How long can I keep fresh celery juice in fridge?

Celery juice has become incredibly popular in recent years thanks to advocates touting its many potential health benefits. Fresh celery juice is made by juicing celery stalks and contains high concentrations of nutrients like vitamins A, C, K, folate, potassium, and more. Many people drink celery juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to get a boost of nutrients.

But like all fresh juices, celery juice does not have a very long shelf life. So how long can you store celery juice in the fridge before it goes bad? Here is a comprehensive guide to maximizing the shelf life of fresh celery juice.

How Long Does Fresh Celery Juice Last in the Fridge?

The exact shelf life of celery juice depends on a few factors like storage method and preparation. But in general, here is how long celery juice will last refrigerated:

• Celery juice from fresh celery: 3-5 days
• Store-bought celery juice: 7-10 days
• Celery juice frozen in ice cube trays: 4-6 months

Freshly juiced celery juice has the shortest shelf life, while frozen juice can be preserved for much longer. Let’s look at each of these storage methods in more detail.

Shelf Life of Freshly Juiced Celery

If you juice celery at home, the juice should be consumed within 3-5 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. The veggie juice will start losing some of its nutrients after the first 24 hours but still retains most of its nutrient value and flavor within 3-5 days.

Some signs that homemade celery juice has gone bad are:

• Cloudy appearance
• Change in color
• Bitter, sour, or unpleasant taste
• Off odors
• Presence of mold

If you see any of those changes, err on the side of caution and throw the juice out. Don’t take chances with spoiled celery juice.

Shelf Life of Store-Bought Celery Juice

Store-bought celery juice that has been pasteurized and packaged in bottles or cartons will generally stay fresh for 7-10 days after opening. The pasteurization process helps extend the shelf life compared to fresh homemade juice.

Check the “best by” date on the label and consume within that timeframe after opening. When stored properly in the fridge, most store-bought celery juices stay good for 5-7 days after opening. Discard the juice within 10 days even if it looks and smells fine, for food safety.

Shelf Life of Frozen Celery Juice

The best way to extend the shelf life of celery juice is to freeze it in ice cube trays or popsicle molds. Frozen celery juice cubes can be preserved for 4-6 months in the freezer before losing quality.

To freeze celery juice, first juice the celery and strain out any pulp. Pour the juice into ice cube trays and freeze overnight. Pop out the frozen juice cubes and store them in freezer bags. Defrost cubes as needed to enjoy the juice.

Frozen celery juice may lose some flavor and nutrient potency over time but it will stay safe to consume for up to 6 months if kept frozen.

How to Store Celery Juice Properly

To get the maximum shelf life out of your celery juice, be sure to store it properly in the refrigerator or freezer:

• Use airtight containers: Pour celery juice into a tightly sealed glass jar, bottle, or container with an airtight lid. This prevents air exposure which can degrade the quality over time.
• Minimize air at the top: Leave as little air space as possible at the top of the container. The less air the juice is exposed to, the better.
• Refrigerate right away: As soon as you make or open celery juice, refrigerate it. Don’t leave it sitting out at room temperature.
• Use clean utensils: Use clean knives, cutting boards, juicers, and containers. Dirty equipment can introduce bacteria and speed spoilage.
• Don’t freeze thawed juice: If you thaw frozen celery juice cubes, use them immediately. Don’t refreeze juice after it has thawed.

Does Celery Juice Go Bad?

Yes, celery juice does eventually go bad if not consumed within the timeframe outlined above. The signs that celery juice has spoiled are:

• Cloudy appearance
• Change in color
• Unpleasant odor
• Sour or bitter taste
• Growth of mold

If you notice any of those changes in old celery juice, err on the side of caution and discard it. Consuming spoiled celery juice could potentially cause foodborne illness.

Here are some tips for preventing your celery juice from going bad too quickly:

• Wash celery thoroughly before juicing
• Use clean utensils and equipment
• Store juice in airtight containers
• Refrigerate or freeze juice promptly
• Check for signs of spoilage before drinking

Can You Drink Spoiled Celery Juice?

It is not recommended to drink celery juice that has spoiled. Consuming spoiled celery juice could potentially lead to food poisoning or make you sick. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

Celery juice can harbor dangerous bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus if spoiled. These bacteria can multiply quickly in vegetable juices and may not be eliminated even if you boil the juice. It’s always better to be safe and discard old, expired, or smelly celery juice.

Trust your senses – if celery juice smells or tastes unpleasant in any way, err on the side of caution and throw it out. The potential risks are not worth getting sick over.

How to Tell if Celery Juice Has Gone Bad

Here are some common signs that celery juice has spoiled and should be discarded:

• Appearance: Cloudy, hazy, or changed color
• Smell: Unpleasant, sour, or offensive odor
• Taste: Bitter, sour, or unpleasant taste
• Texture: Too watery, slimy, or changed consistency
• Mold: Any fuzzy growth, white film, or spots

Trust your senses when evaluating older celery juice. Even one spoiled sip can make you sick, so pour it out if there’s any doubt.

How to Prevent Celery Juice From Spoiling

Here are some tips to keep your celery juice fresher for longer:

• Wash celery stalks thoroughly before juicing
• Use clean equipment and utensils when preparing juice
• Drink juice within 3-5 days of making it
• Store leftover juice in airtight containers in fridge
• Check for signs of spoilage before consuming older juice
• Freeze juice in cubes to prolong shelf life

Proper storage methods, hygienic preparation, and paying attention to expiration dates will help prevent wasted spoiled celery juice.

Can You Refrigerate Celery Juice Twice?

It’s best not to refrigerate celery juice twice. Refrigerating juice again after it has been initially refrigerated can decrease its freshness and quality faster. Here are some tips for properly storing celery juice:

• Refrigerate juice once after making it. Don’t leave it out at room temp.
• Drink refrigerated juice within 3-5 days for peak freshness.
• Freeze remaining juice in cubes for longer shelf life.
• Thaw frozen juice cubes in fridge overnight before drinking.
• Avoid refreezing thawed celery juice. Drink within a day or two.

Repeatedly cooling and reheating celery juice can lead to faster nutrient breakdown. For best quality and safety, try to refrigerate it only once if possible.

Does Celery Juice Need to Be Refrigerated?

Yes, celery juice absolutely needs to be refrigerated to prevent spoilage and foodborne illness. Leaving celery juice out at room temperature can allow dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella to grow rapidly.

Celery juice is a perishable food because of its high water content. It provides the perfect environment for microbial growth when left unrefrigerated. Always store celery juice in the fridge in clean, airtight containers.

Drink refrigerated celery juice within 3-5 days. Discard juice if it has been left out more than 2 hours. Don’t take risks by consuming unrefrigerated juice.

Can You Freeze Celery Juice?

Yes, celery juice can be frozen successfully to extend its shelf life. Freezing is an effective long-term storage method to preserve nutrients and flavor. Here’s how to freeze celery juice:

1. Wash and juice fresh celery. Strain out the pulp.
2. Pour juice into ice cube trays or popsicle molds.
3. Freeze juice overnight until solid.
4. Pop out frozen juice cubes and transfer to freezer bags.
5. Store frozen juice cubes in freezer for up to 6 months.

To use frozen celery juice, let cubes thaw overnight in the fridge. Avoid refreezing thawed juice more than once. Frozen juice may lose some potency but remains nutritious and safe for months.

Can Frozen Celery Juice Go Bad?

Yes, frozen celery juice can go bad eventually if it is not properly stored. Signs that frozen celery juice may be spoiled include:

• Freezer burn or dried out, shriveled cubes
• Off odors when thawed
• Unpleasant sour or bitter taste
• Change in color or cloudy appearance
• Separation or changes in consistency

Frozen celery juice is safe for 6 months if kept at 0°F or below. Discard any cubes that show signs of spoilage, especially if the juice has been in the freezer beyond 6 months. Don’t take risks by drinking frozen juice that looks or smells bad.

Tips for Freezing Celery Juice

Follow these best practices for safely freezing celery juice at home:

• Wash celery stalks thoroughly before juicing.
• Use clean equipment and utensils when preparing juice.
• Strain out pulp for smoother frozen texture.
• Pour juice into airtight containers or ice cube trays.
• Leave 1/2 inch of headspace to allow for expansion.
• Freeze juice quickly at 0°F or colder.
• Store frozen juice for up to 6 months.
• Thaw cubes in fridge before using.

Taking steps to properly freeze celery juice will help retain nutrients and prevent food safety issues with long term storage.

Is it Better to Freeze or Refrigerate Celery Juice?

Storage Method	Refrigeration	Freezing
Shelf Life	3-5 days	4-6 months
Process	Store in airtight container in fridge	Freeze in ice cube trays or popsicle molds
Convenience	Ready to drink immediately	Requires thawing overnight first
Quality	Good for up to 5 days	May degrade slowly over time when frozen
Nutrient Retention	Loses some nutrients after 24 hours	Retains nutrients fairly well in freezer

In general, freezing is better for long term storage, while refrigeration is better for short term. For maximum celery juice quality and freshness, refrigerate what you’ll drink within 3-5 days and freeze the rest.

Conclusion

Properly stored celery juice will maintain quality and freshness for 3-5 days in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer. Always refrigerate juice after opening and consume within the timeframe on the label. Frozen celery juice cubes make enjoying fresh-tasting juice simple for months.

Be sure to check celery juice for signs of spoilage before drinking, and discard any that smells or looks off. With proper storage methods, you can safely keep and enjoy celery juice as part of a healthy lifestyle.