How Long Does Mochi Last? Does Mochi Go Bad?

Mochi is a sweet rice cake you have tried if you love to taste the delicacies of different countries.

This is a simple yet delicious cake that is quite popular around the world.

Even though people have them frequently they are still unaware of how long these can be stored or do mochi go bad.

Thus people always try to finish it as soon as they buy them.

This is true that one cannot store them for a prolonged period as it contains perishable ingredients.

However, one can provide the cake with better storage to exceed its shelf life.

What is Mochi?

This is a sticky rice cake that comes from Japanese cuisine, and it’s made from flour.

This has been in their cuisine since the year 794 and is included in different ceremonies.

One can find these cakes in various shapes and sizes, such as flat, round, and more.

They are sticky and chewy in texture which makes them taste savory.

In traditional times it only used to have a filling of peanuts, but these days, you can get a lot of varieties in the filling, including chocolate, strawberry, ice creams, and much more.

Besides their taste, they also contain a lot of health benefits in them.

These cakes are low in saturated fats and cholesterol, which makes them healthy.

Vitamins like A, C, E, and K can also be found that can promote healthy skin.

These are rich in fiber that helps improve digestion-related problems.

How Long Does Mochi Last? Does Mochi Go Bad?

When you are storing it, then you should know its shelf life so that you can avoid bad mochi.

The shelf life will differ for all the cakes made at home and commercial ones.

If you make mochi at home, its shelf life in the pantry will only be one to two days.

That is because homemade mochi does not contain any preservatives or are sealed; thus, they get worse in no time.

However, one can refrigerate them and exceed their shelf life for 7 to 14 days.

If you have stored them for more than 14 days, then you should avoid eating them as they are not fresh anymore.

When you have made mochi at home, then be sure to freeze it right away, or else it will go bad within a short span.

One can keep their homemade mochi for a month and retain its quality by freezing it.

The shelf lives of commercially manufactured cakes are more as they are entirely sealed and airtight.

This makes the mochi intact and seals its freshness, and they are edible for a more extended period.

These can be kept for a few months in the pantry, and to increase their shelf life, you can store them in the fridge.

They can serve you for one week if stored correctly in the fridge.

Freezing can help you to make the commercially made mochi for one year by freezing them.

How to Tell if Mochi Have Gone Bad?

• Growth of Molds

We should know about the sign through which one can find bad mochi so that we can avoid any harm that they can cause.

For that, one thing you can do is notice mold formation.

Mold develops if bacteria have taken place in the cake.

When you keep these cakes at room temperature, then they are prone to get molds.

You can see red or blue spots or molds if they are visible, then avoid having them.

• Alteration in Color

When you are looking for a bad mochi, its color can indicate many things.

These cakes can be found in different shades and colors, but their color will fade over time, and they will go rancid in no time.

If any of the cake turns pink or milky white, then it is spoiled.

Therefore you notice color alteration or change in the outer layers of the cake, then throw it out.

• Foul Smell

The scent of mochi is pleasant and sweet; however, as you keep it for a long time then, it will absorb the smell of its surrounding food items.

Thus its original scent will not remain there for too long, and it will begin to give an odor if it has gone bad.

So one must sniff it, and if there is a foul smell, then be sure to discard it.

How to Store Mochi?

• Wrapping is Essential

If you have leftovers of mochi, then you should keep it wrapped correctly.

These are prone to moisture if stored in the fridge, so it will be better if you wrap the mochi properly and then store it.

Wrapping it up can increase its shelf life to more than three days.

• Freezer

While storing, many people feel due to storage; the cakes lose their quality.

So by freezing them, one can retain their original quality for a long time.

That means they can easily save the flavor, and before having them be sure to defrost them first to neutralize their temperature.

• Use Airtight Jars

When you buy pre-made mochi from any store, then you know they come in a sealed jar that is because air and moisture can make them bad without taking much time.

Thus if you are making these cakes at home, then using an airtight jar can help you to safeguard them from moisture, and you can enjoy them for a more extended period.

Conclusion

Wrapping should be done with moisture-proof material such as plastic paper or aluminum foil.

Storage in the pantry is not advisable; thus, one should not eat long-stored mochi.

Instead of keeping them in the pantry, one should finish them within 2 to 3 days.

One must refrain from consuming long-stored mochi and indeed look for the bad indication signs provided above.