Sometimes we need to hurry up or prefer to drink already squeezed juice later. But how long can we store freshly made juice? What kind of container should we use? Our team decided to discuss these questions today.
How long your juice can last depends on three factors – the fruit or vegetable it is squeezed off, how you store it and which juicer ( centrifugal or masticating) you use.
Juices from different fruits are reserved differently, some can be stored for several days and keep most of their vitamins, while others loose their nutritional value in 30 minutes. We will take a closer look at each juice separately in this article.
The second not less important factor is how you should store it. If you use centrifugal juicer you can store most of freshly made juices in the fridge for 24-48 hours ,and if the juice is made with a masticating juicer it can be held for up to 72 hours. In both cases juice has to be stored in a special hermetic container. Further in this article we discuss different container options and provide you with recommendations.
A quality juicer plays a very important role here. A masticating juicer is the best option if you are planning to store juice. These juicers don’t produce heat while operating, hence the juice doesn’t oxidize. If you need a help with choosing a masticating juicer, we are happy to provide you with our recommendations based on research described in our article on this topic. If you already have a centrifugal juicer, all our tips will still help preserve your juice for up to 24-48 hours.
1.How long can you store different kinds of juice?
Lemon Juice
Let’s start with the lemon juice. Although lemon is considered a natural preservative, the squeeze from it can be stored for three days in the refrigerator. Don’t forget to keep it there. Otherwise, fresh juice deteriorates after a few hours.
- Shelf live : 3 days
Orange and Grapefruit juice
Talking about orange juice, it can be a beneficial source of vitamins for 48 hours. Extremely important to keep orange juice in a glass container in the fridge. Fill up the bottle to the top to reduce as much oxygen from the bottle as possible. Quite often, orange juice is mixed with grapefruit juice. It gives it some bitter notes. It is recommended to keep grapefruit juice in the cold for no more than a day. In order to avoid diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is not advisable to drink juices, especially sour ones, on an empty stomach. By the way, we also recommend drinking acidic liquids (orange, grapefruit and others) through a straw to protect the tooth enamel from decay.
- Orange shelf live: 48 hours
- Grapefruit shelf life: 24 hours
Apple juice
Fresh apple juice can be stored only for 4 hours in the fridge. In this product, vitamins are extremely quickly destroyed, and taste changes rapidly. It is considered that the first 30 minutes after squeezing bring the vast majority of vitamins. You can add several drops of lemon juice if you want to prolong its expiration time for one hour. It can help reduce nutrient loss and reduce browning and oxidation(because of the high iron).
- Shelf life: 4 hours
Carrot juice
Carrot juice is the shortest lasting juice among the rest. Carrot is exceptionally poorly stored – don’t keep it in the air for more than 30 minutes. The cold doesn’t prolong its life as well. Add a few drops of olive oil to carrot juice – these components will help the body better absorb the vitamins.
- Shelf life: 30 minutes
2. Storage containers
The best methods for storing juices are to avoid sunlight and oxygen. Limit opening the storage container to prolong your juices’ shelf life. But what kind of container might be suitable for it? The storage container into which you pour your juice is just as important as the ingredients inside. Below we provide few options, all of these are toxic free and convenient.
Hermetic Jars
An excellent option for storing juice can be a hermetic jar. They are airtight, and it is an important factor when prolonging your juice shelf life. You can have several hermetic jars in your kitchen, they serve good for storing different spices or coffee as well. If you don’t have one yet, feel free to check it out under the link below.
Mason Jars
A Mason jar is another perfect solution especially if you are not a big fan of manual washing. This jar is particularly easy to clean, you can put it into the dishwasher and it will deal with your jar easily. It comes in dozens of sizes and shapes. Here you can find a wide choice of these jars.
Glass Bottles
If you want to grab your healthy drink to work or gym, probably a glass bottle would be the best option for you. It is lightweight and compact, which is convenient for people who live an active life. By following the link below, you can check out the options available on Amazon.
Glass Pitcher
If you have a big family and you prefer to store juice in big amounts, then select a glass pitcher. They come in bigger sizes than other storage options. Don’t forget to dry your container after cleaning, it preserves it from bad bacteria.
3. What happens after 72 hours?
Your juice will lose all its nutrients; oxidation will increase browning. The liquid will be dull. But what is more critical is that unhealthy bacterial growth will be in the process. To prevent browning, filter out the pulp.
Here you can find some perfect ideas what to do with the juice pulp:
– 7 Ideas what to do with leftover juice pulp?
Conclusion
We recommend you to follow all the tips and get the most out of your juice. Keep your juice cold and remember about the expiration date. One piece of advice might be to write down the exact time and date when your juice was made to prevent browning. You can add some drops of lemon juice to make it fresh looking. And of course, choose that container that fully covers your needs.
Remember, fruit juices often contain a lot of sugar. Therefore, it is recommended to mix them with water in a 1: 1 ratio. Nutritionists advise drinking only 200 ml of fresh juice daily.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to drop a comment below!
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