Compared to packaged juices, freshly squeezed juices contain a higher concentration of unique elements, vitamins, and minerals. Fresh juices are healthy and popular all over the world. The first written mentions of fruit and berry squeezes belong to the ancient Greeks, who used them not only as a refreshing drink, but also as a cure for certain diseases. For those who do not always have the opportunity to quickly prepare fresh juice, information about how long freshly squeezed juice can be stored will be relevant.
Let's find out!
At room temperature
Experts recommend consuming fresh juice immediately after preparation.
At room temperature, it retains its nutritional value for 1-2 hours.
After this time, the liquid begins to oxidize and ferment (depending on the source material), and the processes of reproduction of pathogenic flora are accelerated. If it is not possible to place the product in the refrigerator, use the following recommendations:
- Pour into a bottle or jar and close the lid tightly. Vacuum containers work well.
- Place the drink in a dark, cool place. If you cannot hide the liquid from exposure to sunlight, choose an opaque glass container or wrap it in foil/parchment.
- To extend shelf life, immerse the bottle in a container of ice water, keeping the liquid temperature low for as long as necessary (no more than 12-24 hours).
Carrot
Freshly squeezed juice from this vegetable is recommended even for nursing women. Its benefits have been proven over the years. The drink is prepared together with the pulp, while the peel is pre-cleaned. A blender is great for grinding carrots into small pieces.
Carrot juice tastes sweet and does not cause stomach discomfort like orange juice. After the blender, a porridge-like mixture is obtained, which is filtered through cheesecloth or diluted. It is recommended to use the product within 20 minutes after spinning.
Carrots contain a lot of vitamins, especially carotene - provitamin A. It is good for the immune system. Serves as a strengthening agent for colds and helps fight skin diseases. Used in therapy to remove stones from the kidneys and liver.
For nursing mothers, carrot juice will be useful for improving the quality of milk. It is also recommended for pregnant women, but in small doses. However, many may feel nausea and stomach pain. If such symptoms occur, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor and not drink any freshly squeezed drinks.
In a refrigerator
The duration of the period during which the product remains fit for consumption when placed in a refrigerated cabinet is influenced by the raw materials used for preparation. Sweet (berry, fruit) fresh juices are subject to fermentation, so their shelf life is shorter. Pomace with a high content of fruit acids will last longer, since the acids will act as a natural preservative. The choice of container in which you plan to store the liquid is also important.
On average, freshly squeezed juice will last from 12 to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Harm
It is recommended to check with a nutritionist about how to drink freshly squeezed juices. In this case, the doctor will definitely advise you to undergo an examination of the gastrointestinal tract for the presence of inflammation. The drink can be dangerous if the acidity in the stomach is impaired.
The therapist will answer whether it is possible to drink freshly squeezed juice if you have other chronic diseases. He will look at the patient's chart and determine the degree of risk from a seemingly simple juice therapy.
Most freshly squeezed drinks cause irreparable damage if consumed continuously by people suffering from the following diseases:
- gastritis;
- increased acidity;
- constipation;
- ulcers;
- hemorrhoids.
It should be borne in mind that orange juice contains a huge percentage of fructose and glucose. Therefore, this drink is strictly contraindicated for diabetics. After drinking any juice, you should immediately rinse your mouth. Fresh fruits contain many acids that corrode tooth enamel.
In the freezer
The freezer will help increase the shelf life of fresh juice up to six months.
Sub-zero temperatures allow you to preserve all useful elements without destroying most of the vitamins and enzymes. To freeze, you must use the freshest possible product, prepared no more than 15 minutes ago. The liquid should be poured into plastic bottles or sealed bags. Use the container volume that is most convenient for you (if you are the only person in the family who loves fruit or vegetable squeezes, opt for containers of 200 - 250 ml). Do not fill the bottle with fresh juice to the brim: leave some free space for the liquid to expand when frozen. Before drinking, move the frozen drink to the refrigerator shelf and allow it to thaw smoothly. There is no need to subject it to sudden defrosting using a microwave oven or boiling water.
Rating of the best pomegranate juicers
People have always tried to simplify the process of obtaining juice from pomegranate fruits, using various juicers. Now housewives can choose which device is suitable for the needs of her family.
The top best juicers include electric devices with a power of 20-100 W. They allow you to quickly obtain large volumes of pomegranate nectar. In second place are mechanical juicers.
They are of the auger type, reminiscent of a manual meat grinder. The peculiarity of such devices is their ability to grind even grains, giving the drink a special aftertaste.
When buying a screw juicer for making pomegranate juice, you should pay attention to the fourth generation Hurom H-100-SBEA01 model. In this device, the squeezing basket is replaced by a filter element consisting of two grates, which operates silently and does not become clogged with pits.
Juicer Hurom H-100-SBEA01 from the world brand No. 1
Philips produces a juicer model HR1889/70, which looks like a manual meat grinder. The advantages of such a device include a large neck, a container for collecting pulp, rubber footrests and a “Drop-Stop” function.
Horizontal juicer Philips HR1889/70
A lever-type device in which juice is squeezed through a grid plate. The resulting drink flows into a special tank below. To get a glass of fresh pomegranate juice, it will be enough to make a couple of movements with the lever.
Among such devices, the Czech-made citrus juicer Sana Citrus Press is worthy of attention. All its parts are made of food grade stainless steel. Thanks to the spatial platform made of cast iron, the press does not need to be additionally fixed to the countertop.
The Sana Citrus Press juicer is made in vintage style
Important! Since pomegranate juice contains acid that can react with metals, you need to choose stainless steel devices.
By type
Shelf life in the refrigerator directly depends on the raw materials used. According to the duration of storage, they can be divided into the following types:
- With a minimum period (up to 30 minutes) – carrot, apricot, cucumber, watermelon, cabbage.
- Up to 2 hours – tomato, peach, cherry, grape, apple.
- 24 hours – grapefruit, plum, pumpkin, kiwi, tangerines, pomelo, potatoes, celery.
- 48 hours – orange, beetroot, pomegranate, lime.
- Up to 3 days – lemon, birch, pineapple, aloe (used for instillation into the nose).
- For several months you can drink sea buckthorn juice (with added sugar) and ginger extract. From celandine (for medicinal and household purposes) - stored for up to a year.
Variety of freshly squeezed juices
Freshly squeezed juices have a rich and refined taste. They serve as a source of fiber, minerals, slow carbohydrates, healthy fats and proteins. Therefore, adults are recommended to take 250 milliliters every day. When making freshly squeezed juices every day, it is worth remembering that each drink has its own expiration date.
How long can you store homemade apple juice? Fresh apple juice loses its benefits within 18 hours due to rapid oxidation. Vitamins in the product are quickly destroyed. To preserve the drink during the day, you need to mix it with lemon. This is the basic rule on how to preserve freshly squeezed apple juice.
Lemon juice, even taking into account its natural preservative properties, can be stored for 3 days. In a warm place it deteriorates within 5 hours. Orange squeeze in combination with carrot squeeze is allowed for consumption within 2 days. Due to its carotene content, it is recommended to consume fresh carrots immediately, regardless of how you store the carrot juice.
After interacting with air, it loses 90% of its nutrients and deteriorates. Cranberry juice and tomato juice are rich in iron and folic acid. They are stored for the longest possible time - up to 2 days.
How to determine delay
Freshly squeezed direct cold-pressed juice, as a rule, is produced in front of the future consumer from ripe fruits, berries or vegetables using a juicer. Therefore, there is no particular need to know the signs of a spoiled drink. But if you did not drink the fresh juice right away, but placed it in the freezer or refrigerator for a while, then make sure of its quality before consuming it. To do this, it is necessary to evaluate the organoleptic properties:
- Smell. The presence of a sharp sour odor with wine-like notes of fermentation indicates spoilage.
- Color. As the bacterial flora grows, the color darkens, the liquid becomes cloudy, and a sediment may appear.
- Appearance. The formation of bubbles, foam, hissing when opening a bottle, and swelling of the container indicate that chemical reactions have begun.
- Taste. An unpleasant sour taste is characteristic of irreversible microbiological fermentation.
Orange fruits
The benefit of freshly squeezed orange juice is that it is rich in vitamin C. It is refreshing, tastes sweet without adding sugar, and quenches your thirst. In addition, it contains other vitamins: A, B, E, K. It contains magnesium, potassium, pectins, iron, phosphorus.
The benefit of freshly squeezed orange juice is its low calorie content. It is enough to take a glass of it in the morning and evening and excess weight will begin to gradually decrease. All nutritionists recommend taking it after exercise.
Fresh orange juice strengthens the body. The immune system is supplied with ascorbic acid, carotene and tocopherol. The antioxidant property helps get rid of bad cholesterol, cancer cells, and toxins.
Orange juice saves you from illness during epidemics. And the iron in its composition helps get rid of signs of anemia. Vitamin C gives the skin elasticity and a fresh look. Those who regularly consume fresh juices and fruits instead of sweets look much younger.
Recommendations and lifehacks
To maintain nutritional value for as long as possible, use the following recommendations:
- When storing fresh juice in a freezer, re-freezing is not allowed. After defrosting, the drink can be stored for no more than 12 hours in total.
- For cooking, use only high-quality, proven ripe fruits, berries and vegetables. Rinse them thoroughly, sorting and removing moldy or fermented raw materials.
- If there is a small amount left, try using it in cooking (for example, freezing fruit cubes to add to smoothies).
- The shelf life is also affected by the material from which the packaging is made. The most suitable is a vacuum container, where oxidation processes are slowed down by pumping out air. Various microorganisms easily penetrate into ordinary plastic containers, accelerating decomposition processes.
- It is still better to roll large volumes of fresh juice into sterile glass jars.
- Adding a few drops of lemon juice to the contents of the container extends the life of some types of drink.
- It is not recommended to give concentrated fresh juices to children under 3 years old - it is better to offer your child juices for baby food in tetra-packs: “Babushkino Lukoshko”, “Frutonyanya”, “Agusha” or homemade compotes.
- If you find signs of spoilage, discard the product or use it at home (for example, adding it to face or hair masks; lemon juice can remove some stains). Remember that drinking a fermented or sour drink can lead to poisoning or intoxication of the body.
Where is the best place to save?
The only suitable place is the refrigerator. Only some species quickly deteriorate even at a temperature of +1-5 degrees. Short-term keeping on the balcony and loggia is allowed in winter and autumn. This is a great way to quickly cool down. But in addition to the cold, it is important to provide protection from light - place the dishes in a cover, a dark bag, and cover with a towel.
Too much fresh juice? We recommend pouring the excess into containers and freezing it. It can be stored in the chamber for up to three months. Can be used for various dishes, added to cocktails and drinks. Fresh juices make excellent ice cubes. Used in cooking and cosmetology.
