How Long Does Iced Coffee Last in the Fridge? - The Housewife in Training Files

Last updated on September 27th, 2022 at 11:18 am

For years, coffee has been a favorite for coffee lovers – be it a specialty treat, hot or iced coffee.

As a coffee enthusiast, you’re probably well aware of how to prepare your favorite mug of iced coffee, but how long would it last in the fridge?

While your coffee beans come stamped with a set expiration date, your mug of brewed coffee does not. This article will explore exactly how long it would take before brewed iced coffee goes bad in the fridge and how you can know it has gone bad.

Typically, cold brewed coffee can be stored for up to two weeks when stored in the refrigerator. Since it has a richer and less acidic taste, it can hold its flavor for longer than hot coffee that has been cooled.

However, to enjoy the best flavor, it is best to drink your iced coffee immediately after it is prepared.

Read more:

How Long Does Iced Coffee Last on The Counter?

A refrigerator allows you to preserve food items and drinks for slightly longer. However, storing your iced coffee on the counter will preserve it for about twelve hours if you do not have access to a fridge.

How Do You Know When Iced Coffee Has Gone Bad?

Below are some tell-tale signs your iced coffee has gone bad.

Change in flavor

A change in flavor indicates that your iced coffee has gone bad. Usually, coffee, whether hot or iced, has a strong and distinct flavor. However, if it lacks the fresh and bold flavor and only has a bland taste, just know it has gone bad.

Sometimes, you may experience a stale, bitter or sour taste. Practically, freezing coffee destroys its flavor as a result of the ice melting.

Visible mold

If your iced coffee has overstayed in the fridge, perhaps for more than two weeks, molds will start forming in the cold brew, indicating that it has gone bad. The mold can grow anywhere inside the container with your iced coffee.

The Food and Drugs Administration warns that mycotoxins, the toxic metabolites of mold, can cause health problems, including kidney damage and neurological impairment.

Decrease in the coffee aroma

Coffee has a distinct and delightful aroma when fresh, and that’s what makes some people love it. However, it might lose its aroma when iced for an extended period.

Although less common, a change in smell might indicate your iced coffee has gone bad. The aromatic oils evaporate as the coffee beans break down slowly over time.

Increased acidic taste

Naturally, coffee contains some form of acidity, which is always confused with sour flavors. Without the acidity, your coffee won’t have an exciting taste.

However, as soon as your iced coffee goes bad, you may experience a more acidic taste. Moreover, increased acidity in your coffee results in a sour and harsh taste. This happens when the coffee is incorrectly brewed or over-roasted.

How Can I Make Coffee last longer?

Your cup of coffee can only be tasty when still fresh. Therefore, taking your coffee immediately after preparation is always a good idea. But sometimes, you might want to preserve your coffee for another time or day.

So the question is, how do you make your coffee last longer? It all boils down to storage. Everyone has their own opinion of how best to preserve their cup of joe. Some throw it in the freezer, while others leave it in the cabinet.

Here are some tips to make your coffee last longer;

Buy fresh, whole beans

The durability of your coffee beans will depend on when they are roasted. Therefore, you want to buy freshly roasted coffee beans so that they can last longer in your storage. Where possible, purchase a bag roasted within a week.

Store in an air-tight container

Transfer the beans into an air-tight container as soon as you open the coffee bag. Keep the container in a cool, dark cabinet to make your coffee last longer. This will preserve your coffee’s flavor for an extended period.

Freeze

Since air, moisture, light, and heat are the biggest enemies of coffee, freezing might seem like a brilliant long-term storage idea. However, there are mixed reviews about throwing your coffee in the freezer.

Coffee is porous and soft hence absorbs other aromas easily. So if you keep your coffee near the frozen leftovers in the freezer, it will absorb the aromas and develop a funky taste.

Buy the right amount

Coffee loses its freshness almost immediately after being roasted. So regardless of the techniques you use to make your coffee last longer, it will, at some time, get bad. The best way is to buy your freshly roasted coffee in small batches, perhaps enough for one or two weeks.

Can You Get Sick From Iced Coffee?

Coffee has a rich taste and can boost your energy levels to get you started for the day. Some people can’t even go a day without a mug of coffee. However, your morning cup of joe can bring some side effects to your health.

Could iced coffee when it goes bad really make you sick?

The brewing process may introduce bacteria into the coffee. Therefore, the bacteria will multiply if you do not refrigerate your coffee properly, causing food poisoning.

This explains why some people experience abdominal cramps, vomiting, acid reflux, nausea, and diarrhea after taking iced coffee.

Furthermore, the acidity of iced coffee, especially when you take your cup of joe on an empty stomach, can make you feel uneasy.

Final Take

Iced coffee can stay for up to two weeks in the fridge. After this period, your coffee will go bad. A change in flavor, visible mold, increased acidic taste, and decreased aroma are signs that your coffee has gone bad.

While storing your coffee in an air-tight container can make your coffee last longer, we recommend buying your coffee in small batches that can serve you for a week or two. This is because you can get sick from consuming iced coffee, especially if it’s been in the freezer for an extended period.

FAQs

How Long Does Brewed Coffee Stay Fresh?

Brewed coffee can stay fresh for up to two weeks when properly refrigerated. However, it is important to note that storing it for an extended period will kill its refreshing taste or go bad.

Does Iced Coffee Go Bad In The Refrigerator?

Just like any other food, iced coffee can go bad even when stored in the refrigerator.

Will prepping Iced coffee the night Before last in the fridge?

Yes. However, you must take the coffee in the morning the following day. If you keep it for an extended period, it will go bad.

Is Your Morning Coffee Still Safe to Drink in the Afternoon?

Black coffee will be safe to drink after several hours, although the taste won’t be the same. However, the coffee must be stored in an airtight container and in the fridge. But if your coffee has milk in it, you should make a fresh pot.