Shelf Life Tips
- How long does red wine last once opened? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - re-cork the wine as soon as finished drinking.
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Should an opened bottle of red wine be refrigerated? Yes, refrigerating an opened bottle of red wine will help keep it fresher than storing it at normal room temperature; take the red wine out of the fridge about an hour before serving to bring back to room temperature.
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How long does opened red wine last in the refrigerator? An opened bottle of red wine will usually keep well for about 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator (be sure to re-cork it first).
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If a cork or stopper is not available for the opened bottle of red wine, cover the opening with plastic wrap and place a rubber band around the bottle neck to seal plastic tightly.
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In general, opened bottles of full-bodied red wines such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah will maintain their flavor longer than lighter varieties such as pinot noir.
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Can you freeze leftover red wine? Yes, leftover red wine may be frozen and used later for cooking - freeze the red wine in airtight containers or pour wine into ice cube trays; once the red wine is frozen, transfer cubes to a heavy-duty freezer bag.
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How long does red wine last in the freezer? Properly stored, red wine will maintain best quality for about 6 months, but will remain safe beyond that time; red wine that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How to tell if an opened bottle of red wine is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the red wine: red wine that has gone bad often develops an off smell and a brownish appearance.
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