Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables into nutrient-dense juices is an excellent way to incorporate more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants into your diet. The Breville Juice Fountain is a popular juicer that makes it easy to extract juice from produce quickly and efficiently.
But once you’ve put in the effort to make your juice, how long does it actually last before it goes bad? The shelf life of juice made with a Breville Juice Fountain depends on several factors.
Factors that Affect How Long Juice Lasts
There are a few key things that determine how long homemade juice will stay fresh and safe to drink:
- Ingredients used – Produce with higher water content tends to spoil faster.
- Storage method – Keeping juice refrigerated preserves freshness.
- Packaging – An airtight container prevents oxygen exposure.
- Pasteurization – Heat-treating juice destroys microbes and extends shelf life.
Understanding these variables allows you to optimize juice storage and get the most out of every batch.
Ingredients
Fruits and vegetables with higher water content tend to spoil more quickly when juiced. Examples include:
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
Produce with lower moisture and more fiber and pectin tend to last a bit longer. These include:
- Apples
- Carrots
- Beets
- Pineapple
- Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit
For maximum shelf life, create juices using more of the firmer, low-moisture options.
Storage Method
How you store your juice is the most important factor for preserving freshness. Proper refrigeration is key.
- Store juice in a sealed container in the refrigerator immediately after juicing. Don’t leave at room temperature.
- Use the coldest part of your fridge, close to 32-34°F (0-1°C). The crisper drawer is ideal.
- Never freeze homemade juice. Freezing and thawing will degrade flavor and nutrients.
With refrigeration, you can expect your homemade juice to retain optimum flavor and nutrition for up to 3 days.
Packaging
The container you store juice in should be:
- Airtight – Minimizes exposure to oxygen, which degrades juice over time.
- Opaque – Blocks light, which can also damage nutrients and flavors.
- Full – Leaving headspace in your container introduces more air.
Glass and BPA-free plastic bottles or mason jars work best. Make sure lids seal tightly.
Pasteurization
Heating juice to destroy potentially harmful microorganisms can extend shelf life. There are two main pasteurization methods:
- High-Temperature Short Time (HTST) – Heating to about 160°F for 15-30 seconds.
- Batch Pasteurization – Heating to 145°F and holding for 30 minutes.
Pasteurized juice stored in the fridge can last 5-7 days. However, heat destroys some nutrients in juice, especially vitamin C and enzymes. Many people prefer to drink raw, unpasteurized juice.
How Long Does Breville Juice Last?
Based on general juice storage guidelines, you can expect juice made with a Breville Juice Fountain to last:
- Up to 24 hours at room temperature.
- 3 days maximum in the refrigerator.
- 5-7 days if pasteurized before refrigerating.
Drink your juice as fresh as possible for best flavor, texture, and nutrition. Discard any juice that smells, tastes, or looks unpleasant.
Maximizing Breville Juice Shelf Life
Follow these best practices when using your Breville juicer:
- Wash produce thoroughly before juicing.
- Juice fruits and vegetables at peak freshness.
- Pour juice into a sealed container and refrigerate immediately.
- Minimize oxygen exposure by filling container fully and sealing lid.
- Store juice in the coldest part of the refrigerator.
- Drink within 3 days for best quality.
- Consider pasteurizing juice if you want to extend shelf life.
How to Tell if Juice Has Gone Bad
Watch for these signs that your refrigerated juice has spoiled and should be discarded:
- Unpleasant sour, bitter, or moldy smell
- Fizzy bubbles or carbonation
- Cloudiness, haziness, or separation
- Grainy, mucus-like, or slimy texture
- Rotten, fermented taste
- Unnatural changes in color
- Mold growth
If juice develops any of those characteristics before the times given, err on the side of caution and throw it out. Rancid juice can make you sick.
Safety Tips
To avoid foodborne illness when making juice:
- Always scrub produce thoroughly before juicing.
- Don’t leave juice sitting out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store juice in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Never mix old and new batches of juice together.
- Discard juice immediately if it smells or looks spoiled.
- Don’t drink juice past its prime as harmful bacteria can grow.
Shelf Life Comparison
How does the shelf life of homemade juice compare to other products?
| Juice Type | Unopened Shelf Life | After Opening |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade Juice | N/A | 3-7 days |
| Pasteurized Juice | 18+ months | 7-10 days |
| Fresh Juice (unpasteurized) | 5-15 days | 3-5 days |
| Bottled Juice Drinks | 6-9 months | 3-5 days |
As you can see, homemade juice has the shortest shelf life but many benefits when consumed immediately after juicing.
Preserving Juice Long Term
If you want to stock up on juice for longer storage, consider these preservation methods:
- Freezing – Freeze juice in ice cube trays, then store cubes in sealed bags. Use within 6-12 months.
- Canning – Heat juice in sterilized jars to create a vacuum seal. Lasts 12+ months.
- Cold-press method – Presses juice at lower temps to extend shelf life. Stays fresh 4-6 days.
Freezing is easiest, but degrades texture and flavor. Canning requires specialized equipment but preserves juice the longest.
FAQs
Does adding lemon juice help preserve homemade juice?
Yes, lemon juice is acidic which helps inhibit bacterial growth. Adding a squeeze of lemon to your juice can help it last a bit longer. Citric acid is sometimes used as a natural preservative.
Should juice be stored in the fridge door or on the shelf?
The fridge shelf is better, as the door is exposed to warmer air each time it’s opened. Storing juice in the coldest part of the fridge (the bottom shelf or crisper drawer) gives the best chilling to slow spoilage.
Can you freeze juice in Mason jars?
It’s not recommended, as the juice will expand during freezing and can break the glass. Best to freeze juice in plastic containers, bags, or ice cube trays instead.
Is it okay to mix juices made on different days?
No, you should avoid mixing old and new batches of juice. Always drink juice within the 3-5 day window and make a fresh batch once the previous one expires.
The Bottom Line
With proper storage and handling, juice made with the Breville Juice Fountain will stay fresh 3-5 days in the fridge. For best quality and nutritional value, drink your juice ASAP after making it. Follow the safety guidelines and don’t consume spoiled juice. With a few small precautions, you can safely enjoy all the delicious, wholesome juice your Breville juicer has to offer.
