Does orange juice go bad? Is it safe to drink expired orange juice?

Does orange juice go bad? – People always ask this question to know the truth. Let’s clarify it gradually.

When you squeeze juice from oranges using a juicer and you leave out the juice overnight for a longer period out of the refrigerator, then it might go bad gradually.

It is due to the harmful bacteria that easily attack the opened juice and spoil the juice within a short period.

But for getting more juice shelf life, you have to use a slow masticating juicer over a fast centrifugal juicer or you can use a citrus juicer that best suits you and also follow the right preservation method of orange juice.

Either way, when you buy any bottled orange juice (Buy the Best one here), you might see the manufacturer seals the expiration date on that bottle or container.

If the expiration date is over, you should not drink that juice. On the other hand, if you drink bottled orange juice from the refrigerator, you open the bottle again and again and it causes the juice to go bad earlier than the juice expiration date.

Table of Contents

How can you tell if orange juice is bad?

There are several signs which indicate that your orange juice goes bad. If the orange juice’s color and texture are fine and the smell is pleasant, the juice is still good to drink.

Whenever, the color, texture, taste, and smell are different than the natural oranges juice, you have to stay away from drinking it. Because it already goes bad.

To know whether the juice is gone bad or not, pour the juice into a clear glass and if you see the color is deeper than the natural color of oranges juice, you have to leave the juice right away.

To know the proper condition just smell the juice- if you get a sharp sour smell, it may go bad. It is because of fermentation.

Fermentation is an attack of bacteria to spoil the juice color, smell, and taste. This process makes the juice moldy. So, don’t drink it.

The last test is its taste- if you feel any bad taste over natural orange juice; your juice is already gone bad. Sometimes, bad orange juice becomes flavorless.

So, don’t drink tasteless orange juice. If you drink any bottled juice rather than homemade orange juice, you see the bottle or container become tight or bulky if the juice goes bad or expired.

Can orange juice go bad if not refrigerated?

Normally, perishable food like juice is started to spoil after 2-3 hours of extraction if it is not refrigerated in the right way.

But, oranges are a bit acidic than any other fruits and take a longer time than usual. Being acidic fruit, it takes a longer time to start fermentation.

As a result, the harmful bacteria cannot spoil the juice easily if it is unrefrigerated. But, in the long run, orange juice can also go bad if not refrigerated as soon as possible.

Is it safe to drink expired orange juice?

How safe the orange juice to drink depends on how you preserve the juice. If you store the OJ in the fridge and keep unopened till the expiration date, it is safe to drink beyond a week after getting expired because its acidic contains keep it fresh for longer beyond expiration dates.

On the other hand, if you open the seal of the orange juice bottle and drink now and then, you should not drink that juice after expiration dates. It may cause some foodborne illnesses.

What happens if you drink expired orange juice?

When orange juice gets expired or is spoiled, the harmful bacteria break and convert the juice contain into alcohol and sugar and gradually, be poisonous.

According to the Ohio State university expired orange juice may cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. It also may cause stomach upset which directly affects our digestive system and may create problems at digestion.

They also identify that spoiled orange juice may cause breathing problems, high fever, and weaken the immune system. Expired juice may have a bad effect on your kids.

So, we hope you don’t make drink spoiled orange juice to your kids.

How long does orange juice last?

Freshly squeezed orange juice may last for 3-6 hours if not refrigerated. If you refrigerate the freshly squeezed juice at home, you should not drink it for more than 3 days or 72 hours. In the case of commercial orange juice, the manufacturer uses a bit of preservative to keep it good for a longer period. The unopened refrigerated juice lasts 1-2 weeks in the fridge and 3-6 months in the freezer. If you open the juice it may last for a week. Pasteurized juice lasts for 1-2 years if it is not opened. If you can the orange juice, it may have a longer juice shelf life. You can preserve the canned juice for 6-12 months in the pantry.

Consider Reading