Orange juice is a cost-effective and nutritious drink that is readily available in grocery stores nationwide.
It’s also a common household item, so many people have some leftover from their grocery shopping trips.
If you don’t know how to store your orange juice, however, it could go bad before you get around to drinking it.
So, should you worry about orange juice going bad?
Read on to find out more about what happens when orange juice spoils.
Can orange juice spoil?
It’s important to understand that all foods eventually spoil, but some foods are more susceptible than others.
For example, fresh produce like fruits and vegetables tend to go bad faster because they contain large amounts of water.
This makes them prone to rotting quickly, especially when exposed to sunlight.
On the other hand, meat and dairy products are far less likely to spoil due to the fact that they don’t contain as much water.
Instead, these items rely on bacteria to grow and multiply inside the food, which helps to keep them safe.
This isn’t true with all food, though.
Some foods, such as bread, are made up mostly of carbohydrates and fats, which allows them to spoil just fine without any help from bacteria.
In fact, this is why bread can last indefinitely in the refrigerator, even after being sliced into individual slices.
All of this means that while most foods can spoil, certain types of food are more susceptible to spoilage than others.
One type of food that is particularly vulnerable is liquid-based foods like milk, honey, and juice.
These liquids are composed primarily of water, which is why they can turn sour very easily.
In addition, the acids found in citrus fruits are also responsible for making orange juice taste good.
When these acids combine with the sugars present in the fruit, the result is a tasty beverage.
But when these same acids combine with the water in the juice, it creates conditions that allow bacteria to thrive.
As a result, orange juice can quickly go bad once it’s open.
So, the next question becomes, “How long does orange juice last?”
Let’s take a look at the answers to this question.
How long does orange juice last?
The short answer here is that orange juice goes bad quickly.
Once you open it, it won’t stay fresh for long.
The longer answer involves understanding exactly how fast oranges spoil and how you can help to prevent it.
For starters, orange juice doesn’t last nearly as long as other types of beverages.
Milk, for instance, can last for several days in the refrigerator, whereas orange juice only lasts for a few hours.
On top of that, orange juice usually contains fewer nutrients than milk, since it’s mainly made up of sugar.
Since it’s not a nutritious food, orange juice isn’t meant to be stored in the fridge.
Instead, you should drink it right away or toss it out immediately.
Even if you don’t consume the entire container, you should never leave it sitting out for too long.
Does orange juice need to be refrigerated?
While orange juice doesn’t need to be kept cold, you should always store it in the refrigerator.
This is where the majority of its shelf life comes from, since it’s one of the safest places to store food.
Even though orange juice isn’t designed to be refrigerated, it still benefits from being stored there.
That’s because it’s easier to keep it fresh in the fridge.
Plus, it’s less likely to go bad if it’s stored in a cooler place.
But you shouldn’t let your orange juice sit out in the sun either.
While you might think that the warmth would speed up the process of decay, it actually slows it down.
That’s because sunlight causes vitamin C to break down, which keeps the rest of the ingredients in the juice intact.
Can orange juice be frozen?
You probably already knew that orange juice can freeze, but did you know that it can also improve the quality of the beverage?
When you freeze orange juice, the ice crystals form slowly.
This means that the juice stays clear and doesn’t become cloudy.
As a result, you can use frozen orange juice as a substitute for fresh juice when you want something sweet and refreshing.
What are the signs of orange juice going bad?
If you’ve ever had orange juice, then you know that it tastes great straight out of the bottle.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that it lasts forever.
Once it’s opened, it loses its ability to taste good.
That’s because it starts to deteriorate.
Once it’s gone bad, you’ll start to notice some of the following changes:
- Sourness
- A metallic smell
- Discoloration
- Darkening of the juice
- Cloudiness
These changes are caused by bacteria that are present in the juice.
They begin to multiply quickly once the juice is no longer fresh, so you should discard it soon after you notice any of these symptoms.
Is it safe to drink orange juice that has been left out?
Some people believe that it’s safe to drink orange juice that hasn’t been refrigerated.
After all, it’s not an acidic drink, so it’s unlikely to cause problems for anyone who consumes it.
However, we recommend that you follow the guidelines outlined above, regardless of whether or not you plan on consuming the juice later.
You should definitely avoid drinking any juices that have been left out in direct sunlight, as well as those that have been left out overnight.
And if you do decide to drink it anyway, make sure you dilute it first.
What happens if you drink bad orange juice?
Drinking orange juice that has gone bad is dangerous, since it can lead to serious health issues.
Here are two of the most common ones:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
If you experience these symptoms after consuming bad orange juice, stop eating and drinking anything until you consult with a doctor.
They may advise you to take antibiotics to fight off the infection.
Is it safe to eat orange juice that has been frozen?
Many people enjoy freezing orange juice in order to save money on groceries.
Unfortunately, this practice can lead to some serious problems.
Not only can it affect how long the juice lasts, but it can also change the flavor completely.
To avoid this problem, you should thaw your orange juice before you consume it.
If you want to try freezing it, you should put it in small portions instead of full containers.
This prevents the juice from freezing solid and losing its texture.
What happens if you drink bad orange juice?
The bottom line is that orange juice can spoil.
It’s important to understand that it’s not supposed to be stored in the refrigerator, so you should throw it out immediately after opening it.
If you want to extend the shelf life of the juice, you should dilute it before drinking it.
Now that you know how to store orange juice, you should feel better prepared to enjoy it whenever you want.
Orange Juice
Ingredients
- 850 grams oranges or 6 to 7 medium oranges
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- sugar
- honey
- jaggery
Instructions
- Peel the oranges and take the orange segments in a mixie jar or blender jar.
- Run the mixie or blender on low to medium speed for some seconds till the mixture becomes pulpy and the oranges are crushed. Don’t blending too much as we just need to crush the segments and not the seeds.
- If the seeds gets crushed, the juice will become bitter. So don’t blend at a stretch. You can also use the pulse option of the blender. If you prefer you can remove the orange seeds before juicing them.
- Line a juice strainer over a bowl or pan. In the juice strainer, pour the orange juice.
- Strain the juice with a help of a spoon. Keep on pressing and moving the spoon, so that the all the juice is strained well.
- If you want you can add some sugar or honey or jaggery to the juice to sweeten it.
- Pour immediately in glasses and serve orange juice.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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