems bad you should throw it out.

Does soju have an expiry date?

No, soju doesn’t have an expiry date.

Normally a date will be printed on the bottle defining the day on which the beverage was bottled. This is solely for quality purposes.

This is due to the fact that soju is a distilled beverage. There is nothing in soju that may go bad because the components are simple.

How long can you keep soju?

Soju has no expiration date, so you can keep it for a long time.  

It has a basically unlimited shelf life because it has no expiration date and contains no perishable ingredients.

However, there are a few cautions to take care of. To begin with, soju stored in a plastic container can contaminate your beverage with chemicals, seeping into it from the plastic bottle itself.

Second, keeping the bottle open can affect the taste. Still, soju won’t go bad if it’s kept in a cool, dark area. Environmental variables like direct sunshine or the presence of other food nearby may have an impact on the flavor.

Why doesn’t soju oxidize like wine or alcohol?

Corking is an issue with wines and when corking occurs, oxygen enters the bottle and converts the alcohol to water and sulfuric acid and deteriorates it. 

Because soju is distilled alcohol, nothing like this can happen to it.

Finally, soju does not improve with age. To reach optimal drinking conditions, soju does not require maturation. As a result, there’s no need to keep it for a long period. It’s ready to drink once it’s in the bottle!

What is soju?

Soju is a transparent Korean liquor prepared traditionally from rice, wheat, or barley. Its name means “burned liquor.” 

It is generally consumed neat and has an alcohol concentration ranging from 17 to 53 percent. 

Because its typical alcohol content is approximately 20%, it does not produce an afterburn when compared to other liquors. Despite being not so popular in the United States, soju is the world’s most popular liquor by volume.

A cocktail made with soju, Sprite, and Yakult is one of the most popular in Korea. Yakult tastes like diluted yogurt. This beverage is sour and carbonated.

What is the history of soju?

In Korea, soju has been traced back to the 13th century. During the Goryeo Dynasty, Mongol invaders introduced this distillation technique, which they learned from the Persians.

Traditionally, the alcohol was manufactured from rice, but rice distillation was prohibited during the Korean War.

Instead, people began distilling it from wheat, sweet potatoes, and even tapioca. Some firms continued to use these alternative substances even after the prohibition was removed in 1990.

Using these alternate materials, ethanol was made, which contains 95 percent alcohol. After that, the ethanol-based soju was flavored, sweetened, and diluted.

How is soju made?

Soju distillation is a straightforward procedure. It begins with washing the rice in cold water until it is clear.

The rice is then steeped for about an hour in cold water. After soaking, the rice is cooked for another hour before being chilled. The rice is then combined with water, yeast, and Nuruk enzyme before being sealed.

For the first week of the procedure, the liquid must be stirred and resealed many times a day. 

The mixture is kept undisturbed for two weeks after the first week of stirring until all glasses have spontaneously escaped.

The mixture is filtered through a colander when it has finished fermenting. Finally, soju is sweetened by adding sugar, and it is ready to drink.  

The longer soju is fermented, the greater the alcohol concentration grows. Sweetness can be increased with additional sugar or flavorings added during fermentation.  

Other FAQs about Whiskey that you may be interested in.

Can whiskey go in the fridge?

How much is a fifth of whiskey? 

What is the difference between whiskey and vodka?

What whiskey is?

Conclusion

In this brief article, we answered the question “does soju go bad?”. We discussed the difference between wine and soju and why it doesn’t go bad like them. In the end, we defined what soju is, its history and how it’s made.

References

https://www.instacart.com/company/ideas/soju-all-you-need-to-know

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