Making fresh juice with juicers can feel like a tiring job at times. It’d save you a lot of time and effort if you could store it without losing the nutritional values.
But the real question is, how long does fresh juice last?
The problem is storing juice isn’t as easy as it sounds. There’s a lot of factors you need to consider when figuring out how long it’ll last.
In this in-depth analysis, I’ll go deep about the factors that affect the juice shelf life. From the types of juicers to the storing methods, I’ll explain everything you need to know.
Let’s start, shall we?
Contents
1. How Long Does Fresh Juice Last?
On average, fresh juice lasts around 24-72 hours. However, it relies on the process you’re following to make the juice. Even though most people don’t use any preservatives to prolong the shelf life, the juicing process has a substantial impact on how long it’ll last.
That said, I’ve divided it into two parts so that you can get a clear idea-
Based on Making Process
People rely on masticating or centrifugal juicers to squeeze out the juice. As these devices follow unique methods, the quality and the juice shelf life can be quite different.
But if I had to announce a winner, I’d say it’s masticating or cold press juicers.
| Factors | Centrifugal | Masticating/Triturating | Blenders |
| How Long Will the Juice Last? | 24 hours | 48 hours(Masticating)
72 hours(Triturating) |
24 hours |
| Should You Store It? | No | Yes | A Big No |
| Why You Should/Shouldn’t Store the Juice? | You shouldn’t store it because the high-level oxidation already destroys a lot of nutrients and you wouldn’t want to prolong it. | You can store these juices without sacrificing as most of the nutrients stay intact throughout the juicing process. | Blenders spin a lot faster than centrifugal juicers. As the oxidation and heat build-up are even higher, you should consume the juice as soon as you make it. |
Centrifugal Juicer
Centrifugal juicers take the help of centrifugal force to separate the juice from the pulp. As the juicer spins at high RPM(3000-15000), juicing takes little to no time.
These juicers are great when you need a quick shot of nutritious juice. However, the juice goes through a lot of oxidation and heat build-up.
The heat isn’t significant but the oxidation ruins its ability to preserve itself. Usually, fresh from centrifugal juicers last around 24 hours.
Masticating/Triturating Juicer
When it comes to juice shelf life, masticating or cold-press juicers are an absolute champ. It’s like the juicer chews on the fruits and vegetables at a slower speed.
With an average RPM of 80-120, the juicing sure takes its time. But the juice quality you get is amazing. There’s a high amount of juice yield without any bitter pulp or rind taste.
Because of the slow spinning, the oxidation level is extremely low. As a result, there’s no foaming and heat build-up. If you store the juice properly it’ll stay fresh for up to 48 to 72 hours.
48 hours is when you use a single auger juicer like the Omega NC800HDS. And when you switch over to triturating also known as twin-gear juicers like the Tribest GSE-5000, the shelf life gets up to 72 hours.
Blender
Remember when I said, centrifugal juicers are the fastest way to juice fruits and vegetables? Well, blenders take this up a notch. On average, blenders spin at 6000-35000 RPM.
Even the cheapest blenders have a minimum RPM of 5000 to 6000. But it also means the oxidation and heat build-up is far more than all other juicers combined.
The truth is centrifugal juicers or blenders were made so that you can enjoy fresh juice without any time commitment. That’s why they don’t last for more than 24 hours.
Well, you could store it for up to 48 hours, but there wouldn’t be any point in doing it because the nutrients will already be gone.
2. How Long Does Fresh Juice Last In Mason Jar?
Instead of storing juice in plastic bottles, you should switch to mason jars. As mason jars are made out of glass, there’s no risk of toxin leaching. On top of that, these jars come with a rubber seal on the lid preventing any further oxidation.
If you use a mason jar, you can expect the juice to last for 2 more days. Although it’s better if you load the jar to the top. That way there won’t be any extra space for air.
3. How Long Does Fresh Juice Last In the Fridge?
If you want to store the juice for a long time, you’ll likely use a freezer or refrigerator. Even then, it depends on what you’re using to store the juice. From ice cubes to mason jars, I’ll talk about the most common storing methods.
But first, let’s show you some quick facts about storing in the freezer/refrigerator-
- If it’s a refrigerator and the juice was made using a masticating juicer, the shelf life could go up to 5-6 days.
- When you store it in the freezer, you could very well store it for up to 3-6 months.
- When you freeze it, a lot of the nutritional value is going to stay intact. But there’s a chance the juice could lose its taste.
How to Defrost Freezer Juice?
Sometimes when you defrost the juice, you find that the taste gets bizarre for some reason. The easiest way to solve this is to stir the juice properly. Whether you store it in a bottle or a jar, a good shake might save the day.
Ice Cubes
If you really want to freeze juice without compromising the taste, use silicone ice cube trays.
Once the juice has become frozen ice cubes, take them out and put them in a freezer container. Finally, suck out all the oxygen using a vacuum pump. This way, the juice will stay intact with a lot of the enzymes and vitamins. Most importantly, it won’t lose its taste for up to 6 months.
Bottled Juice
How long does bottled juice last? To tell you the truth, it’s almost the same as mason jars with a few exceptions. As I’ve already said, plastic bottles are not the best approach to storing juice.
Be that as it may, here’s a quick chart showing the shelf life of bottled juice-
| Orange | 7-8 days |
| Lemon | 7-8 days |
| Apple | 6-7 days |
| Grape | 6-7 days |
| Mango | 5-6 days |
| Guava | 5-6 days |
Key Takeaways:
- Remember this chart is based on masticating juicers. For centrifugal juicers, it’s better if you drink it as soon as possible. You could store it for a maximum of 24 hours.
- When you store the juice for more than 72 hours without freezing, a lot of the nutrients get destroyed.
- Always shake/stir the stored juice before you drink it.
4. How Long Does Celery Juice Last in the Fridge?
Celery juice has a tendency of going bad after a while. If you properly store it in the fridge, it’ll last as short as 24 hours. Best way to store celery juice in a mason jar and then keep it in your refrigerator. The taste along with the nutritional values start going away after that point.
5. Why Does Fresh Juice Go Bad Faster?
The short answer is, fresh juice doesn’t have any added preservatives in it so it goes bad faster. But why exactly does it happen?
Well, let me paint you a picture-
When the fruit is intact, it’s covered by the pulp. So, the flesh doesn’t come in contact with air. But when you squeeze out the juice from fruits and vegetables, there’s practically nothing protecting it.
The longer you keep it in the open air, the faster it’ll degrade. And not to mention the billions of bacteria floating around. If you plan on storing the juice, it’s better to store it as soon as you’re done making it.
What Happens When You Store Juice for More Than 72 Hours?
Before I start, remember this only applies to juice stored in the refrigerator. If you store it in the freezer, you can skip ahead-
- About 80% of the nutrients will be lost due to temperature and oxidation.
- The color of the juice might look dull and dark because of the oxidation.
- There will be an unpalatable flavor in the juice.
- If it doesn’t have an airtight seal, there will be bacterial growth that might put you at risk of diseases.
Do Some Fruits and Vegetables Last Longer than Others?
On average, most fruits and vegetables last around 24-72 hours. However, there’s always an exception. In this case, it’s navel oranges.
Navel oranges come with an additional compound called limonin. The problem is limonin can turn bitter when it’s exposed to air for about 30 minutes.
Even though I don’t ever suggest storing juice for more than 72 hours. When it comes to navel orange juice, you should never store it.
6. What to Follow When Storing Fresh Juice?
You can store juice without losing its taste if you follow a couple of steps. Although there’s one factor I don’t suggest you do unless it’s absolutely necessary-
Use Airtight Containers
There’s a couple of choices you get when it comes to storage containers-
- Mason jars
- Stainless steel containers
- plastic(not ideal)/glass bottles
- Insulated thermal containers
And here’s a couple of pointers when preparing the container-
- Dry out the containers a few hours before you put the juice in them. This way there won’t be any bacteria in the container.
- Use a vacuum sealer to remove all the oxygen from the juice. When there’s no air, there are fewer chances of oxidation.
Don’t Open the Container Frequently
Remember what I said about why fresh juice goes bad faster? Well, this is what I was talking about. When you’ve taken the hassle to vacuum seal the container, there’s no point if you open it 3 times a day.
As soon as the juice comes in contact with air, it starts losing its nutrients. What you could do is use single-serve containers. That way you can drink the juice at once without having to store it again.
Store it Cold Temperature
This is what I don’t suggest you do unless it’s absolutely necessary. Your refrigerator is more than enough to store the juice for 5-6 days when you store it properly.
When you store it at cold temperatures(35°F – 38°F), sure the taste stays intact. But after some time, most of the nutritional value disappears. Nonetheless, if you plan on drinking it a couple of months later, there’s no alternative to cold temperature.
Fill the Container to the Brim
When you go through the trouble of vacuum sealing a container, it’s better if you fill the container to the brim. This way you leave very little space for air, meaning there will be less oxidation.
Final Thoughts
The next time someone asks you how long does fresh juice last, ask them why they’re storing the juice. As you’re drinking fresh juice for its nutrients, there’s no point if you store it for so long that the nutritional values get destroyed.
The maximum limit for me is 1 week and that’s only if the juice was vacuum-sealed in an airtight container. Nevertheless, it’s always better if you drink the juice right away instead of storing it.