For as long as I can remember, we've always had a citrus juicer in the house.
It is a member of the kitchen countertop permanent trio, together with the coffee machine and sandwich maker.
Orange juice, or OJ as it is referred to here in the USA, is the liquid squeezed out of any orange fruits, and you can make a cup right at home or buy packed juice at the store.
You do not want to leave it in the open for a long time, because it can go bad from the multiplication of germs that feed on its sugar.
Consuming bad OJ can lead to serious illness or death from food poisoning.
That is why is important to be concerned about OJ going bad, and the reason we came up with this article.
Also, to avoid preservatives from store-bought juice, we were discussing using reusable bottles to pack homemade juice recently, and one of the questions that came up was, how long does orange juice last?
Orange Juice Expiration Time
Yes, OJ will start to go bad beyond the best before, best-by or use-by date, and in a few hours for freshly made juice.
The following is its shelf life depending in where and how it is stored:
- Unopened sold unrefrigerated: in the pantry until 3 to 6 months beyond the best-by date.
- Opened sold unrefrigerated: in the fridge after opening for 7 to 10 days.
- Unopened sold refrigerated: in the fridge for 3 to 5 days beyond the use-by date.
- Opened sold refrigerated: in the fridge after opening for 7 days.
- Fresh orange juice: in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
OJ can be frozen, which is the one way to keep it without going bad for a long time - similar freezing rules apply to celery juice shelf life guide.
OJ for freezing should not have stayed longer than 7 to 10 days after opening the container.
If you buy your packed orange juice from the open shelf, it means that the product is pasteurized to kill all harmful bacteria and has a shelf life of one to two years, as indicated by the best-by or best-before date on the pack or bottle.
OJ sold refrigerated has a much shorter shelf life from the date of packaging and will have a use-by date that you should adhere to closely.
The quality of the OJ will decline with time, just like any other juice or food.
The rate of deterioration accelerates once you open the container.
Even when the drink is placed in the fridge or frozen, you will notice it will not taste as good as it did when you first opened it.
If you find the taste of the OJ unpleasant, then you may want to discard it.
Although it is still safe to drink, there is no point in drinking bad-tasting juice or, worse, risking food poisoning.
How to Tell if Orange Juice is Bad?
The following are some of the signs to look out for when determining if your O has gone bad, and the causes of it:
- Swollen container: The bulge is a sign that micro-organisms are multiplying, causing fermentation, which produces gases that make the container protrude. It could also mean that the drink is contaminated, and deadly botulism is developing. In either case, dispose of the drink; do not attempt to drink it at all. .
- Sour or vinegar smell: the smell is a sign of fermentation, caused by bacteria or fungi. The container may not be swollen because it had a leak that allowed the gases out. If the drink has been out for some time or in the fridge for a long time, open and sniff it to tell if it is going sour, and if it is, throw it away.
- Sediments in the drink: these can be a result of mold. To check for this, pour some of the OJ into a transparent glass so that you can see the liquid. Look closely as you pour and as the liquid settles, to make sure it has a normal color and that there are no floaters. If there are any, it means it is not fit for consumption.
- Alcohol taste or fizziness: yet another sign caused by fermentation. Taste should be the last check if the drink passes all others. Pour and drink a little. If it tastes off or has bubbles, discard it. .
If it doesn't show any of the signs above, then the drink should be okay to drink.
Regardless, if the drink has remained opened and in the fridge for longer than two weeks, for a store-bought drink, or more than a week for homemade fresh juice, it is best to assume it is spoilt and discard it anyway.
Longer-term cranberry storage is detailed in cranberry juice storage timelines. pickling juice shelf-life tips explains how long pickle juice remains usable.
Frequently Asked Questions
For as long as I can remember, we've always had a citrus juicer in the house. It is a member of the kitchen countertop permanent trio, together with the coffee machine and sandwi...
Look for changes in color, texture, or smell. Mold, an off odor, or a slimy surface are the clearest signs it has spoiled and should be discarded.
Freezing extends shelf life but can affect texture. Ingredients with high water content often become softer after thawing.
This matters less in cooked dishes than in raw applications.
Yes. Early spoilage can be subtle - a slight change in color, a faint off-smell, or minor texture changes are easy to overlook.
Inspect closely before using anything near its limit.