Of course, all food and drink lasts for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that juice, like a lot of other beverages, usually has a best by date and not a use by date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use juice to compliment your favorite meals even after the printed date has lapsed, but should be enjoyed by the eat by date.

How to tell if Fruit Juice is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your juice has gone bad. Some common traits of bad juice are a discoloration, a sour smell (don't drink it!) and finally the growth of mold (way too late - toss it!). The sour smell is usually the first indication, if the juice smells sour it will taste sour. When micro-organisms in air enter the juice container they begin to ferment the fruit which changes the flavor and the aroma of the juice. This process may even cause the container to swell and possibly even burst. So, if your juice begins to smell like vinegar, wine, beer, or alcohol be sure to discard it right away.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled drinks so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your drinks before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Fruit Juice to extend its shelf life?

Juice should be stored in a cool dark place (the pantry works fine). Once opened, juice should be stored in a tightly closed container to keep out moisture and other contaminants. It should always be stored in the refrigerator immediately after use.

If your juice is in a can, be sure to transfer the leftovers to a plastic or glass container before refrigeration.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Fruit Juice:

How long is Fruit Juice good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does fruit juice last? That depends. How long does alcohol last? In general, juice lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Fruit Juice lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Fruit Juice.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Fruit Juice shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please drink responsibly!