How Long Does Fresh Juice Last In The Fridge? (Storage Tips)
Wondering how long fresh juice can last in a mason jar in the fridge? Here are all the storage tips, tricks, and everything you need to know!
I don’t know about you, but I love juice! I love how fresh and delicious it is. Plus, I love that it’s so good for you too.
I have three kids five years old and younger. They ask me ALL THE TIME for juice! They want juice first thing in the morning and all throughout the day.
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I love to make fresh juice at home for them to drink. I also love that I can hide veggies in it too!
Have you ever wondered how long it really lasts in the fridge? What’s the best way to store it? How can you tell if it’s bad? How do I make homemade juice?
Have no fear! I’ll answer all of these questions and more.
What Makes Juice Go Bad?
First, we need to talk about what makes juice spoil. There are two reasons juice will start to go bad- oxidation and heat. Naturally, the more we limit these, the longer the juice will last.
How Long Will Fresh Juice Last In A Mason Jar?
Fresh vegetable and fruit juice will last up to two days in the fridge in an airtight glass container. In some cases it will even last three days!
However, 24 hours after juice is made it will lose 40% off its nutritional value. Isn’t that crazy?! I had no idea it would lose so much nutrition so quickly.
Fruit and vegetable juice starts losing nutritional value as soon as the juice is squeezed. It will be safe to drink for a while, but it will lose nutritional value.
Glass containers with a rubber lining are the best storage method. The rubber lining will create a vacuum seal that will help the juice last longer.
A glass container is much better to use to hold your juice than plastic container. Plastic promotes oxidation and will make the juice go bad and stale quicker. If fresh juice is stored in a plastic container or milk bottle, it will only last around 24 hours.
The other great thing about using glass is that you can reuse it over and over again.
How To Store Fresh Juice
The best way to extend the life of homemade juice is to store it in an airtight glass container like a mason jar. It’s best to use a glass jar with a plastic lid. Make sure it has a rubber lining.
Definitely store fresh juice in the fridge. It will spoil much faster at room temperature than it will in a refrigerator.
Store juice at a low juice temperature for the best results. Store it at at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
The quality of the juice is what determines how quickly it will go bad. Good quality juice will be fresh longer than bad quality juice. Use organic produce to make the juice even healthier.
You can also store them in insulated or stainless steel bottles. Mason jars or glass containers with a rubber lid are still your best option though.
Storage Tips
Here are some storage tips to keep your juice fresh!
- Open the juice container as little as you can. Every time you open it, oxygen will get in and you’ll lose nutrients.
- Store fresh juice in individual glass bottles to keep it the freshest. This will help slow the oxidation process.
- Make sure your bottles are completely dry before you put juice into them. This will stop bacterial growth before you put the juice in.
- Fill the juice container to the brim. This will leave less room for oxygen and keep it fresher longer. Leave at least an inch of space in the container if you’re freezing it though.
Tips To Make Fresh Juice Last Longer
The truth is fresh juice just doesn’t last very long. It starts to go bad very quickly. There are a few ways you can help the juice last longer.
Here are my top tips to lengthen the life of the juice.
Freeze it!
The colder you keep fresh juice, the longer it will last. So naturally, the best place to store juice is the freezer!
The best way to freeze it is to put it in sealed plastic containers. You can put it in a mason jar with a sealed lid. A plastic jar or plastic container or plastic bag, can be good options too. Leave at least an inch of empty space at the top.
When things freeze, they get bigger. The juice will need space to expand when it’s frozen. If you don’t leave enough space, when the juice freezes, it will break the jar.
So grab tons of fruits and vegetables, your favorite juicer, and make tons of fresh juice. Then freeze it! It will last up to six months frozen. That way you’ll have fresh juice to drink for a long time without having to make it daily.
Pull it out of the freezer the night before you want to drink it. It will be thawed and ready for you in the morning! If you forget to pull it out the night before, just put it in room temperature water for about 30 minutes.
You can also freeze juice in an ice cube tray! Add them to other juice drinks or smoothies for a fun nutritious boost.
Keep in mind that some juice will separate a little when it’s frozen. The best way to avoid juice separating, is to freeze it immediately after you make it. If it sits out at room temperature for a while, it will start to separate.
Juice with fruit in it is more like to separate than juice with vegetables in it. To keep it from separating, let it defrost in a bowl of cool water.
Also, the juice will not taste like it was freshly squeezed. It will still be fresh and it will still be very yummy, but the flavor will be slightly different.
Add Lime Juice Or Lemon Juice
Lemon and lime and other citruses are natural preservatives. Add these to your fresh juice to help it last longer!
Most fruits and vegetables ripen at the same rate. So it doesn’t matter which ones you use. Adding a lemon or lime to your laundry will add citric acid that will help keep it good longer.
Cold Pasteurize Your Juice
The best thing about cold pasteurized juice is that it will last up to 100 days in the fridge. Isn’t that amazing?! I wish all juice lasted that long!
Heat Pasteurize Your Juice
You can do this at home if you’d like, but you need to be very careful. Place it in a double boiler and get it to between 157 degrees. Remember that this will kill a lot of its nutrition though.
Make Fresh Juice At Home
Masticating, cold press, centrifugal, and a blender are the four different types of juicers you can use at home to make your own juice.
Masticating Juicers
Masticating juicers will grind or masticate to release the juice from the fruit or vegetables. They make juice that will last three days in the fridge in a mason jar.
A masticating juicers are considered “slow juicers“, but it really only takes 5 minutes for them to juice.
Hydraulic Juicers
This is the BEST kind of juicer. It’s the most consistent, tastes the best, and the best staying power.
The fruit is grinder and pressed to get the juice. It makes thick and rich juice. Its’ that great?! It’s so yummy!
Homemade juice using a hydraulic juicer will last up to three days in your fridge. It can last much longer in the freezer.
Centrifugal Juicers
Many people think that a centrifugal juicer is the best juicer. Mainly because this is the fastest way way to make juice at home.
Homemade juice using a centrifugal juicer will last one day. Juice made with this way deteriorates quicker than if you were to use a hydraulic or masticating juicer.
Blender
Did you know you can make juice in a blender?! It’s that amazing?! I was blown away when my friend told me she makes juice in her blender.
All you need is a high powered blender and a cheesecloth, or something similar, and you can make your own fresh juice!
Drink this homemade juice as soon as you can. A blender is similar to a centrifugal juicer. It will start to lose nutrition quickly. Try to drink it immediately.
Homemade Juice Recipes
Here are some combinations that make amazing juice!
- Cucumber, kale, and pear
- Avocado, celery, cucumber, and lemon
- Sugarcane and carrot
- Mango, cherry, and dragonfruit
- Golden apple and sour plum
- Pineapple, papaya, and lemon
- Avocado and papaya
- Starfruit and strawberries
- Honeydew, green apple, and milk
- Soursop and coconut milk
- Bittergourd, apple, and lemon
You can also add chia seeds, flax seeds, turmeric, or pepper to it if you’d like!
How Long Will Store-Bought Juice Last?
Store bought juice has preservatives that will help it last much longer than fresh juice. It averages 5 days to 2-3 weeks once it’s been opened. Most store bought juice once it’s opened will last between 7 to 10 days.
To extend the shelf life of your juice from the grocery store, store it unopened in a cool, dark place. They will last months and months unopened on the shelf. Plus, it will last much longer than it says it will on the expiration date.
How Do You Tell If Juice Has Gone Bad?
It’s a good idea to make sure there are no signs of spoilage before you drink it! Here are some steps to make sure your juice is still safe to drink.
- The first thing you should do is always check the best-by date for commercial juice. It can still be good for much longer than the date though.
- Second, look at the juice. Fresh juice has an amazing rich color. If the juice looks darker or paler then it should, don’t drink it. Are there any moldy white spots or green spots on it? If there is, do not drink it. Remember that if there is any mold on it, the juice will smell really badly too.
- The next thing to do is to smell it. Does it smell like normal juice? Does it smell weird? Fresh juice smells amazing. You should be able to immediately tell if it still smells good. If it doesn’t smell good, don’t drink it. It could smell vinegary, rotting, or rancid. If the juice smells like normal, move on to the next step.
- If you do these four steps and everything looks okay, it should be safe to drink.
- You can always call a professional too.
Just remember, when it doubt, throw it out! You don’t want to drink rotten juice. It could make you very sick.
FAQs
Can you store fresh juice in mason jars?
Yes, you can store fresh juice in a mason jar! That’s one of the best ways you can store it. It should be stored in an airtight glass container with a lid and rubber seal to create a vacuum seal.
How long does homemade juice last in the fridge?
Homemade juice will last up to 48 hours in a sealed glass container in the fridge.
Can you drink fresh juice after 5 days?
No you should not drink fresh juice that was made five days ago.
How long does fresh juice last in airtight container?
Fresh vegetable and fruit juice will last up to 48 hours in an airtight container in the fridge.
The Bottom Line
The best time to fresh drink juice is right after it’s made. If you can’t drink it within one day, make sure you keep it in airtight glass containers with a seal on the lid. Keep it in the fridge.
Freezing it in plastic bottles is a great way to lengthen its shelf life. Fresh juice is so delicious, but it does go bad quickly. I’m so glad we can freeze juice to make it last longer!
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Final Thoughts On How Long Will Fresh Juice Last:
I hope you like learned a lot about fresh juice from my post! Let me know what you think in the comments.
