WHY: Consider the purpose of preservation
Alcoholic beverages do not spoil, so they generally do not have a use-by date or expiration date. Therefore, storing them is not to prevent them from spoiling, but to ensure they taste good.
And when it comes to enjoying a delicious drink, there are two possible goals and directions: 1) to maintain quality and enjoy a taste close to the time it was shipped, and 2) to enjoy the changed and matured taste.
The way I recommend drinking sake here is to buy it from the liquor store on the day you want to drink it (①), and then let the rest sit for a few days to enjoy the changes in taste as it oxidizes and matures (②) . For those who want to drink it all on the same day, you can also enjoy the changes and maturation of the sake by decanting it (transferring it to a container to promote oxidation) or by changing the temperature from chilled to room temperature to hot sake.
WHAT: There are three things to be careful of: UV rays, temperature, and air.
UV rays
Sake will start to smell deteriorated if exposed to sunlight for just a few hours, so be sure to store it away from direct sunlight.
temperature
At low temperatures, the pace of aging and change is slower than at high temperatures. Therefore, if the temperature is not too high, you will be able to feel the change in flavor in a shorter period of time.
air
The change in quality caused by exposure to air is called oxidation, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. If sake is stored properly and kept in the right condition, it will have a smoother taste with no harsh edges, and many types of sake will even taste better.
WHERE: Basically, there is no need to put anything in the refrigerator except for "namazake"
Some people may hesitate to buy sake because they don't have space in their refrigerator, but in the first place, sake other than namazake does not need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Store them in a cool, dark place away from sunlight, such as in a cupboard or closet, and avoid storing them near appliances or stoves that generate heat. However, in the summer, when the room temperature rises, it may be better to store them in the refrigerator. If it is difficult to store them in a shady place , you can wrap them in newspaper or use an unused cooler box if you have one.
If you want to drink it chilled, try chilling the bottle on ice or in the freezer before drinking.
It's not always best to store it in the fridge.
Refrigerators are opened and closed frequently, emit light while open, and have unstable temperatures. In addition, they are subject to vibrations from opening and closing, and can transfer the smell of food inside, so they are not necessarily the best place to store food.
HOW: Vertical or horizontal?
It is best to store it upright to prevent the smell of the cap from transferring.
My personal recommendation is to transfer the sake to another container once it has been opened and the amount has decreased. There are stylish glass sake bottles, and if you cover it with plastic wrap to prevent the smell from absorbing, it takes up less space and is convenient because you can make hot sake or pour it directly.
A more advanced way to save
If you want to store your data for a long period of time, there are a few options you can try:
Parafilm
Cover the bottle cap and the bottle with plastic or resin sheeting to prevent air from entering or leaving the bottle.
Private Preserve
Nitrogen gas is injected into the bottle to reduce oxygen and prevent oxidation.
UV Protection Bag
The bottle is covered with a film that blocks ultraviolet rays.
Sake Cellar
Many wine cellars are not suitable for storing sake, as they are often placed horizontally. Therefore, sake should be stored in a cellar designed for sake, including the temperature settings.
What did you think?
The main point I want to convey is that beginners don't need to worry too much about how to store sake, just remember the key points and enjoy the changes and aging of sake . However, unpasteurized sake should be stored in the refrigerator and drunk quickly.
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