How Long Does Mochi Last? Does Mochi Go Bad?

If you are a food enthusiast and love to explore delicacies from across the world, you might have encountered mochi.

Simple in its deliciousness, this delectable has been part of Japanese cuisine for over 1000 years.

Over the years, mochi has been adopted in many other nations and is now famous worldwide.

While it is not always easy to find mochi in American grocery stores, you can prepare it at home.

Whether bought from the store or made at home, you should know the right amount of time to store mochi to ensure you only consume it when it is safe.

When stored inappropriately and for more than it should, mochi can go bad and cause significant health issues.

When it goes bad, mochi grows mold, and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) explains that some molds cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.

Others produce mycotoxins, poisonous substances that cause illness.

Thus, it becomes vital to answer the question, how long does mochi last? Read on to find out.

What’s Mochi?

If you have not heard of mochi before, it is a type of sweet rice cake that originates from Japan and has become famous worldwide.

It has been around since the 8th century.

Mochi comes in different sizes and shapes, including flat rectangles called sticky cakes and round balls, and varying flavors.

There is something about mochi’s glutinous and chewy texture that makes it wholly unforgettable.

It is made from short-grain japonica glutinous rice, where it gets its chewy texture.

While it is traditionally a New Year’s food, it is also eaten year round as an addition to soup or a snack.

Not only is mochi delicious, but it also packs several benefits.

Mochi is low in cholesterol and saturated fats, making it a healthy dessert.

Additionally, it is an excellent source of Vitamins A, C, E, and K, phosphorous, Niacin, calcium, folate, magnesium, riboflavin, manganese, and iron, making it an excellent option to snack on.

How Long Does Mochi Last? Does Mochi Go Bad?

How long mochi lasts depends on how well it is stored. Its shelf life differs when stored in the pantry or the fridge.

• Shelf life in Pantry.

Mochi lasts only for a short period when stored in the pantry.

If you keep mochi at room temperature in the pantry, it will stay fresh for one to two days, depending on how hot and humid the area you live in is.

If you want your mochi to last longer than two days, you must store it in a refrigerator.

• Shelf life in the fridge .

If you store mochi in a fridge, its shelf life increases considerably.

Refrigeration extends its shelf life to between 7 and 14 days.

After staying in the refrigerator for more than 14 days, you should throw away the mochi because the highest probability is that it is bad.

• Can Mochi be frozen?

If you want mochi to last longer, store it in a freezer.

Below is information on how long homemade, store-bought and commercially manufactured mochi last while fresh when stored in a freezer.

Homemade mochi grows mold quickly. Therefore, you should freeze it as soon as possible.

The mochi stays fresh for approximately a month when you store it in a freezer.

Store-bought mochi stays fresh longer. So make sure to check the packaging paper for information on the cake’s expiry date.

Commercially manufactured mochi packaged in an airtight can stays fresh for a few months when stored at room temperature.

If you keep it in the freezer section of the fridge, it stays fresh for up to a year.

When opened, mochi stays fresh for a week when you store it in the fridge and up to two weeks when you keep it in the freezer.

How to Tell if Mochi is Bad?

If you have mochi in your pantry or fridge, you should inspect them before eating or serving them to your guests.

Eating a bad mochi might make you, your family members, or guests sick.

Look for the following signs to tell if your mochi is bad.

• Mold .

The most common sign of a bad is mold on the mochi.

It will get moldy when you store mochi at room temperature for an extended period.

You can easily see red or blue mold on a mochi.

You might think of removing the mold and eating the mochi.

However, doing so might make you sick because the mold extends deep into the mochi.

Mold generates toxins that might make you sick; therefore, you should not eat moldy mochi.

• Change of color .

When the mochi spoils, its surface turns pink or milky white.

If the color of the outer layer of the mochi starts to change, throw it away.

• Bad odor .

You can tell whether a mochi is bad or not by sniffing it.

If the mochi smells like something fermented, the highest probability is that it is bad.

Please do not eat it; throw it away.

• Change in text and taste.

Another sign of a bad mochi is if it is too dry to eat.

The outer layer of the rice cake dries out quickly when you store it in the fridge without covering it.

Lastly, if the mochi loses its chewy, elastic texture and becomes hard and tasteless, get rid of it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mochi is a delicacy not only in Japan, where it originates from but also around the world.

If you have leftover mochi, you may be confused about whether you should keep or dispose of it.

Knowing how long mochi lasts and if it goes bad is critical.

You store mochi that you will consume within one to two days appropriately in the pantry.

Keep mochi that you will not eat soon in the refrigerator and extend its life for up to 14 days.

Be sure to check for mold before consuming it to ensure it is still safe to consume.