Kefir might seem kind of intimidating. After all, it's over 4,000 years old and hails from the Caucasus Mountain region which includes parts of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia. But it's actually a super approachable yogurt-like beverage with many health benefits.
Because it's a fermented drink (with a characteristic tang), it contains a plethora of . In the 21st century, companies have hopped on the kefir train, selling bottled versions in supermarkets in the dairy coolers. Once you bring it home and open it, though, how long do you have to drink it before it can start to go bad? Opened kefir must be kept refrigerated, and will keep up to two weeks if stored properly.
(One popular brand of kefir, Lifeway, states that the drink is good until the sell-by date on the bottle. So, whether that comes sooner or later than within two weeks of opening it, you should be fine to trust the guidelines for that specific brand.) Kefir should not be allowed to sit at room temperature for longer than two hours, though.
It's always best to put it back in the fridge after you're done using it. How to use and store kefir to preserve its lifespan It's also important to mind any potential instances where you could be introducing new, bad bacteria to your kefir container. This could include putting a dirty spoon to the mouth of the bottle when cooking or baking with it, or drinking straight from the bottle.
For the latter, while you might reason that you're the only one in your household d.
