For convenience, we often divide the Edible Bird’s Nests into glass jars for long-term use. However, like other daily foods, pre-cooked Edible Bird’s Nests contain organic substances from the nests, and sugar provides an extremely favorable environment for bacteria to grow if not stored properly. The fermentation process or bacterial contamination will occur when exposed to favorable temperatures.

Therefore, the following signs will help identify spoiled pre-cooked Edible Bird’s Nests that should not be continued to use:

❶ Continuous foaming, bacteria producing gas will continuously generate CO₂.

❷ Cloudy nest water, the water used for cooking Edible Bird’s Nests and fresh Edible Bird’s Nests are usually clear.

❸ Sour taste.

❹ No longer has the natural fragrance of Edible Bird’s Nests or the aroma of the accompanying cooking spices.

❺ In some cases, the swellability of the nests is lost, and the nests and water will visibly separate.

For Edible Bird’s Nests without preservatives, they should be stored in the refrigerator to extend the shelf life, usually up to 10 to 15 days. In addition, the composition of the cooked Edible Bird’s Nests also affects the storage time, such as those cooked with rock sugar may last longer when cooked with additional spices like red apples, jujubes, and lotus seeds…