If you’re not a cocktail’s enthusiast, grenadine may sound unfamiliar. But, if you enjoy Tequila Sunrise or Shirley Temples, you’ll notice the tart taste from this red syrup.
Grenadine is a bar essential to make a wide range of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. A bit of grenadine goes a long way. Unless you host a party every weekend, a bottle of grenadine typically lasts for quite a while at home.
As with other foods, at some point, you might start asking yourself whether the syrup is still okay to use. Does Grenadine go bad? How do you know if Grenadine has gone off?
If you have similar questions, we’re offering you a little help. In this article, we will take a closer look at Grenadine’s shelf life, storage, and how to tell if Grenadine goes bad. Read on!
What Is Grenadine?
Grenadine is a non-alcoholic syrup characterized by deep red color and a combination of tart and sweet taste.
The original recipe is prepared with pomegranate juice or la grenade in French (hence, its name). To make the syrup more affordable, typical commercial products are mostly prepared from high-fructose corn syrup added with citric acid and flavoring agents.
If you want to taste the authentic grenadine, making it from scratch is not very difficult. Simply boil pomegranate juice with sugar until a syrupy consistency is reached. Additional ingredients, such as rose water or citrus juice can be added, depending on your preference.
How To Store Grenadine
The most common question on storing grenadine is whether it needs refrigeration after opening. It can be both, depending on the brands and the ingredients.
As mentioned above, most commercial grenadine syrups are primarily made of high-fructose corn syrup. This typical product includes the famous brand Rose’s grenadine. The ingredients making up the product are quite stable and therefore refrigeration is not necessary.
Keep the bottle in a dry, cool place, away from sources of heat and sunlight. Since a bottle of syrup may last longer than you expected, keeping it in the refrigerator can maintain the freshness longer than storing it at room temperature.
Meanwhile, premium products made of real pomegranate juice are less stable and should be kept refrigerated after opening, for example, this one from Liber & Co Real Grenadine.
Either way, always seal the bottle tightly. If you use pumps, always use a pump capper or cover it with tin foil. This hygiene practice is necessary to prevent exposure to moisture and consequently, mold growth.
Any unopened bottle of grenadine can be kept in a dry, cool place, away from sources of heat and sunlight, ideally your pantry or kitchen cabinet.
When it comes to homemade grenadine, place it in a tightly sealed bottle, and always store it in the refrigerator.
Can You Freeze Grenadine?
Freezing grenadine, particularly homemade ones, can extend its shelf life. However, the freshness may considerably be affected.
How Long Does Grenadine Last?
Grenadine is high in sugar and acid. Hence, it doesn’t spoil easily. But, the quality may decrease over time.
The first thing to do to know the durability of grenadine is by checking the “best before” date stamped on the label. Of course, this syrup can easily be in good condition after the date, provided with proper storage and perfect packaging.
As long as the bottle is unopened, grenadine can last up to several months to a year beyond the expiry date.
The shelf life of store-bought grenadine after opening considerably varies depending on the storage conditions and the use of pumps. When stored at room temperature with the cap on, it can last up to 3 to 6 months. Meanwhile, if a pump is used, the shelf life is shortened up to only 1 to 2 months.
Homemade grenadine lasts much shorter than the commercial products. It is generally made of fresh pomegranate juice and lacks preservative agents. When properly stored, homemade grenadine can stay fresh up to 3 weeks to 1 month in the refrigerator.
How To Tell If Grenadine Is Bad
Grenadine contains a high amount of sugar. As with many other people, you might think that grenadine won’t go bad. While it’s true that grenadine won’t spoil quickly, the quality may degrade over time.
If you have an old bottle of grenadine without a suspicious look or smell, do a quick test to check if the taste is acceptable. You may still want to toss it if the flavor or taste has changed.
Some general signs are foul odor, change in consistency,or visible moldsnear the cap. If this is the case, discard the syrup right away.
If you are still in doubt, there’s no better option than to toss it away.
FAQs
What are substitutes for grenadine syrup?
There are several alternative ingredients that you can use when you don’t have grenadine on hand. These include pomegranate molasses, raspberry syrup, cherry juice, Crème de cassis, and Cranberry juice cocktail concentrate.
Additionally, why not make grenadine syrup at home? The steps are easy to follow and you get the real deal. What you need are pomegranate juice and sugar. If you’d like, add some rose water or lemon juice to enhance the flavor.
Can you get drunk with grenadine?
Grenadine is an alcohol-free syrup. Unless you don’t mix it with other alcoholic beverages, you won’t get drunk from it.
Is grenadine the same as maraschino cherry juice/syrup?
No, grenadine and maraschino cherry juice are two different products. Grenadine is made with pomegranate juice or flavored as one, while maraschino is made with cherry juice.
Although these two are different in taste and flavor, both syrups are common substitutes for each other. Some brands of grenadine syrup may contain cherry juice, like this one from the Finest Call.
Final Thoughts
Grenadine syrup is considered as an essential ingredient for cocktails, mocktails, and any refreshing drinks. Depending on the ingredients, the quality may vary.
Premium products are made with pomegranate juice, while most commercial products are of high-fructose corn syrup. Alternatively, making homemade grenadine is quite doable to get the authentic taste.
Either way, any type of grenadine is high in sugar and won’t go bad easily, subject to proper storage. However, it may lose its freshness over time. If you observe any signs of spoilage, there’s no better advice than to stay on the safe side.
Rosa graduated with a master degree in Food Safety from Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. Recently, she started a consulting agency to facilitate the improvement of food safety, quality, and sustainability.
