Margaritas are one of the most popular cocktails in the world. There's just something about that delicious blend of lime, tequila, and orange liqueur that makes people happy—and we are certainly part of the fan club!
But what happens if you don't finish your margarita mix? Can margarita mix go bad?
In this blog post, we'll answer all your margarita mix questions, and we'll also teach you how to make your own homemade margarita mix.
Grab your lime juice and tequila because we're ready to mix it up and get sippin'!
What Is Margarita Mix?
Margarita mix is typically a blend of lime juice, orange liqueur, sugar, salt, and sometimes citric acid. If you're buying a premade margarita mix, some of them come with the alcohol mixed in. These are called "ready to drink" mixers.
If you're making a homemade version, it will contain the same ingredients. However, the syrupy base of homemade margarita mixes is almost like a cordial because the lime and sugar are heated and mixed together without additional liquid, making for a concentrated lime flavor (scroll down for the full recipe). Making it in this way helps the flavor and freshness last a bit longer.
Does Margarita Mix Go Bad?
Margaritas are the perfect drink for any occasion, whether you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just enjoying a night out with friends. While we know it's probably unlikely, you may wonder what happens if you don't use all your mix. Are you asking yourself, "Can margarita mix go bad?"
Well, the answer is yes, margarita mix can go bad. If stored improperly, margarita mix can spoil quickly because the citrus in the mix is susceptible to mold and bacteria growth. Therefore, it's essential to hold your margarita mix in a cool, dark place like the fridge. Additionally, be sure to seal the container to keep out oxygen and moisture tightly.
If margarita mix is stored correctly, it should last for up to two weeks. However, we recommend using margarita mix for the best flavor within one week of opening. After that, the margarita mix will start to lose its freshness and begin tasting slightly off.
Signs Margarita Mix Has Gone Bad
You can use margarita mix for quite a while before it goes bad unless you leave the bottle uncapped. But sometimes, life gets in the way, and things don't go according to plan. So, if you notice anything odd about the mix or if you're not sure if it's safe to drink, throw it away. A few things to look for are:
- It smells extra sour.
- The color of the mix changes.
- Particles start to float in the bottle.
Lastly, if you notice that your margarita mix simply isn't tasting right, don't continue drinking it. Our sense of taste is usually pretty good at telling us when something's gone bad, so trust your gut instinct on this one. If it seems fine and tastes okay, help yourself!
Storing Premade Margarita Mix So It Doesn't Go Bad.
Store premade margarita mix in a cool, dark place. A pantry is excellent; a kitchen cabinet will also do. You want to make sure the temperature is stable. Once you open the bottle, transfer it to the fridge for maximum freshness. If you leave it on the countertop after opening, it won't spoil, but it will go bad more quickly than if you keep it cold.
When it comes to ready-to-drink mixes with tequila in the recipe, storage guidelines are similar. Store them in a cool, dry place before opening them. Then transfer them to the fridge after opening for best results. That said, mixes that already contain liquor will probably store much better than those without. Therefore, you can probably keep it in the pantry after opening for a bit longer than its nonalcoholic counterpart.
Whether it has alcohol mixed in or not, always screw the cap on your margarita mix's container. Ensuring a tight seal is another excellent way to maintain freshness. If your party got a little too fun and there's no way you're finding that cap, you can pour it into another bottle and seal it. Or, you can cover with plastic wrap or even foil and wrap a rubber band around the opening to keep it secure.
How To Make Homemade Margarita Mix
Homemade margarita mix tastes even better than premade margarita mix! If you're looking for the perfect margarita mix recipe, we've got you covered.
Check out the recipe below for delicious margarita fun. This margarita mix is made with fresh ingredients and can be stored in the fridge for one to two weeks.
Ingredients:
- ½ of a lime, zested
- I cup lime juice
- 2/3 cup sugar
- ½ cup orange liqueur
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- First, you will need to make a syrup. Combine the salt, sugar, and lime juice in a saucepan. Let the mixture come to a simmer over medium heat, being sure to stir, so the sugar dissolves properly. Once it dissolves, turn off the heat and let it cool.
- Once your lime syrup cools, add in the other ingredients, and give it a good stir.
- Store in a sealed container until you're ready to shake up a delicious margarita. Cheers!
If all that sounds like too much effort, turn to one of Mixly's mixers. You can have fresh ingredients that are ready to go while simultaneously putting a unique spin on the classic margarita flavors. Easy, delicious, and sure to impress your guests. You can't get much better than that, right?
Storing Homemade Margarita Mix
A large swing-top bottle is an ideal way to store homemade margarita mix. You can double or even triple the recipe, then transfer it to a pitcher for easy pouring. Margarita mix can also be bottled into more petite swing tops and given out as fun, unique gifts.
You can store homemade margarita mix for up to one week in the refrigerator. You can keep it for up to one additional week, although the flavors will begin to fall flat at that point. When you are ready to serve up your yummy margarita mix, give it a good shake or stir to redistribute the lime zest, which tends to settle to the bottom; separation may have occurred with the syrup as well.
What To Do With Leftover Margarita Mix
While margarita mix can go bad, there's no need to worry if you don't finish your drink! You can always use leftover margarita mix to make other delicious cocktails like a tequila sunrise or a Paloma. You can also freeze margarita mix in ice cube trays and enjoy a refreshing frozen margarita anytime.
And if you're still unsure what to do with leftover margarita mix, get creative! Check your pantry and fridge to see what you have in stock. Whip something up and see how it goes. Who knows? You may just create the next mixology masterpiece.
Margarita Mix FAQ
If one of your burning questions has yet to be answered, check out a few of the frequently asked questions below!
Can You Drink Margarita Mix By Itself?
Typically, no. Margarita mix may look like that fancy green juice you pick up in the morning, but drinking without something to dilute it is not appropriate.
Most store-bought mixes are highly concentrated, needing either liquor or water to bring it down to a good flavor for drinking. The same goes for the homemade version. You can try topping it off with club soda or seltzer water to sip on a citrus-flavored beverage. Doing so may become your favorite summertime mocktail!
That said, some premade margarita mixes come ready to drink, meaning the liquor is already included. That particular variation is the only one we recommend drinking by itself.
Can Margarita Mix Gone Bad Make You Sick?
Unless you leave a bottle of Margarita mix open without its cap, it will not make you sick when you drink it. It is more likely to be sour and flat tasting.
Even if you did drink Margarita mix that was not stored correctly, showed signs of spoilage, or the bottle was damaged, it is unlikely to cause food poisoning because sugar and natural preservatives in the premade versions prevent this from happening.
However, there is still a chance of experiencing food poisoning symptoms if signs of spoilage are present—it's best to steer clear and opt for a fresher option.
The Bottom Line
If you came here to ask, "Does margarita mix go bad?" The answer is yes, but it takes quite some time for it to spoil entirely. However, if you make a homemade version, it may spoil within one to two weeks. We feel that you may not have to deal with this problem too often because margaritas are downright delicious and meant to be shared!
Next time you have a party or get-together, bring along some of your own homemade margarita mixes to impress your guests or whomever you serve with the delicious taste of fresh margaritas! They're sure to love it. Cheers!
