Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to keep your body healthy. If you don’t enjoy drinking water, homemade juice from organic produce can also be a great alternative!
To ensure that your body is healthy, you need to practice as many options as possible, which includes staying hydrated.
What are the factors that affect the shelf life of juice?
The type of juicer you use.
Ingredients you use.
Oxidation process.
Storage method.
Juicing fruits and vegetables is a very healthy alternative to drinking water. This, of course, does not mean that you can already stop consuming water if you choose this option.
We recommend that you still drink water, just add natural juices to your routine to stay hydrated.
If you do this, your body will definitely thank you. This is because juices from organic produce actually have many other benefits.
Not only can it help you improve your skin’s appearance, but it can also help you sleep better. It can help you make your immune system stronger and increase your energy levels.
It also tastes good and is loaded with many vitamins and minerals. That being said, it is important that you consume it as soon as possible in order to maximize its benefits.
NATURAL SHELF LIFE OF JUICES
The natural shelf life of juices varies depending on which fruit or vegetable you use.
However, many people will suggest that you drink it within the first 20 to 30 minutes after you make it.
At room temperature, some juices can last up to four hours without spoiling.
But what if you were able to make more than you could consume? How will you prolong the shelf life of your juice from a couple of hours to a couple of days?
The best way to prolong the shelf life of the juice is by putting it in your refrigerator. If you do this, you may be able to preserve the freshness of your juice until the next day.
The shelf life of juices varies. The shelf life of juices varies. Inside a refrigerator, fresh-squeezed juice may last up to 72 hours. This is not the standard or the average shelf life, though.
It depends on a number of factors that you need to understand in order to prolong your juice’s shelf life.
4 FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT YOUR JUICE’S SHELF LIFE
A. THE TYPE OF JUICER THAT YOU USED.
There are three types of juicers that are available on the market today. Each of these juicers can affect the juice’s shelf life.
1. CENTRIFUGAL JUICER.
The first type of juicer is the centrifugal juicer. It works similarly to a blender.
The juice is extracted from your fresh fruits and vegetables with the help of a mesh or grater.
The organic produce is inserted into a tube at the end of which is a fast-spinning blade.
When the fruit or vegetable makes contact with the spinning blade, it will be shredded and spun over at high speeds.
The liquid will be thrown towards the sides of the container.
The resulting juice will then pass through a sharp mesh or grater. This will now separate the juice from the pulp.
While it is a good way to produce juice, you will need to consume the resulting product as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that the heat and the oxidation process can affect the quality and shelf life of your juice.
Out of the three types, this one produces the most heat and has the highest oxidation levels. This results in less nutritional value and shorter shelf life.
The freshness of your juice using this juicer can last up to 24 hours max.
2. MASTICATING JUICER.
The next type of juicer is the masticating juicer. If you want the best quality of juice that can last a long time, use this.
Masticating juicers are sometimes referred to as slow juicers or cold press juicers.
The juicing process of a cold press juicer is so much better than a centrifugal juicer. The entire process is slow and, thus, results in low oxidation levels.
This makes your juice more nutritious. It also allows your juice to last longer than the ones produced by centrifugal juicers.
In this juicer, the raw juice is produced by crushing, grinding, and pressing the organic fruits or vegetables.
The resulting juice is often pulpy. In most cases, it is also foamy. Vegetable juice like celery juice, produced using this type of juicer often tastes bitter.
Despite this, however, the resulting juice lasts longer. The freshness of the juice may last up to 48 to 72 hours or three days max. The resulting juice is also healthier.
3. TWIN GEAR JUICER.
The third type of juicer is the Twin Gear Juicer. A good example of this would be the Green Star Elite.
Of the three types, this may be the best juicer for you if you want juices with a long shelf life.
Juices produced by this type of juicer can last up to 96 to 120 hours, or four to five days in the refrigerator.
The juicing process involves the use of two augers or gears. The gears spin slowly as they break and “chew” the fruits up.
The juice is then extracted by pushing the broken-down fruits against a mesh or screen.
Each of these types of juicers has its own advantages. In choosing the best option for you, you must consider your preferences and needs.
B. THE INGREDIENTS THAT YOU USE.
The type of ingredients that you will be using for your natural juice can also affect its shelf life.
If you want your juices to last for a long time, it would be a good idea to use organic produce.
Organic produce has more nutritional value and longer shelf life. Keep in mind, however, that the expiration dates of most juices are almost the same.
That is why it is highly recommended to consume your fruit juice as soon as possible. Juices like the following must be drunk within 24 hours:
a. Lemon juice
b. Orange juice
c. Carrot juice
d. Lime juice
e. Apple juice
C. THE OXIDATION PROCESS.
Oxidation can affect the shelf life of your juice. It happens when the cell wall of your own fruit breaks down during the juicing process.
As it breaks down, your fruit becomes juice and is exposed to the air. When this happens, your proteins and amino acids react to the oxygen particles in the air.
This will now result in discoloration, spoiling, and loss of nutrients. The higher the oxidation levels, the faster your natural juice will be spoiled.
D. YOUR STORAGE METHOD.
The container that you will use to store your juice can also affect its shelf life. Never use plastic containers. Always use glass bottles.
Plastic bottles can shorten the shelf life of your juice and glass jars can reduce the oxidation levels of your juice. This will, in turn, prolong the freshness of your drink.
Using airtight containers, on the other hand, can prevent the entry of bad bacteria such as E .coli into your drink.
That being said, using an airtight glass container with a rubber seal is a great idea to prevent your drink from being contaminated.
TIPS TO PROLONG THE SHELF LIFE OF YOUR JUICE:
The key to prolonging the shelf life of your juice is slowing down its oxidation process. You can do this by doing any of the following:
Add citrus fruits to your ingredients.
The citric acid and the vitamin C in many citrus fruits can help keep your juice fresh for a long time. This is one of the most popular ways to preserve your juices.
Store your juice in an airtight container.
This is the easiest way to preserve your juice in the fridge. You are going to have to store it in some container anyway. So just use an airtight one to prevent contamination.
Include ingredients with fiber.
Try adding fruits and vegetables that have fiber.
Keep the juice cold.
Some juice freezes in the fridge quickly. If you don’t want this to happen, you can choose to store your juice in the area outside where you keep your ice cube trays.
If you will be consuming your juice within the next couple of hours and you don’t want to put it inside your fridge, you can use cold water.
Simply put cold water in a bowl and put the container with your juice in it.
Make sure your airtight container is filled completely.
If it has been in the fridge for quite some time already, always check for signs of spoilage or deterioration.
FAQs
Is it possible to consume fresh juice after days?
Yes. It is possible. Some juices, especially the ones that were made using the Twin Gear Juicer.
If you store it properly in your refrigerator, it should be safe to drink even after five days. Just make sure to check for signs of spoilage like discoloration, an unusual sour smell, etc.
How do you keep the juice fresh for a long time?
Proper storage inside a refrigerator. Use an airtight glass container with rubber seals.
Also, if you intend to produce a juice that you can consume later, try using cold-press juicers.
Does fruit juice go bad?
It can go bad. Some fruit juices, however, are still consumable even after the identified expiration date.
A great way is to always check for any signs of deterioration or spoilage if you still want to consume it. We suggest not drinking it after the expiration date.
SUMMARY
Juicing fruits and vegetables is a healthy alternative to drinking water. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals.
That being said, it has to be consumed within 20 to 30 minutes, up to four hours.
If, however, you can not consume everything, do not worry. This is because you can actually drink it later, even after a couple of days.
To prolong its shelf life, you may put it in an airtight container inside your fridge. By doing this, you will be able to prevent contamination.
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