When it comes to juicing, most people want to make more than just a single serving. Sometimes the process of making great homemade juice can be cumbersome. This begs the question “how long does homemade juice last?”.
According to our experts, juice can last anywhere from 48 to 72 hours when properly sealed and refrigerated. This depends on how you preserve it, what type of juice it is, and how much you’re storing.
To get the most out of your fresh homemade juice, keep on reading.
What Is The Natural Time-Table Of Freshness?
When it comes to the question of how long does homemade juice last, there is one simple answer and explanation for it. Whether it is a cold press, green juice, or any other fresh juice combination, the one problem that juices will face is oxidation. Because of this naturally occurring process, any ordinary fresh juice will have a shelf life around a week or so unprotected. This shelf life is around double when it has some type of seal around it.
Do Different Juices Last Longer?
The short answer to this question is yes. Depending on the different fruits and vegetables used in your fresh juice, the shelf life of the juice will vary. As you can imagine, with this factor in play, answering the question of how long does homemade juice last gets a little more difficult. However, one simple trick around this is to give your fresh juice a full two weeks no matter what fruits and vegetables are in it.
Homemade Juices Vs Processed Juices
Without a doubt, there is a huge difference between natural fresh juice and processed store juice. Quite obviously, a processed juice is going to have a far longer shelf life because of all the preservatives in it as opposed to a natural green juice for example. That said, this is where the conversation of which of the two juices is healthier to consume. Although, it all comes down to personal preference.
Why Do Juices “Go Bad”?
Having already touched on this subject briefly, the main reason your juices “go bad” is because of oxidation. In a nutshell, this is the process that causes the fruits and vegetables in your juice to rot when it comes in contact with oxygen. The amount of time it takes for this process to take full effect depends on a number of variables such as temperature, composition, and humidity. While a tool such as a centrifrugal juicer might help increase the shelf life by breaking the juices down, it can’t get rid of it altogether.
What Can You Do With Juice That Has “Gone Bad”?
Before getting into some of the ways that you can prevent your fresh juice from going bad, it might be a good idea to go over what you can do if it has gone over its fresh taste. Now while you can’t do a lot with a completely rotten juice, two of the most creative things you can do with post fresh juice is make ice pops and brew. With pops, it allows you to stop the rotting process and make a healthy and tasty treat. The same can be said with a homemade brew.
5 Ways To Keep Your Homemade Juice Fresh
Use Field-To-Market Fruits & Vegetables
Apart from the fact that a centrifrugal juicer will help boost some of the freshness of your juice by breaking it down, one obvious way to get keep your juice fresh is by using the freshest ingredients possible. Field-To-Market ingredients are going to be the best option for making this happen. Again, considering how obvious of a strategy this might seem to most people, it’s surprising to see how many people don’t make note of this at all.
Throw In A Mint Leaf
No matter what ingredients you have in your juice, adding a mint will go a long way for a number of reasons. Apart from adding a nice touch in flavor, it also has the added benefit of fighting away odor and other freshness killing bacteria in your juice. However, just make sure to not put too much mint leaves in your juice as it can take away from the flavor altogether.
Use A Strong Juice Container With A Seal
Simply put, a strong juice container is an absolute necessity when it comes to keeping your juice fresh. In fact, it has to be one that has a strong seal apart from any other feature. Not only will this help preserve it longer than normal, but it can also help with other factors such as spillage or leaks.
Use Saran Wrap
Saran wrap is another clever way to keep your juice fresh. What is great about it is that it can be used in a number of different ways such as keeping your fruit fresh before you make it into a juice, or, it can be used with your strong seal container for the best juice preserver you can make.
Freeze It
Last but not least, a sure-fire way to keep your juice fresh is to freeze it. If you see that it is losing freshness and taste, storing it away in the freezer will immediately solve that issue. Plus, it can later be turned into a juice again at any time.
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