Do you enjoy a cup of refreshing iced ginger tea on a hot day?
I do too. The feeling is heavenly. You can feel the iced ginger tea going down the throat and its cooling effect.
For many iced ginger tea lovers, we prepare large batches in advance and put them in the fridge. This gives you sipping convenience as you will have a cup ready when you need it.
But for how long should ginger tea stay in the fridge?
Will it form bacteria if you store it for too long?
For how long is tea in the fridge safe?
Every ginger tea lover looks forward to a cup of iced ginger tea on a hot day. It helps to bring down the temperatures and also gives a refreshing feeling.
Preparing cold ginger tea and putting it in the fridge is convenient. It means when you want a cup of tea, you do not have to brew. You can go to the refrigerator and take a sip.
However, if an item stays for too long in the fridge, it becomes a candidate for bacteria formation. Is ginger tea immune to bacteria formation?
Well, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that tea should be stored in the fridge for a maximum of eight hours. That is the rule.
But if you wish, there is no harm in experimenting a little.
At eight hours, the tea has just a typical flavor and smell. To get the best taste, you can have your tea in the fridge for a day.
The ginger tea is suitable for use even after three to four days. If you used any sweetener such as sugar, honey, fruits, and so on, the tea could start fermenting. It also starts to have a weird taste.
If you start noticing ropy strands in the stored ginger tea, do not drink it. The same should apply if the tea is smelly or it becomes thick. All these are signs of bacterial formation.
You make iced ginger tea using the ginger root.
When you go to the store to buy ginger, select the heavy root. Also, ensure that the ginger root has a smooth skin. Do not buy the soft and wrinkled pieces of ginger.
The heavy and smooth root is easier to store, and it can last up to a month in the fridge. Additionally, ginger root can go for up to a year if you keep it in the freezer.
If you want to store peeled ginger, put it in a paper towel, and then put it in the fridge.
If it is unpeeled, put it in a plastic bag. Then, place it in the vegetable drawer of your fridge. The plastic bag will help keep the ginger fresh. It also prevents it from picking the flavors of other vegetables in the fridge.
How can I freeze fresh ginger to last longer?
One way that you can store your ginger in the freezer is by putting it in alcohol. Peel the ginger and then put it in alcohol, such as Vodka.
Then, put it in the fridge. The alcohol helps to keep the ginger fresh for a long time. When you want to use the ginger, take it out of the alcohol bottle. The ginger will be as fresh as the day you put it in the freezer.
The ginger also releases its flavor into the alcohol. You can, therefore, enjoy a glass of ginger-flavored Vodka. If you do not take alcohol, you can put the peeled ginger in the freezer on its own.
After peeling the ginger, wrap it using a plastic wrap and put it in the freezer. It will remain fresh until you want to use it.
How do you make iced ginger tea last longer in the fridge?
- Avoid sweeteners. Adding sugar, honey, or any other sweetener lifts the flavor of your tea. It makes it more pleasing to enjoy. But, some sweeteners such as sugar and honey can make your ginger tea ferment. It also fastens the growth of bacteria. You can instead sweeten your tea while taking it.
- Keep your iced ginger tea in an airtight container. As such, you do not run the risk of your tea being contaminated by the flavors of other items in the fridge.
- Use fresh ginger in making your tea. When you want to buy ginger, go for the fresh one with a smooth. This will offer the best flavor and lasts longer. Avoid the ones with wrinkles on the skin.
How to brew iced ginger tea
Apart from the refreshing flavor, ginger tea also comes with a lot of benefits. A cup of ginger tea is good for you if you have an upset stomach.
Also, ginger has been in use for long as a remedy for the common cold and getting rid of allergies.
To enjoy all the benefits, you need to know how to brew ginger tea properly.
First, peel your ginger and slice it. You can use the side of a spoon to peel it as it only removes the skin. Using a peeler or a knife may take off some pieces of ginger.
If you have extra ginger, put it in the freezer for storage.
Next, put the peeled ginger in water. The amount of water you use will depend on the amount you want to serve.
Boil and then steep for about 30 to 45 minutes.
After that, use a sieve and strain the tea into a pitcher and leave it to cool down.
Serve the tea over ice for that cold feeling.
If you have extra, you can put it in the fridge for storage. Make sure you use an airtight container in storing the tea. This will prevent your ginger tea from getting contaminated by other items in the fridge.
Is it right to take iced tea every day?
You can enjoy your cup of ginger tea, either hot or cold. There is no problem having a cup of iced tea, especially when it is cold.
But, you should avoid iced or cold tea if you have a cold or flu. The low temperatures may make your flu or cold worse.
However, a cup of hot ginger tea when you have a cold is much welcome. Ginger comes with properties that assist in dealing with cold and flu.
Conclusion
A cup of ginger tea is always refreshing, especially on a hot day.
Apart from the flavor, ginger comes with a lot of benefits, including providing a remedy for an upset stomach. It is also great if you have a cold.
When you prepare a big batch of ginger tea, you can keep some in the fridge. The CDC recommends that you should store tea in the fridge for about 8 hours. You can, however, store it for a day or two as long as there is no bacteria formation.
As such, you can sip your favorite ginger tea at any time.
