How long can you store homemade apple juice? Shelf life of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice

Let's put a few apples through a juicer - and you can drink fresh apple juice, freshly squeezed apple juice.

Apples are the most common fruit in Russia, so you can find good fruits everywhere - environmentally friendly, without harmful additives. And what is grown on our own land is always better digestible than what is imported. By eating local products, you will avoid many diseases, such as allergies. If you drink fresh juice regularly, you can stay healthy longer, because it regulates intestinal function and strengthens blood vessels.

But how to store apple juice so that it remains not only tasty, but also healthy?

Is it possible to store freshly squeezed juice in the refrigerator?

The preservation of juices placed in the refrigerator is facilitated by two circumstances:

low temperature, stopping fermentation processes;
juice packaging that prevents it from coming into contact with air, in which case the vitamins do not react with oxygen and are not destroyed.

Containers for storing juices in the refrigerator

This:

An airtight container is a glass container with a tightly closed lid. In such a container, the oxidation process of the juice will be slowed down, and the juice can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.
A plastic container is a container with a tightly closed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) lid. Please note that this material cannot be sterilized. Therefore, microorganisms can get into the container with juice, and then fermentation of the juice may occur earlier than if using glass containers. The shelf life in a PET container will be less than 12 hours.
Vacuum container. It is much preferable to previous containers, since in it contact of juice with air is completely excluded. Its use is as follows: after pouring the juice, you need to close the container, pump out the air from it and then place it in the refrigerator. When stored this way, the juice can retain its properties for up to 24 hours.

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.

The shelf life of freshly squeezed juice is from 1 hour to 3 days

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.

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).

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.

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.

Procedure:

Pour the nectar into plastic containers or bottles with a screw cap.
When filling the container, you need to leave some space. When freezing, liquid molecules increase in size, so a full bottle can burst.
Place the container in the freezer.

The juice is not boiled before freezing, so it retains maximum benefits. To enjoy the drink, remove it from the freezer in advance and wait until it thaws at room temperature. You can speed up this process by immersing the container in warm water. Pros of freezing:

preservation of all useful properties;
speed of preparation;
ease of storage;
extension of shelf life to 12 months.

The downside of this method is that the drink will take up a lot of space in the freezer. Therefore, it will not be possible to prepare large volumes.

It is better to freeze juice in containers that are equal in volume to a single serving. Repeated freezing is unacceptable.

Preservation for the winter

You can preserve the drink for the winter in order to saturate your body with vitamins and microelements during the cold season. If you carry out the procedure according to the rules, it will be stored for six months or more.

Apple juice extracted using a juicer or meat grinder is canned as follows:

Add citric acid and sugar to the nectar. For 1 liter of drink you will need 1 tbsp. l. lemons and 2 tbsp. l. Sahara.
Jars and lids are thoroughly sterilized.
The strained drink is poured into an enamel container.
Bring the drink to 90 degrees. Any foam that appears is removed with a slotted spoon. When the juice starts to boil, turn off the fire.
Filter the drink through cheesecloth and heat it again to 85 degrees.
Roll the juice into jars.

After 10 days they can be removed to a place of permanent storage. Aluminum containers cannot be used for cooking.

Using a juicer makes it easier to preserve your drink. It is enough to cut the apples without peeling them or removing the seeds.

The prepared raw materials are placed in a container, sprinkled with sugar, and a sterile jar is placed under the pipe. When it is filled, close it with a lid and put it away for storage.

Disadvantages of the method:

When the drink is heated, some of the beneficial substances are destroyed;
the method requires time;
Sugar should be used as a preservative.

Pros:

the taste becomes softer;
it is possible to prepare a lot of juice at one time;
under the influence of high temperatures all microbes will be destroyed;
The shelf life increases by several months.

Shelf life

Long-term storage spoils the quality of the product: the percentage of vitamins and minerals decreases, the taste and color may change. Nutritionists recommend drinking 0.25 fresh juice per day three times a day and more than a glass of liquid at a time - do not cook. Sometimes the squeezed concentrate can be diluted with clean water. There is no point in consuming more than the specified volume - they will not bring any additional effect. The rest can be drunk later, although some of the benefits will be lost.

Juices have different shelf life. It is best to drink them within 10-15 minutes after preparation; you can leave them in the refrigerator for several hours. But the products will not remain in their original form, for example, apple juice will darken because it contains a lot of iron, which oxidizes under the influence of oxygen. If you pour it into a glass bottle and close it tightly, it will last for several hours, but you will need to keep it in the refrigerator. To prevent apple juice from becoming too dark, you can add a few drops of lemon or ascorbic acid to it.

It is better to drink carrot juice right away. But if you made a lot at once, then sealed in a bottle it will last for a maximum of two days, provided it is stored in the cold and in the dark. Cabbage juice is not stored at all - you need to drink it immediately, but it is recommended to keep beet juice for 40 minutes, and use it only infused and diluted; you can store it in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

Grape, raspberry, peach, strawberry and other juices containing a lot of sugar will quickly ferment, especially if left in a warm place. Drinks will last no more than a day in the refrigerator, like apple drinks, they will lose their appearance and taste. The shelf life of sweet juices can be increased by adding 10-15 drops of lemon per 0.5 liter of liquid to a freshly squeezed vegetable or fruit drink. The acid will serve as an additional preservative.

Freshly squeezed citrus juices (lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerine) containing a lot of acids can be stored longer, but they will contain much less vitamins and minerals in a couple of days. The same applies to cherries, pomegranates, and currants.

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.

What and how long should you store freshly squeezed juice?

It is considered most optimal to store juice in a hermetically sealed glass container, where oxidative processes will occur more slowly. The product must be on the refrigerator shelf, where it can remain usable for 12-24 hours.

Storing juice in a plastic container is undesirable, since this material (polyethylene terephthalate) cannot be sufficiently sterilized. Therefore, the pomace, being in such a container, will in no way be protected from the development of harmful microorganisms in it. In this case, fermentation will begin earlier than for the same product in a glass container that has undergone sterilization.

Storing juice in a vacuum is much more effective than storing juice in glass or plastic containers. Under such conditions, the product will not interact with air and can be stored for several days. The fresh juice is poured into a vacuum container, after which the air is pumped out of it using a special device. But you should remember that the healthiest drink is one that was made no more than an hour ago.

Apple fresh

The shelf life of freshly squeezed apple juice in the refrigerator is 12-18 hours due to rapid oxidation. This product is susceptible to rapid destruction of vitamins. To keep it for 1 day, it should be mixed with a few drops of lemon juice.

Citric

Even taking into account the natural preservative properties of this citrus, lemon juice can only be stored in the cold for 3 days. And in the heat it will begin to deteriorate after 3 - 4 hours.

Orange

Orange squeeze is most popular among healthy eating enthusiasts. Many different drinks are made from it, combining it with apple juice, carrot juice, etc. Mixed types of pomace are stored for no longer than 24 hours. Fresh orange juice can be consumed within 2 days. Provided it is stored on the refrigerator shelf.

Birch

Freshly collected birch sap retains its quality for 3 days. The main condition is to keep it in a glass container, tightly closed. If the drink has not been drunk within 3 days, it should be thrown away without regret. This product can no longer be used.

Carrot

Carrots are very healthy due to their carotene content. Therefore, fresh carrot juice is recommended for everyone. But there is a minus here: it must be consumed immediately after production. Interaction with air after 20 - 30 minutes leads to the destruction of most of the beneficial substances contained in the liquid.

Beetroot

Beet juice is an exception. It should be consumed after it has infused. Usually, 2-3 hours in the refrigerator is enough for this. The shelf life of beet juice is about 3 days.

Cranberry

It is not customary to mix cranberry juice with anything else. But it is often used to make healthy fruit drinks, which can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days.

Tomato

Fresh tomato products are rich in folic acid, iron and other substances needed by the body. But you won’t be able to keep it for long. This drink should be used within 12-18 hours from the moment of preparation. And store only in the refrigerator, in glass or ceramic containers. Once opened, a canned drink can be stored for a little longer - 1-2 days.

Cucumber

This drink can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. A longer shelf life leads to the loss of beneficial properties and taste characteristics of the drink. Usually the cucumber product is combined with others - carrot and beetroot most often. This mixture can remain in the refrigerator without changing the initial properties for only one day.

Grapefruit

This drink is considered to be the lowest in calories. Fresh grapefruit can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than one day. However, even during this period, the taste and beneficial properties of the drink are rapidly deteriorating, so it is recommended to drink it immediately after spinning.

Cabbage

The value of freshly squeezed cabbage juice is underestimated by many, since it contains a large amount of beneficial macro- and microelements, as well as vitamins contained in the leaves of the vegetable. To improve the taste characteristics of fresh cabbage, it is possible to prepare a mix by adding carrot.

Attention! It is prohibited to store such a drink for more than 20 minutes, as it begins to ferment.

Watermelon

This type of freshly squeezed juice is not recommended to be stored for more than half an hour, since after this time it loses all its beneficial health qualities. To extend the shelf life of fresh watermelon, you can freeze it in a sterile container; this juice is good for three months.

Celery

Such fresh juice can stand in the refrigerator for no more than one day. Freshly squeezed celery juice is usually used in combination with carrot juice and lettuce leaves.

Such a drink made from several freshly squeezed juices also cannot be kept in the refrigerator for a long time without losing its taste and beneficial properties; 24 hours is the maximum storage period for the mix.

Freshly squeezed pomegranate and directly squeezed juice

Pomegranate juice is a natural antibiotic and therefore can stand in the refrigerator for 48 hours without loss of quality and taste. If you combine this freshly squeezed juice with others, the resulting drinks are stored for only 24 hours. In the case of directly pressed juice, which is produced directly during the harvest and retains the maximum level of freshness (due to limited time for preservation), it can be kept in original packaging for 1 year without changing the taste. After opening, it can stay in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.

Reference! The pomegranate itself, whose skin is not damaged, can lie for two months in a dry and cool place.

Pineapple

Freshly squeezed juice from an exotic fruit can be stored in a refrigerator for 72 hours. The container into which fresh pineapple is poured for storage should be glass, and its lid should seal the container tightly. Before pouring fresh juice into a container, it must be sterilized by any possible method.

Pumpkin

It is better not to store freshly squeezed pumpkin juice and squeeze it only once. It is recommended to drink freshly prepared pumpkin juice within the first 10 minutes after squeezing it, since this drink is not intended for long-term storage. It loses its original qualities and all useful properties almost instantly, even if it is stored in a refrigerator.

DIY apple juicer

You can assemble the juicer with your own hands from an activator-type washing machine. The operation of the device is based on centrifugal rotation. The activator and shaft are removed from the bottom of the old machine and installed on a shaft of the required diameter. 3 knives are installed on the threaded part using nuts at an angle of 60 degrees. The hole for the drain is covered. A stainless steel mesh with a mesh size of 1.5 millimeters lies on the wall of the centrifuge with an overlap of 40-50 millimeters. A lid made of rubber with a stopper is placed on its bottom, tightly closing it. Everything is thoroughly washed with baking soda, and the timer relay is turned off.

Afterwards, 2-3 apples are placed into the homemade structure on rotating knives. They are thoroughly crushed within half an hour. You can put 3 liters of applesauce into the centrifuge at one time. After completing each procedure, the device must be thoroughly washed. The assembled apparatus can prepare about 10 liters of juice with pulp per hour. This device performance is perfect for home use.

How long can you store homemade apple juice?

Natural apple juice is aromatic and sweet and sour in taste, as it contains (malic hydroxysuccinic or malanic) acid, vitamin C, and other organic acids. Due to this, apple juice can be stored for quite a long time. The only thing is that you need to choose the right ratio, how much sugar is needed so that there is no shortage of it - otherwise there is a risk that the juice will quickly spoil and the lid will “inflate”, and also in excess - it will not taste good, it is better to let everyone add “for themselves” the right amount of sugar.

The better the juice is preserved, the more natural, strong and concentrated it is. However, it will definitely last one or two years. Moreover, there are no seeds, but only juice, unlike compote or cherry jam. It can stand for three years without deteriorating. Storage conditions, cleanliness of cans during preparation, etc. are also important here.

Apple juice for the winter

Apple juice is very healthy and tasty. The best juice comes from aromatic sweet and sour apples. It can be prepared using a juicer, press or meat grinder. The easiest way is to use a juicer.

First, prepare the jars: wash them and sterilize each one by holding them over hot steam for about 15 minutes. Now squeeze out the juice using a juicer or press and pour it into the pan.
Add sugar to taste, about one spoon per 500 ml of juice. Bring it to a boil, but do not boil.
Immediately after boiling, turn off the gas and pour the juice into jars. We seal them with metal lids, which must first be boiled for 4-5 minutes.
We place the sealed jars with the lids down and wrap them in a blanket. After a day, remove the blanket and turn the jars over. The juice is ready. Store jars in a dark place for one to two years.

The second option for preparing apple juice is using a meat grinder. To do this, wash the apples, remove the seeds, cut them into quarters and pass them through a meat grinder. Let the mixture sit in a cool place for a day. Then squeeze out the juice and leave in a cold place for another two days. The juice will become lighter in color. Carefully drain it until it settles, boil for 5 minutes, and pour into hot jars. We also seal with lids.

General rules of use

As you know, any fruit contains quite a lot of sugars. Unlike those found in store-bought juices, natural ones break down faster and do not cause significant harm to the body of an adult or child. But in any case, you should not increase the amount of sugar in your daily diet, because this negatively affects the functioning of the liver, kidneys, stomach and immune system.

It is recommended to dilute strongly sweet juices in a one-to-one ratio with boiled water or mineral water (no matter with or without gas). Sour fruits, such as orange or lemon, do not contain much sugar, so they can be drunk undiluted. But acid has a negative effect on teeth, especially if a person’s enamel coating is destroyed, then it is better to drink juice from sour fruits through a straw.

Nutritionists recommend drinking juice from fresh fruits or vegetables during the day. Not everything can be consumed in the morning on an empty stomach. For example, it is recommended to abstain from sour nectars. Even if they are diluted with water, they can provoke excessive acidity of the gastrointestinal tract. You should not drink freshly squeezed juices at night either - they stimulate the appetite, and there is a risk of eating too much at night, thereby clearly not doing your figure a favor.

The best time to drink freshly squeezed juices is the day between meals. They are consumed between breakfast and lunch, between lunch and dinner, for one of two lunches or snacks.

It is better to drink juice not during meals, but a little later. The body will thank you if you drink a tasty drink 25-30 minutes after lunch.

How to drink fresh juice correctly

In the concentrated product, after pressing, a large amount of sugar is concentrated. To avoid its harmful effects, it is necessary to dilute fresh juice in a one to one ratio. Freshly squeezed orange or lemon juice are quite acidic, so they should be consumed through a straw so as not to damage the enamel of the teeth.

To prevent the benefits of vitamins from turning into harm, you must drink the juice correctly. A glass of liquid between meals. Sour fresh juices on an empty stomach cause ulcers and related diseases. You can eat food no earlier than half an hour later. Taking two hundred grams of the drink daily will help maintain vitamin balance in the body.

Additional ingredients for fresh carrot juice can be cream or olive oil. They will help digest the product and reveal its beneficial properties.

What varieties are suitable for making a drink?

To prepare the drink, you need to use juicy apples, which have a pleasant taste and rich aroma. Such fruits crunch when bitten, but they may look inconspicuous.

The best varieties:

Antonovka.
Grushovka.
Golden.
Fuji.
Honey Crisp.
Mac.
Arlet.

Winter varieties are not suitable for making a drink. The fruits produce little juice, so it is better to send them to the cellar unchanged.

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.

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.

Prepare a mixture of pumpkin and apple juices using a blender

Apple juice is universal; you can mix any fruits and vegetables with it. The main thing is that they combine to taste. Do you want to water your kids all winter and not worry about the contents? Then it is better to prepare the juice yourself from those products that contain more beneficial properties in their composition. Let's try to make pumpkin-apple juice, which will surely win the hearts of your household.

We will need:

Large butternut squash - 1 pc.

All other ingredients are based on one kilogram of peeled pumpkin:

Water 1.5 l.
Sugar 150 gr.
Apples 0.5 kg.
Lemon juice 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation:

1. First, let's deal with the pumpkin - you need to peel it and remove all the seeds. Then cut it into small pieces.

2. Place the vegetables in a saucepan and add one glass of water at a time. Now put everything on the stove and wait for it to boil.

3. As soon as the pumpkin pieces are ready, you can add apples that have been peeled and washed under running water. By the way, it’s also better to cut them into small slices.

4. Set the heat to low and cover with a lid until all the food is fully cooked.

5. Now we need a blender with a soup attachment. Using it, we grind the contents of the pan into a thick puree.

6. Prepare boiled hot water with which we will dilute the finished mass. We take 1.5 liters of water per 1 kilogram of gruel.

7. Mix everything and add sugar to the juice. If you want something sweeter, then it’s better to completely rely on your taste.

8. Bring the pumpkin-apple drink to a boil and skim off the resulting foam.

9. Now, if desired, you can add lemon juice. Then boil for about 10 minutes and pour into pre-sterilized jars.

Of course, after screwing, we will turn the jars over onto their lids and make sure that everything is closed tightly and there are no leaks. Leave them under a warm blanket until they cool down.

Now your super healthy assorted apple and pumpkin juice is ready! Try, help yourself and enjoy a wonderful, tasty homemade drink. Be healthy!

I have a very large family and therefore we always had and still have supplies for the winter season. I know firsthand about all the intricacies and processes of preparing apple juice. Based on my extensive experience, I would like to share with you so that you can close jars with an amazing drink just as easily and deliciously.