Whether you have your own juicer or have brought juice from the store, it’s important to know how to properly store it. Just like any organic product, juice can go bad if it is not stored appropriately, especially if it is not loaded with preservatives. This is especially important if you have made the juice yourself. Here is everything that should know about storing juice.
Use Glass
If you have made your own juice and need a storage container for it, it is always recommended that you use glass. Glass helps to create an airtight seal, according to this article, and the lids are better equipped to keep air out for an extended period of time. However, putting your juice in a glass and sealing it isn’t good enough on its own. Experts say that you should fill these glasses and jars up as much as possible. This will leave little room for air and will keep your juice fresher for a longer period of time.
Store It Immediately
One of the benefits store-bought juices have is that they are loaded with sugars and preservatives. This allows them to have a shelf life of many months to even years before starting to go bad. On the contrary, organic juices and homemade juices are much different. The longer they are exposed to air, the quicker they will begin to spoil. Therefore, as soon as you have finished making your juice, you should instantly put it into the refrigerator so it can be preserved.
Drink It Quickly
Speaking of organic homemade juice, the less amount of time spent storing your juice the better. This juice will typically last about 48 hours, therefore you are going to want to drink it as soon as possible. No matter how tight you seal your container, the air is going to get into the jar and the liquid is going to oxidize. The faster you drink the juice, the better it will be and the safer it will be.
Use the Refrigerator
Your juices should always be stored in a cool refrigerator if you don’t plan on drinking them right away. You don’t need a special kind of fridge in this situation, a standard one will do the job and will help to keep it fresh. As noted above, a fridge can only keep your juice fresh for about 24-48 hours and while you can stretch it to 72 hours, the juice will begin to lose some of its nutrition and taste.
Look at the Juice Before Drinking
If you are approaching that 72-hour timespan with your juice, you should look at it and compare it to how it looked when you first made it. Are the colors still the same or are they looking a lot duller than they did before? If the color is changing and the consistency of the juice is different, it is a sign that there could be bacteria forming in your juice. This means that the juice will be hazardous for you to drink and should be thrown away.
Don’t Make Too Much
We all like to be prepared and make things ahead of time. The juice is one of those things, however, where making too much of it is not advised. As mentioned above, juice spoils rather quickly, especially if it is not stored properly. If you have made a lot of it, you are going to have to drink a lot of it in the next day or two, or else it is going to go bad.
Even after being stored in the fridge for a day or two, you are going to notice that it tastes differently from when it was first made. The best time to drink your creation is right after it has been made. When it comes to storing and making juice, try not to make too much.
Add Lemon to Your Juice
There are a few natural ways that you can make your juice last a little bit longer if you plan on storing it. Adding citric acid or lemons to your juice will help to preserve it without adding artificial ingredients. Freezing your juice is another great way that you can gradually lengthen the lifespan of your product.
When it comes to juicing, these are all important things that you should know when it comes to storing your juice. You should always look to drink your juice right away, but if you do have to store it, make sure you are doing so correctly. Get yourself some glass jars, and find some room in your fridge for them.
What kind of juice do you plan on making?
