Here's How Long Cranberry Juice Actually Lasts After Opening (2024)

julia mullaney

·2 min read

Cranberry juice is the perfect complement in a number of drink recipes, but it can also stand alone and be enjoyed by itself. Its notable red color helps give co*cktails a pop, and Health.comsays it has surprising health benefits, such as potentially preventing urinary tract infections and helping rheumatoid arthritis. But, if you want to enjoy these benefits, and your juice at its freshness, you need to know how long it lasts.

Whilecranberry juiceremains usable forabout eight monthsprior to being opened, onceyou crack it open, you should use it within three weeks to enjoy it at its best. Cranberry juice will last longer than some other juices -- especially those that you squeeze fresh yourself -- but it's still a fruit, so its shelf life is pretty short. Once you arrive home from the store, be sure you are storing your juice property.

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How To Properly Store Cranberry Juice

Here's How Long Cranberry Juice Actually Lasts After Opening (2)

You can store an unopened bottle of cranberry juice at room temperature. However, once it is opened, it should be placed in the refrigerator with its lid on tight to ensure it stays stable for as long as possible. Because cranberriesare acidic, with a pH of around 2.5(they contain citric, malic, and quinic acids), they last longer than other juices.But if that three weeks is just not long enough, you canfreeze your juice to prolong its life even further.

If you want to freeze your cranberry juice, you must take note of the fact that it contains water and could expand a bit when it freezes; store the juice in a freezer-safe container with enough room to make way for this. Most juice, whether fresh or store-bought, will last up to one year in the freezer. That said, it could lose its flavor and texture.

How To Tell If Cranberry Juice Has Gone Bad

Here's How Long Cranberry Juice Actually Lasts After Opening (3)

Cranberry juice has a bright red color. If you find an old bottle in your pantry and that color looks closer to brown than red, it's most likely expired and shouldn't be thrown out. But if you're storing it in the fridge and its color is still intact, then you should turn to its smell to tell you what you need to know. Fresh fruit juice smells sweet and inviting; but as it gets older, that smell can turn sour and rancid.

You can also take a small taste of the juice to be certain before using it in a drink. However, you should look for any potential fermentation or mold before you do. If you do see anything floating in your juice, or any film sticking to the bottle, your best bet is to err on the side of caution and discard it.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

Here's How Long Cranberry Juice Actually Lasts After Opening (2024)

FAQs

Here's How Long Cranberry Juice Actually Lasts After Opening? ›

While cranberry juice remains usable for about eight months prior to being opened, once you crack it open, you should use it within three weeks to enjoy it at its best.

How long does cranberry juice last once opened? ›

It is no surprise that a cranberry juice container has a lot of moisture which creates an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria. As such, it is relatively quick to expire. You can expect your cranberry juice to last anywhere from eight to twelve days.

Is it bad to not refrigerate cranberry juice after opening? ›

Once a bottle or container of cranberry juice has been opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator as this will limit the growth of bacteria and help keep the juice from going bad.

How long is Knudsen cranberry juice good for after opening? ›

For the best quality and freshness, we would suggest consuming our R.W. Knudsen Family juices within 10 days after they are opened and refrigerated.

What happens if you drink too much cranberry juice in one day? ›

Drinking too much cranberry juice might cause some side effects such as mild stomach upset and diarrhea in some people.

How to tell if cranberry juice is bad? ›

However, you should look for any potential fermentation or mold before you do. If you do see anything floating in your juice, or any film sticking to the bottle, your best bet is to err on the side of caution and discard it.

Is it OK to drink old cranberry juice? ›

There's probably NO "expiration" date, just a "best by" date printed somewhere on the bottle. The Google consensus is that it's SAFE to drink even AFTER 12-24 MONTHS past any printed date on the bottle. THIS APPLIES ONLY TO UNOPENED BOTTLES OF CRANBERRY JUICE.

When should you not drink cranberry juice? ›

If you take aspirin regularly, as a blood-thinner, for example, or if you are allergic to aspirin, you should not take cranberry supplements or drink a lot of juice. Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

How long is juice good for after opening? ›

Things change once you've opened up a bottle of store-bought apple juice; after that, keep the bottle in the refrigerator and you'll have up to 10 days until you'll want to throw it away. Although, a canned product will only stay good enough to drink for up to one week after opening.

What are the benefits of drinking cranberry juice? ›

Cranberry juice is rich in vitamin C, which helps keep your immune system healthy and functioning properly. It fights against oxidative stress from free radicals and helps kill harmful bacteria. Some studies also link low vitamin C intake to poor immune function. Infection prevention.

Can cranberry juice ferment? ›

Cranberry juice was allowed to ferment with yeast for nine days, either without further addition or with addition of grape must, and the alcohol determined. The results show that the juice will not ferment, and that this is caused by a substance present in the juice, and not in the skin, etc., of the berries.

How long does canned cranberry last once opened? ›

Once open, it can be stored in a container with a tightly fitting lid for up to two weeks. Just make sure to remove it from the can before storing, and don't freeze it as it could become watery upon thawing.

What is the best cranberry juice for detox? ›

What Kind of Cranberry Juice for Detox? For best results, drink 100% pure cranberry juice. Skip all the artificial flavorings and added sugars, as they won't help you pass.

What medications cannot be taken with cranberry? ›

by Drugs.com

Cranberry may increase the anticoagulant effect from blood thinners like warfarin and lead to bruising or bleeding. If you take an oral blood thinner, check with your doctor before consuming large amounts of cranberry or cranberry juice.

Who should avoid cranberry juice? ›

Cranberry juice is high in salts called oxalates, which can make kidney stones more likely, especially if you already tend to get these types of stones. If you take the blood-thinning medication warfarin, you should avoid cranberry products, because cranberries can interact with warfarin and cause bleeding.

Is it normal to pee a lot after drinking cranberry juice? ›

Cranberry juice helps fight off bladder infections, but it can be a culprit in worsening overactive bladder symptoms. The berries' acidity can irritate the bladder, and although its diuretic action helps flush out the bladder and urethra, it will also make you go more frequently.

How long does juice last in the fridge after opening? ›

Things change once you've opened up a bottle of store-bought apple juice; after that, keep the bottle in the refrigerator and you'll have up to 10 days until you'll want to throw it away. Although, a canned product will only stay good enough to drink for up to one week after opening.

How do you know when juice goes bad? ›

Fresh orange juice has a distinct fresh scent, but if it smells rancid, rotten, or like vinegar, it's a no-go. Check for mold too. If you see any white or green growth on the surface, toss it out immediately – it could be harmful to your health. Sediment is also a good indicator of spoiled juice.

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