I can’t recall a time when we didn’t have a citrus juicer in the home; we always seemed to have one.
It is one of the three permanent appliances that are kept on the kitchen countertop, the others being the coffee maker and the sandwich maker.
You may produce a cup of orange juice at home, or you can purchase it already packaged in cartons at the shop. Orange juice, often known as OJ in the United States, is the liquid that is extracted from any orange fruit by squeezing it.
It is best not to keep it out in the open for an extended period of time since the sugar in it might encourage the growth of microorganisms that are harmful to consume.
The ingestion of spoiled orange juice may result in severe disease or even death from food poisoning.
Because of this, it is necessary to be cautious about OJ going bad, and it is also the reason why we decided to write this post.
In addition, in order to avoid the added preservatives that are included in store-bought juice, we have lately been discussing the use of reusable bottles to carry homemade juice. One of the topics that was brought up during this discussion was how long does orange juice last for? Therefore, keep reading to get more knowledge.
Contents
What’s Orange Juice?
Orange juice is the liquid extract of orange fruits that is obtained by reaming or squeezing the fruit. Orange juice is often known as just juice.
Orange juice may be made at home with the use of a manual handheld citrus juice extractor, a juicer, or a blender. All three of these kitchen appliances are necessary.
Either fresh or concentrated versions of this juice may be packaged.
The procedure that each one goes through before being packaged is what differentiates them from one another.
After being squeezed, pasteurized, mixed, and kept for a while, fresh orange juice is eventually packaged from its storage location.
It depends on the firm that processes it to determine whether or not it contains any additives or preservatives.
Juice from concentration is 100% fruit juice that has had the water removed so that it may be consumed in a concentrated form.
This concentration is more convenient to store for an extended period of time and is simpler to move about.
Before the juice is packed, water is added to it to make it more liquidy. Some additives and preservatives are also added at this time.
Orange juice is an excellent source of a number of nutrients, including vitamins C and A, folate, calcium, and iron.
Orange juice has been shown to have a number of potential health advantages, including the ability to strengthen the immune system, promote good foetal development, and reduce the likelihood of developing kidney stones.
However, moderation is key since orange juice has a considerable quantity of sugar in it.
How Long Does Orange Juice Last? Does Orange Juice Go Bad?
It is true that orange juice will begin to spoil after the best before, best by, or use-by date has passed, as well as within a few hours for newly prepared juice.
The product’s shelf life is determined by the following factors, depending on where and how it is stored:
- Unopened sold unrefrigerated: in the cupboard for up to three to six months beyond the date it should have been thrown out.
- Opened sold unrefrigerated: in the refrigerator for up to ten days after it has been opened.
- Unopened sold refrigerated: in the refrigerator for a further three to five days after the use-by date has passed.
- Opened sold refrigerated: in the refrigerator for a week after it has been opened.
- Fresh orange juice: in the refrigerator for between two and three days.
The only method to retain orange juice for an extended period of time without it becoming spoiled is to freeze it.
After the bottle was opened, orange juice intended for freezing should not have been kept for more than seven to ten days.
If you purchase your packaged orange juice from an open shelf, this indicates that the product has been pasteurized to eliminate any potentially dangerous germs and has a shelf life of between one and two years, as shown by the best-by or best-before date printed on the pack or bottle.
When compared to OJ sold at room temperature, juice purchased in a refrigerator has a substantially shorter shelf life from the date of packing and will come with a use-by date that you should pay special attention to.
As is the case with all other juices and foods, the quality of the orange juice will deteriorate with time.
After the container has been opened, the rate of degradation quickens significantly.
You will find that the beverage does not taste as delicious as it did when you initially opened it, even after being stored in the refrigerator or frozen for a period of time.
If you find the flavor of the orange juice to be disagreeable, then you should probably throw it out.
Although it is still safe to consume, there is no purpose in doing so since the juice would taste unpleasant or, even worse, you might end up becoming sick from the meal.
How to Tell if Orange Juice is Bad?
The following is a list of some of the warning signals that should alert you to the possibility that your O has gone bad, as well as some of the potential reasons for this:
- Swollen container: The expansion of the container is an indication that microorganisms are proliferating, which results in fermentation and the production of gases that cause the container to expand. It’s also possible that the beverage is tainted with something dangerous like botulism, which may be fatal. In either scenario, the beverage should be thrown away, and you should make no effort to consume it.
- Sour or vinegar smell: The odor is a telltale symptom of fermentation, which may have been brought on by bacteria or fungus. There is a possibility that the container did not expand because it had a breach that enabled the gases to escape. If the beverage has been left out for a while or has been in the refrigerator for a considerable amount of time, you should crack it open and give it a whiff to determine whether or not it has started to go bad; if it has, you should dispose of it.
- Sediments in the drink: Mold may be the cause of these symptoms. To verify this, take some of the orange juice and pour it into a clear glass so that you can see the color of the juice. Keep a careful eye on the liquid as it is being poured and while it is being allowed to settle to ensure that it has a normal color and that there are no floaters in it. If there are any, it indicates that the product should not be used for human consumption.
- Alcohol taste or fizziness: Another indication that fermentation has taken place. If the drink meets all of the previous criteria, the taste test should be the last one. Pour some and take a sip or two. Throw it away if it has an odd flavor or if it contains bubbles.
If the beverage in question does not exhibit any of the symptoms described above, then it is safe to consume.
If the beverage has been opened and stored in the refrigerator for more than two weeks, in the case of a store-bought drink, or for more than a week in the case of handmade fresh juice, it is advisable to assume that it has been spoiled and dispose of it anyway.
Conclusion
Because orange juice can be preserved by a variety of methods, it may be produced with relative ease and sold throughout the year. This allows orange juice to be readily accessible.
After you have purchased your beverage, it may be stored for a few more days without losing its flavor and will still be perfectly safe to consume.
If you purchased it from the shop’s non-refrigerated department and it has not been opened, then it is OK to store it in the pantry and consume it up to three months beyond the sell-by date without any adverse effects.
After being opened, orange juice quickly loses its fresh flavor and need to be taste-tested before being consumed to ensure that it is still risk-free.
