What's the best way to save leftover wine? Yeah, yeah, we know — according to the cute cartoons on Facebook, "leftover wine" is an oxymoron. But in the real world, not the social-media world, we've all had the need to save half-opened bottles of wine for serving at a later date… and we've all had mixed results in keeping that wine fresh. But no one should have to waste a bottle of good, or even semi-decent, wine. We tested some of the most frequently used and most affordable wine-storage options, and here's what we found for both red and white wine. The best method might surprise you! STEVE CUKROV  / Feature Pics For the low-budget (or lazy, or harried) oenophiles among us, recorking the wine bottle and storing it in the fridge will keep the wine bottle fresh for another day on average. You won't be able to remove air from the bottle by simply recorking it — and air is what causes oxidation, the process that makes wine turn sour. But the cold temperatures will slow down the oxidation process somewhat — and that holds true for red wine as well as white.

So don't just store that opened bottle of Cabernet on the countertop; you might as well throw it out if you do. RELATED: 6 expert tips on how to order wine like a pro at a restaurant To eke out a few more days of freshness, you'll be more successful if you use one of a number of fairly inexpensive gadgets. We tested the widely available VacuVin stopper (vacuums air out of the bottle and "corks" it with rubber); the inflatable-balloon-style Air Cork (creates an airtight seal inside the bottle); and the PlatyPreserve (stores the wine in an airtight bag) . All of these toys attempt to stop oxidation by extracting air from the bottle or blocking the air from hitting the wine's surface. And we've found that all of those methods will keep leftover wine fresh for up to three more days—but they work most effectively when the wine is stored in the refrigerator. Of these three gadgets, the PlatyPreserve gets the slight edge for ease, effectiveness and portability. If you've ever squeezed air out of a Ziploc bag, you'll know how to use this — plus it takes up much less space than a wine bottle.

RELATED: Wine made easy — your ultimate guide to holiday food pairings But the best way to save leftover wine only costs a few bucks more than keeping it in the bottle itself. And you don't need any special gadget — just a mason jar. Simply pour your wine into the jar, filling it as close to the brim as you possibly can, and store it in the fridge. The rings and lids on mason jars make an airtight seal, which works just as well for wine storage as it does for pickling or canning. So, how long will the wine keep? When we've used a mason jar, we've been able to keep our opened wine in near-perfect condition for up to five whole days — even though we very, very rarely need to store it for that long. 5 Tips for Storing Opened Wine Wine Enthusiast polled its editors and other wine pros on the best ways to preserve the last few glasses of your open bottle. The first rule of preserving your wine is to replace the cork correctly. While the “clean” side may seem easier to fit in the bottle, resist.

The stained side has already been exposed to the wine, and it tasted fine. That “clean” side may not be so clean, and it can taint what you’re planning to drink in a day or two. Air flattens your wine, lessening flavors and aromas. To minimize air exposure, use a funnel to pour the remaining vino into a screw-cap half bottle. what red wine with salmonEven if there’s a little air at the top, it’s far less than in a regular bottle.good rich red wine It’s amazing how often people will keep leftover wine on the counter after they’ve recorked it. glass of wine on the beachYou wouldn’t do that with food, so don’t with wine. buy wine in dc on sunday

The cool temp can’t stop exposed wine from breaking down, but it can slow the process significantly. If popping high-end bottles is what you call Wednesday (or you’re itching to taste those gems in your cellar), it may be time for a Coravin. good wine scoreThis device, which looks much like a Rabbit opener, pierces the cork with a needle and tops the bottle with argon gas. beer and wine store open nowPour what you want, remove the needle and the cork will seal naturally. Many restaurants use it to sell top-shelf wines by the glass. There are other wine preservation options, as well.  Look, there are roughly five glasses of wine in a regular 750-ml bottle. If you and yours have two glasses each and split that last glass—all while eating a decent-sized dinner—it’s not bad. In fact, according to recent studies, 1–3 glasses a day may improve your heart health.

Hosting Tips, Wine Basics, Wine Trends The Best Way to Preserve an Open Bottle of Wine Food Containers & Storage If you are anything like me or my friends, deciding what to do with an unfinished bottle of wine is a problem that rarely arises. But maybe you had a few people over for a dinner party, or maybe you are a light drinker, or maybe you just wanted to open both a red and a white for pairing options. Regardless of the scenario, we all want that opened bottle of wine to taste as fresh and delicious tomorrow, as it does this evening. Here's how to make sure that happens. It's All About Oxygen As soon as you uncork a bottle, oxygen begins to interact with the wine, changing its composition over time. At first, oxygen encourages a wine to open up, releasing its aromas and softening any harsh tannins. This is why we swirl wine in our glasses or decant or even aerate. Wine exposed to oxygen for an extended period of time, however, degrades and slowly turns to vinegar.

So, how long do you have? For most wines, you basically have two days of optimal drinking. Some wines can stretch until three days, but if you have a bottle that has been open a little longer, and it tastes fine to you, enjoy it! Those same attributes that make a wine age-worthy (high acidity, high sugar, or high tannin) also prolong the shelf-life once opened. For example, a high-acid, sweet Riesling or a dense, tannic Cabernet will maintain their characteristics longer than a low-acid, flabby Chardonnay or delicate Pinot Noir. What is the easiest thing you can do to preserve your open bottle? Quickly and tightly cork the bottle and stick it in the fridge, even if it's red. Refrigeration slows down the process of oxidation. 3 Ways to Further Extend Your Open Bottle's Life 1. Reduce the Oxygen. The easiest and cheapest means of doing this is simply transferring your leftover wine into a smaller vessel. I keep a couple empty half-bottles around for just this occasion, but glass container or jar will do.

There are also a couple of products on the market that function in a similar fashion, each uniquely keeping oxygen away. Vin Edge Wine Preserver, $30 Savino Wine Preservation Decanter, $30-60 2. Remove the Oxygen. Another option is to use a device that extracts the air from the bottle of wine, removing the oxygen, creating a vacuum. This is most commonly accomplished with a pump device. Vacuvin Wine Saver, $10-20 Waring Wine Opener and Vacuum Sealer, $40 3. Replace the Oxygen. This refers to replacing the oxygen in the bottle with an inert gas, most commonly, Argon. This gas is non-reactive and is frequently added to freshly bottled wines to prevent oxidation. The most common and cheapest means of blanketing the wine with Argon is an aerosol spray. One new device that demands attention is the Coravin system. Wine is extracted without ever encountering oxygen, allowing for an open bottle shelf-life of up to six months. Private Preserve Inert Gas Aerosol, $14