Drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices is an excellent way to get important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants into your diet. But juicing produces juice that will only stay fresh for a limited time. Storing your fresh juices in mason jars can help extend the shelf life by keeping out excess air and light. But just how long will your homemade juices last in the fridge when stored this way? Here’s a detailed guide on maximizing the freshness of your juices.
What Affects How Long Juice Lasts?
There are several factors that affect the shelf life of fresh juices:
- Ingredients – Fruits and vegetables with higher water content tend to spoil faster. Juices made with sturdier produce like carrots and apples will last longer.
- Acidity – Acidic juices from citrus fruits and tomatoes have a longer shelf life.
- Storage temperature – Colder fridge temperatures between 34-40°F slow spoilage.
- Exposure to air – Oxygen can degrade juice over time.
- Light exposure – Light can damage nutrients and speeds up oxidation.
- Hygiene – Dirty juicing equipment can introduce unwanted bacteria.
Storing juice in airtight mason jars in the fridge minimizes air and light exposure to help juices retain freshness and nutrients.
How to Store Juice in Mason Jars
Follow these steps for best results when storing juices in mason jars:
- Wash jars, lids, and bands in hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
- Pour juice into jars, leaving 1 inch of headspace at the top. Avoid overfilling.
- Wipe jar rims clean before sealing.
- Apply lids and bands and tighten bands fingertip tight.
- Store sealed jars in the fridge immediately.
- Minimize opening jars to reduce air exposure.
- Use a straw when drinking juice to avoid introducing bacteria from mouth contact.
Shelf Life of Common Juice Combinations
How long different juices last depends on the mixture of fruits and veggies used. Here are some general guidelines for fridge times once juiced and stored in mason jars:
| Juice Type | Shelf Life |
|---|---|
| 100% citrus juices (orange, grapefruit, lemon) | 3-5 days |
| Blends with citrus juices | 2-3 days |
| Carrot, tomato, beet, ginger, apple | 3-4 days |
| 100% vegetable juices | 2-3 days |
| 100% fruit juices | 1-2 days |
Keep in mind shelf life can vary based on specific ingredients and storage conditions. Taste juice before drinking to ensure freshness.
How to Tell if Juice has Gone Bad
Watch for these signs that your juice has spoiled and should be discarded:
- Unpleasant or “off” odors
- Fizzing or bubbling
- Cloudiness
- Changes in color
- Mold growth
- Unpleasant sour taste
If juice develops any clumpy texture or you see any signs of mold, err on the safe side and throw it out. Don’t drink it!
Tips for Extending Juice Shelf Life
You can maximize the freshness window of your juices with these helpful tips:
- Wash produce thoroughly before juicing.
- Drink juice within 24 hours for best quality and nutrition.
- Store juices in airtight jars in the back of the fridge furthest from the door.
- Only make what you know you will consume in a few days.
- Add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to help neutralize oxidation.
- Garnish juices with mint, berries, citrus slices to deter growth of mold.
- Consider freezing individual portions for longer storage.
Can You Refrigerate Juice After Opening?
Once you break the airtight seal by opening a mason jar of juice, you introduce more air which reduces the shelf life. Best practice is to consume or reseal and refrigerate any remaining juice in a tightly closed container within:
- 8 hours for juices containing cut fruit/veggies
- 24 hours for 100% vegetable and citrus juices
Pour leftover juice into a clean container rather than back into the original jar to minimize contamination. Tightly seal and store reopened juices towards the front of the fridge.
Freezing Juice in Mason Jars
While refrigerating juice lets you store it for days, freezing juice enables storage for months. Here’s how to freeze juice in mason jars:
- Allow juices to cool after juicing before freezing.
- Leave 1.5 inches of headspace at the top of jars.
- Tightly seal lids and bands.
- Lay jars on their sides on a flat surface in the freezer.
- Once frozen, stand jars upright. Leave space between for air flow.
- Use frozen juice within 8-10 months for best quality.
Let frozen juice thaw completely in the fridge before drinking. Shake gently before serving to remix any separation.
Can You Freeze Juice in Plastic Containers?
It’s best to avoid freezing acidic fruit juices in plastic containers. Acidic juices can interact with plastic in freezing temperatures, potentially leaching chemicals into your juice over a prolonged frozen storage time. Glass mason jars are a safer bet.
If you do freeze juice in plastic, opt for food-grade plastic containers and limit frozen storage to no more than 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before drinking.
Can You Store Juice Overnight on the Counter?
It’s not recommended to leave freshly made juice out at room temperature overnight. The warmer temperature promotes rapid bacterial growth. Store juice in sealed containers in the fridge instead.
If juice is left out more than 2 hours, err on the safe side and discard it. Don’t take risks with food poisoning.
Mason Jar Tips for Juice Storage
Mason jars are ideal for storing juice, but follow these tips for best results:
- Use BPA-free jars made for canning.
- Jars should be sterile before first use.
- Seal lids properly to make airtight.
- Glass protects juice from light degradation.
- Choose smaller jars over large batches.
- Label jars with juice name and date.
How Long Does Juice Last Once Opened?
| Juice Type | Refrigerated | Frozen |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable juice | 3-4 days | 8-10 months |
| Fruit juice | 1-2 days | 8-10 months |
| Citrus juice | 3-5 days | 8-10 months |
Once opened, store juices in sealed containers at the front of the fridge and consume within the timeframes above for safety and quality.
Does Juice Go Bad in the Fridge?
Yes, juice can still spoil in the refrigerator due to enzymatic breakdown and oxidation. Refrigeration only slows down, but doesn’t prevent, deterioration.
Signs juice has gone bad in the fridge include changes in texture, color, smell and taste. Mold growth, fizzing, and unpleasant odors also indicate spoilage.
Discard juice that shows any signs of going bad. Don’t taste test questionable juice.
Conclusion
Drink your juices as fresh as possible for maximum nutrition. Properly stored in clean mason jars in the fridge, juices can last from 1-5 days depending on the produce used. Citrus juices have the longest shelf life. Vegetables juices keep longer than fruit juices.
Minimize air exposure by limiting openings and transfers to new containers. Freezing juice enables storage for 8-10 months. But always use your senses of sight, smell and taste before consuming to check for spoilage.
Making juices in small batches and properly storing leftovers in the fridge in airtight mason jars will ensure you are able to safely enjoy all the nutritious goodness homemade juices have to offer.
