How long can I keep the juice after squeezing?
If you strictly follow the instructions for getting fresh juice shelf life provided here, you should be able to store your juice for at least 3 days (72 hours) , perhaps even longer. The reason it is essential to protect your juice as soon as it is prepared is that it is particularly vulnerable to the natural oxidation process.
Oxidation, the combined effect of air and sunlight, impoverishes the quality of your juice and eventually makes it undrinkable. The oxidation process is the same process that causes rust on metals and darkens apples as soon as you slice them.
What takes place within the juice is that in the absence of the skin of the fruit or vegetable there is no longer any protection against oxidation, and the oxygen molecules attack on the flesh of the fruit or vegetable in question.
Fresh Squeezed Juice Shelf Life
The oxygen then manages to start burning the cell walls of the vegetable or fruit, and this is what causes brown spots or decomposition to appear.
If you think about it, basically, a juice is a liquefied set of fruit or vegetable cells – as long as it stays well bottled, in a dark, cool place, oxidation is delayed. The oxidation starts as soon as you peel the product and you place it in the juicer, and it is therefore inevitable.
You can however delay it thanks to the instructions which are presented here.
8 Factors To Know To Fresh Juice Shelf Life
1. Plan Carefully
How much juice will you and your family need? What are your favorite fruit juices? Think about these simple questions and keep them in mind when shopping.
This will eliminate waste and excess quantities that exceed your needs.
2. Use A Traditional Type Juicer
If your intention is to consume the juice you prepare more than 24 hours after squeezing it, it is recommended that you use a traditional and slow type juice press; this includes the following models: juice extractors , twin screw presses and hydraulic juice presses.
The centrifuges that are gaining popularity these days produce juices that don’t keep for more than 24 hours.
Cold pressed juices, on the other hand, can keep up to 72 hours (sometimes even longer). In addition the so-called ‘slow’ presses have a better yield and will produce more volume of juice than the centrifuges.
3. Always Use Fresh And Organic Products
This is almost obvious. Fresh and organic products do not contain harmful pesticides or chemicals, so your juice is healthier and tastier. In addition, in the absence of pesticides and chemicals, the juice keeps better and longer.
Organic products also have the advantage of not having been genetically modified.
4. Shelter Your Squeezed Juices Immediately
As with water, air and sunlight tend to affect your juices over time. For best results, squeeze your fruits and vegetables straight out of the refrigerator, and put them in the shelter as soon as they are ready.
This will keep your juices fresh longer.Adding lemon to your juice can also increase its shelf life.
5. Use An Airtight Jar Or Container And Avoid Plastic
Avoid plastic bottles and vials as much as possible, even if they are BPA-free. We will explain in detail a little later how this is crucial.
6. Fill All Containers To The Rim
If you’re storing your juices in a canning jar or container, be sure to fill them to the top. This will prevent too much air (oxygen) in the jar, and will slow the oxidation of the juice.
7. Use Labels On Your Vials
Your juice will look very different from the fruit or vegetable from which it comes, especially if you combine and mix them. It will help you to know right away if what you are about to drink is grape juice or onion juice!
Label your jars with transparent tape which will be easy to remove or change.
8. Never Add Ice
Since your containers and jars will be filled to the rim, remember never to put them in the freezer, especially if they are made of glass. If your jars are made of glass, in fact, the juice at the freezing point would explode the glass walls by gaining volume.
Anyway freezing is harmful to the taste of your juice and you would not fail to notice it by having it thawed.