How to store opened champagne ?
How to store opened champagne without losing its effervescence or aromas takes a bit of method. Contrary to popular belief, it is entirely possible to keep an open bottle for two to three days without ruining the experience.
How long can a bottle remain open in the open air?
If you do not put any stopper back on, the answer is simple: just a few hours.
As soon as the bottle is uncorked, carbon dioxide begins to escape continuously and oxygen seeps in. After 3 to 4 hours at room temperature, the champagne will already have lost most of its fizz and a good deal of its aromas.
The myth of the small spoon - How to store opened champagne ?
We need to put an end to a stubborn urban legend: the small spoon slipped into the neck does not work. No scientific experiment has ever proven its effectiveness. Air continues to circulate freely, carbon dioxide escapes, and the wine oxidizes just as quickly as in the open air.
The only real method: the bubble-stopper
To preserve pressure and sparkle, only one accessory does the trick: the airtight pressure stopper (or bubble-stopper).
Should you put the stopper on immediately after serving? Yes, absolutely. Do not wait until the end of the meal or when clearing the table. Put the bubble-stopper back on as soon as you finish pouring the glasses to immediately trap the carbon dioxide and limit contact with the air.
Its role: It locks under the collar of the neck and creates an airtight seal that keeps the gas dissolved in the liquid.
Result depending on the remaining quantity:
If more than half the bottle remains: You can store it for more than 3 days without any problem, because the volume of air in the bottle remains limited.
If less than half the bottle remains: The oxygen present will accelerate the loss of bubbles and oxidation; it is therefore recommended to finish it the very next day.
Watch out for the number of openings: When you reopen the bottle, finish it if you have less than half left. Otherwise, after 3 openings, you will have virtually no bubbles left, as the pressure escapes a bit more with each uncorking.
The 3 golden rules for storage
Keep chilled immediately: Place the bottle in the refrigerator as soon as service is finished. The cold slows down the release of carbon dioxide and the oxidation of the wine.
Store the bottle upright, but NOT in the fridge door: Unlike closed bottles, an open bottle must remain vertical to save bubbles limiting contact with air. Be careful, however, not to place it in the refrigerator door: every time you open it, you will shake the champagne, making it lose its precious bubbles. Instead, choose a fixed shelf inside.
Avoid temperature variations: Do not let the bottle sit on the table between two glasses if the meal drags on. Put it back in the fridge or even better, place it in an ice bucket. It's efficent and decorative !
What to do with leftover flat champagne?
If you forgot your bottle and the bubbles have flown away, do not throw it out. Champagne remains an excellent blending white wine. You can recycle it in cooking to:
Deglaze a pan-seared batch of scallops or shrimp.
Make a creamy risotto.
Enrich a sauce for a cream-based poultry dish.
