Does alcohol evaporate from a sealed bottle?

Legislation

At the federal level, there are a number of documents that contain requirements for the composition and properties of alcoholic products:

• GOST 12712-2013 “Special vodkas. General technical conditions";
• GOST 31729-2015 “Wine drinks. General terms and Conditions";
• GOST 33281-2015 “Whisky. Technical conditions";
• GOST 32071-2013 “Alcoholic products. Liqueurs";
• GOST R 56368-2015 “Traditional Russian drinks made from natural raw materials. Technical conditions";
• GOST 12258-79 “Soviet champagne, sparkling and sparkling wines. Method for determining the pressure of carbon dioxide in bottles";
• GOST 31711-2012 “Beer. Technical conditions".

How to store moonshine at home

Try to provide shade at home: the sun's rays negatively affect the taste and color of alcohol. Place bottles in a dark cabinet. It’s not for nothing that connoisseurs prefer special cellars.

Tip from Miss Clean magazine: to protect moonshine in a clear glass bottle, wrap the container in foil or thick paper.

Alcohol stores well at room temperature and does not require refrigeration. If the apartment is too warm (above 20 degrees), you can avoid cluttering the household appliance and place the bottles in a cool cellar. You can use a refrigerator, but it is not necessary. But the freezer is not recommended for storage.

How long does homemade moonshine last? In suitable conditions, a strong drink will last up to five years, moonshine-based drinks - two years.

Does vodka have an expiration date?

Wheat vodka is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks, mainly due to its low price. Based on the cooking technology, it is divided into:

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1. Simple. Consists of alcohol, water. Has a shelf life of up to 12 months.
2. Special - with the addition of flavorings and flavor shades. They reduce the period of use to six months.

Only glass containers are suitable for vodka, since other materials will inevitably interact with alcohol. Its aldehydes release toxic substances that are harmful to health.

A full shelf life can only be maintained by liquid in an airtight container that is properly stored. After opening, the alcohol evaporates, the taste and the effect of drinking alcohol are lost.

ADVICE! Opened vodka can be stored for no more than 5 days, since a violation of the seal provokes volatilization of alcohol and a decrease in temperature.

Under what conditions should it be stored?

Cognac should be stored in a place protected from light. The sun's rays can negatively affect the taste of the drink, after which it will soon become unpleasant.

The container in which cognac is to be stored should be kept in an upright position so that the liquid does not touch the cork and cannot absorb synthetic substances, as a result of which the product will deteriorate.

The storage temperature of cognac is of great importance. The optimum temperature should be between +5°C -+15°C. Under such conditions, the drink is aged in a wooden container for years. The influence of too high or, conversely, too low a temperature is detrimental to the product.

The humidity level should be within normal limits and not exceed 85%. Dampness is another enemy of this drink.

There is a version that storing cognac in the freezer is the most reliable. But such a statement is not true. A high-quality product also consists of tannins necessary to give it aromatic properties. The impact of negative temperatures is detrimental to them, which will certainly affect the composition of the drink as a whole.

If there is a need to preserve the drink for several years, you can seal the cork using molten sealing wax. This will help prevent the container from depressurizing when the cork begins to dry out.

Timing and types

The dangers of vodka in plastic bottles

A particular danger to humans is vodka in plastic containers that have been heated, for example, by sunlight or have been in a hot room.

We recommend reading: Today there is a special marking on bottles that indicates what material the container is made of:

1. PP – releases bisphenol A;
2. PVC – upon contact with ethyl, releases vinyl chloride and phthalates;
3. PS - as a result of reaction with alcohol, it releases styrene.
4. HDPE – releases formaldehyde upon contact with alcohol;
5. LDPE – capable of releasing heavy metals;

Proper storage

The storage conditions for each type of alcohol are different. Vodka is a drink that is sensitive to heat and light. It must be stored at room temperature in a dark place. Freezing is contraindicated: the alcohol will not change its qualities, but the additives will precipitate and the vodka will become unusable.

Cognac, brandy, whiskey, subject to storage rules, are not limited by their shelf life. Noble drinks are infused in barrels, poured into glass bottles, and stored under the following conditions:

1. Vertical position is required. Contact with the lid may change the taste and smell.
2. Bottle tightness. The penetration of air and foreign odors is unacceptable, so to be sure, fill the neck with sealing wax.
3. Ambient temperature 5...15 °C.
4. Lack of sunlight.

IMPORTANT! It is preferable to purchase an expensive drink in a darkened glass container placed in a tube. This is how Chivas is sold.

Liqueur can be made according to various recipes. If it does not contain perishable products (milk, eggs, like Baileys), then it can be fully stored for up to 5 years. The specific period is indicated by the manufacturer on the label. Real liqueur can only be sold in glass. Must be hermetically sealed with a lid and kept in a dark place at room temperature.

Moonshine must be poured into thoroughly sterilized, dried containers. An airtight lid is the key to long-term preservation of the temperature and taste properties. The environment must meet the requirements:

• dark room without access to sunlight;
• 5…20 °C;
• humidity up to 85%.

Wine can be stored for different times, depending on the variety and composition:

• white – 2-3 years;
• red – 2-10 years;
• elite vintage - up to 100 years.

Basic rules for preserving the properties of wine:

• temperature 10...15 °C;
• protection from temperature changes, noise, vibrations;
• humidity 60-80%;
• horizontal position of the bottle;
• protection from sunlight and artificial light.

Wine in tetra pack boxes is usually of low quality; it can rather be called a wine drink. Falsified products are often found in such containers.

Champagne does not last long due to the carbon dioxide content, which gradually spoils the taste of the product. Supplied exclusively in glass. To achieve the maximum shelf life (3 years), the following conditions must be met:

• temperature 10...12 °C;
• humidity about 75%;
• horizontal position;
• the room should be well ventilated, protected from light;
• Champagne should only be kept in a closed bottle, as carbon dioxide instantly evaporates.

Martini is an excellent alternative for lovers of non-carbonated drinks.

The balm is considered medicinal, made on the basis of medicinal herbs. It is usually added to tea and coffee. It is perfectly stored in ceramic containers for an unlimited amount of time. It is important to protect the bottle from high temperatures and sunlight.

IMPORTANT! Beer is just as addictive as hard liquor.

There are many types of beer:

• light, dark;
• pasteurized, unpasteurized;
• filtered, unfiltered.

The packaging is also varied:

• kegs – stainless steel barrels with a volume from 5 to 100 liters;
• aluminum cans;
• glass bottles;
• plastic bottles.

Kegs are the best option for storing fresh beer, including unfiltered beer. They are sealed and protect from sunlight and temperature changes. The sales period is longer than bottled, but after opening it is sharply reduced to 3-5 days.

Aluminum cans offer the same benefits as kegs. The only danger is their fragility. The slightest mechanical damage can lead to chipping of a piece of the coating, which can lead to corrosion. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the can.

Glass bottles perfectly protect the contents from the penetration of oxygen and microorganisms, but allow light to pass through and heat up quickly. Therefore, it is better to choose dark glass and consume it immediately after the seal of the lid is broken.

Plastic bottles are the most common, although they pose a real danger to human health. After pouring into a PET bottle, beer gradually releases the poison dibutyl phthalate, so it is better to refrain from such a purchase.

The shelf life of beer depends on its composition and the presence of preservatives.

Pasteurized is subjected to temperature treatment at 60...80 ° C, so most pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed. But along with them, useful substances disappear, as well as the natural taste inherent in the drink. The longer the guaranteed storage period, the more exposure the raw materials were exposed to. It can range from 1 to 6 months.

Unpasteurized is stored from several hours to several days, since in the natural environment, the yeast bacteria remain unchanged.

To extend the shelf life, the manufacturer filters the beer. The process removes yeast and hop microparticles. A purified drink in an airtight container will not lose its properties for up to six months.

Unfiltered (live) should be drunk a week in advance, and stored in the refrigerator.

When purchasing draft (craft) it is necessary to clarify the date of uncorking of the general container. Drinking a drink that is more than 3 days old is dangerous. It will be stored in an airtight container for up to six months.

Any beer in a closed container requires compliance with the following conditions:

• temperature regime – no higher than 15 °C;
• sun protection;
• vertical position.

Conditions

At home, alcoholic beverages are stored as follows:

1. Closed bottles, jars - in a cool, dark, ventilated place, away from heat sources.
2. Opened - after use, close the lid tightly and put it in the refrigerator. If the container is not sealed in any way, it is better not to store the drink, but to consume it immediately.

How to check the quality of alcohol at home

Once you have alcohol at home, you can test it for impurities by performing a Lang test. Needed:

• 3 fractions of one alcohol - heads, body and tails;
• 3 flasks (clean jars will also do);
• a strong solution of potassium permanganate (per 50 ml of distilled water - 0.1 g of potassium permanganate);
• graduated pipette (syringe).

This is done like this:

1. Add 0.4 ml of potassium permanganate to each of the three jars and add 20 ml of alcohol fractions: heads into the first jar, bodies into the second, tail fractions into the third.
2. Literally within a minute, reactions occur: the heads become light yellow, the body remains pink, the tails remain brown.
3. Immediately after breeding, time is noted and after what time the sample with the “body” acquires the color of salmon:

• 10 minutes – first grade alcohol, not very high quality;
• 15 minutes – premium;
• 20 – “Basis”;
• 22 – “Lux”.

If the alcohol has acquired the color of salmon earlier than 10 minutes, consuming it internally is dangerous to health.

The easiest way is to drop it on your hand and rub it. An unpleasant, pungent odor indicates that the alcohol is unsuitable for internal consumption.

How to find out if it's overdue

Each type has individual signs of delay:

1. Vodka: cloudiness, presence of sediment, lack of characteristic smell and taste.
2. Cognac, brandy, whiskey: loss of inherent organoleptic properties. Do not deteriorate if storage conditions are met.
3. Liquor: appearance of rancid taste, thickening, drying, separation into fractions.
4. Moonshine: cloudy color, sediment, loss of strength.
5. Wine: sour taste and smell.
6. Champagne: bitter taste, lack of bubbles.
7. Balm: thickening, sediment.
8. Beer: sour smell, sediment, cloudiness, lack of gas.

How to spot fake vodka?

The main indicators of a drink’s suitability for drinking are the date of manufacture and the expiration/storage period indicated on the vodka label. If there is no marking, but then you can distinguish expired vodka by the following signs:

• sediment at the bottom of the bottle;
• aroma uncharacteristic for vodka;
• cloudy liquid (high-quality vodka is always clear);
• the amount of alcohol in the composition does not correspond to what is stated on the label (usually 40%);
• taste uncharacteristic for vodka.

If at least one of these signs is observed, the drink is counterfeit, the vodka has expired or the storage conditions were not met.

All this negatively affects consumer qualities. In some cases, the taste and smell simply change, but it is also possible that there is an increase in harmful aldehydes in the composition, which can lead to poisoning. It is strictly forbidden to consume such drinks.

Can vodka go stale?

• Yes, if the vodka is open, then some volatile chemicals will not evaporate (in this case, alcohol, usually ethyl). And the longer it sits like this, the less alcohol there will be in it. You can tell by taste. If the vodka is still very bitter, it means there is still enough alcohol in it. You can even conduct an experiment. Dilute vodka with water in different proportions. Pour 1/2 vodka into one vessel, 1/3 into another, and 1/4 into a third, and so on, in descending order. And trying from different vessels, try to remember the taste. Then, later, you can determine by taste how much the vodka has dried out , simply remembering which taste corresponds to which ratio of vodka and water.
• An open bottle of vodka will gradually fizzle out, evaporation will slowly occur, but in such a short amount of time, just a few days, everything will be fine with the vodka, well, it will be, if not 40 degrees, but 38, the strength is also okay, quite even.
• Vodka is running out of steam, that's for sure. I had the vodka unopened in the refrigerator for several months, and then it fizzled out. And without a lid, it will definitely fizzle out. Can I drink it? Why not - it is possible. There just won’t be as much alcohol in it as in the beginning.
• It is possible, but the effect will not be the same))) Alcohol is an easily evaporating liquid. And if the vodka is 40 degrees, even more so. It is better to screw the cap on immediately after use. Then there will be no disappointments)
• I remember a case where a grandfather I knew, on some occasion (maybe a meeting of classmates or something like that), decided to treat everyone to vodka, which he had somewhere in the pantry, sealed, from the time of his youth, maybe even from his wedding. They took out this bottle, opened it, poured it, smelled it, tasted it - ordinary water. Even through the tight factory cap, all the alcohol has evaporated. You can probably drink it, but there’s no point in it.
• Recently, we found a bottle of vodka, the production date of which was 09/21/1983. The bottle was in the basement))) As it turned out, the cap was not tightly closed, but the vodka was preserved in the bottle! We wanted to throw it away, but our neighbor is a lover of this quot; potionquot; begged, and immediately quot; lappedquot;. And nothing happened to him except a hangover))). So he shouted to the whole street about how high-quality vodka was in the USSR, that after so many years he drank a half-open bottle and felt happiness)))

How long does vodka last?

Glass does not react to the action of alcohol and is the optimal container for storing “white” ones.

You cannot pour vodka into plastic or clay containers if you are going to store it, and in general, for its normal storage, it is better not to damage the integrity of the packaging (bottle). Plastic for storing vodka is especially dangerous - together with alcohol, it forms poison over time. The tightness of the bottle will ensure the preservation of both the vodka itself in its unchanged quantity (alcohol is extremely volatile and easily evaporates from a poorly closed container), but will also preserve its strength (if left alone with air, vodka loses its strength).

If sediment has fallen to the bottom of the bottle or the vodka has become cloudy, do not drink it - it has become poison. This happened because your container for storing vodka turned out to be of poor quality and reacted with the alcohol in its composition.

Today, many homes store liquids containing alcohol: expensive collectible alcohol, disinfection solutions, technical liquids for various purposes. But not everyone knows that storing alcohol in a plastic bottle is highly discouraged. Ethanol can slowly dissolve polymers, so it should not be stored in plastic. Let's figure out which containers are suitable for storing alcohol solutions, and name the most common mistakes during storage.