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Article by Brooke Shoupe, RN
Reviewed by Stephanie Wells, RD
Key Points
- There are 5 types of juice containers to choose from. From most effective to the least these are mason jars, hermetic jars, glass bottles, glass pitchers, and stainless steel containers.
- Plastic containers should never be used to store freshly pressed juice. Even BPA-free plastic containers are made with harmful chemicals.
- Freshly pressed juice can be stored for up to 3 days or 72 hours, but only if it is stored in a refrigerated, air-tight container like mason or hermetic jars.
In our mission to lead healthier lives, we have discovered an efficient method of obtaining our daily servings of vegetables and fruits—through juicing.
Immediately drinking freshly extracted juice is the best method of reaping the full benefits of the juice.
Unfortunately, many people simply do not have the time to make their own juice several times every day. If this describes you as well as it does me, this review guide will teach you how to store juice for up to 72 hours.
Your Storage Options
The primary storage options available are plastic, steel tumblers and jugs, and glass jars, bottles, and pitchers. The best storage options are mason and hermetic jars. I encourage you to avoid plastic containers. (More on this below.)
How to Store Juice in Mason Jars
If you want to know how to store juice the best way, just reach for a mason jar. Hands down, the best containers to use are these simple glass containers.
Mason jars are convenient. The jar lid prevents spillage while having a separate cap with a straw lid instantly turns your storage container into a sipper. It is very easy to fill and clean as well. Use jar lids with a good seal to prevent spoilage from exposure to air.
Avoid using lids with a straw while storing your juice, as this can cause it to spoil faster since the hole will allow bacteria and oxygen into the jar. Use a straw lid only when you’re ready to drink the juice.
Dietician’s Note
Avoid using lids with a straw while storing your juice, as this can cause it to spoil faster since the hole will allow bacteria and oxygen into the jar. Use a straw lid only when you’re ready to drink the juice.
How to Use Hermetic Jars to Store Juice
Another great storage option is hermetic jars. Hermetic jars are often used for storing herbs, spices, and other ingredients in the kitchen but you can also use them to store your juice.
Hermetic jars are also glass but have an airtight seal within the glass lid held firm by attached fasteners. I love these for storing juice in my fridge because it’s easy to ensure that it has an airtight seal.
Hermetic jars come in different sizes, from 7 oz up to 5 liters. I’m sure though that you won’t be needing a container that big.
Using Glass Bottles to Store Juice
If you’re looking for something that you can carry around without intimidating anyone, glass bottles are your perfect choice. Glass bottles are better than plastic in circumstances in which a clear bottle is required for beverages.
Keep in mind that glass is heavier than plastic, and some lightweight glass bottles may be made with synthetic coatings designed to strengthen the thinner glass. Cheaper lightweight glass bottles are not as durable but are natural and made by exposing the glass to potassium and sodium ions through a scientific process.
Some designs include a carrying loop for extra comfort and safety. These containers however are quite deep, you might want to secure a bottle brush for cleaning purposes. Good thing if you already have one.
How to Store Juice Using Glass Pitchers
The best way to entertain your guests if you are a health-conscious person is to offer them a healthy meal and of course, a glass of juice would perfectly complement that.
Glass pitchers are the perfect containers for a large batch of juice. You can choose between a one-liter and a two-liter glass pitcher. However, glass pitchers are not suitable for long-term storage of fresh juices since they cannot be tightly sealed. Glass pitchers should only be used when the juice will be served within a few hours.
Storing Juice in Stainless Steel Jugs & Tumblers
This type of container protects the juice from air exposure and sunlight, and at the same time, it preserves the temperature of the juice.
It doesn’t break easily and it will fit your cup holder quite perfectly. This is by far the best container for carrying your juice at work, during workouts, when you’re driving, and wherever you’re going and you need your juice around.
A stainless steel cup with a built-in carry loop with a carabiner is my favorite way to carry fresh juice on a hike.
Why Not Plastic Containers?
Though plastic containers don’t break easily, are lightweight, and are less expensive than their glass counterpart, these conveniences are nothing compared to the chemical and toxins that they can leak into your juice.
Juicing is supposed to be a healthy practice, so we want to choose the healthiest possible method of storing this nutritious beverage. Choosing the right containers can help prevent the leakage of BPA and other endocrine disruptors into fresh juice.
In addition, plastic containers are not completely airtight which can speed up the oxidation process of your juice.
Some chemicals that are found in plastic are Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, polyvinyl chloride, and a whole lot of other toxins. Being BPA-free may not make it any safer.
Even BPA alternatives being used for BPA-free products still pose risks to our health according to research. Because they are similar in structure to BPA, they may act in similar ways to negatively affect reproductive health and increase the risk for obesity and some cancers (1). All these chemicals have the potential to negatively impact our health and may contribute to the development of cancer.
| BPA Alternative | Health Risks |
| BPS and BPF (cousins to BPA) | BPS in particular has been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer (2), and reproductive disorders. Experts warn that neither BPS nor BPF has not been in use long enough to be sure of the effects on public health. |
| HDPE (ex. milk jugs) | HDPE is used for many food-safe containers, including milk jugs. HDPE in its initial completed form and intended use is not hazardous to your health, but recycled HDPE contains many harmful chemicals and substances. Much of the plastic packaging for foodstuffs are made of HDPE. |
| PET (ex. disposable water bottles) | PET plastic is used for plastic bottles such as bottled water, bottled oils, and others. PET plastic is designed for single use only. PET plastic leaches harmful substances into your juice. |
So be safe, let’s say no to plastic at least with our juice containers.
Things to Consider
Each of the above storage methods has merit in the right circumstance. Here are some things to consider when choosing a juice storage container.
How Storing Juice is Affected By The Type of Your Juicer
Juice shelf life may vary depending on the type of juice extractor you have. Juice extracted from fast juicers or centrifugal juicers typically lasts for 24 hours. Cold press juicers on the other hand (which include masticating and twin gear juicers) offer a longer shelf life of about 72 hours.
Juice extractors with higher RPM tend to introduce a lot of oxygen which breaks down the integrity of the juice, destroying essential nutrients and vitamins in a process called oxidation. Storing your juice for later consumption doesn’t make perfect sense for centrifugal juicers.
Go Organic
Organic produce is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, GMOs, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. These chemicals, and the acids from the fruits, can deteriorate the plastic. Thus it is even more important to avoid plastic when storing produce.
There are fewer synthetic chemicals used in growing organic fruits and vegetables compared to modern farming. As a result, you get to enjoy a nutrient-rich juice with minimal synthetic chemical exposure.
Keep in mind, though, that organic produce isn’t completely free of chemicals just because it’s organic. Organic farming does allow for the use of natural pesticides which also have negative health effects when consumed in large amounts, as well as a select few synthetic pesticides approved for organic farming used on rare occasions.
Though pesticides and fertilizers used for organic farming are FDA-approved you still have to wash and peel your produce to get rid of the remaining chemical residue. Fewer chemicals mean your juice will last longer. While the vast majority of conventional and organic produce contain residues below the legal limits for safety, it’s always a good idea to wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
Keep Your Produce Cold to Maximize the Quality of Stored Juice
Refrigerating your produce and juicing it afterward can extend the mileage of your juice. It will keep it at a temperature that inhibits bacterial growth. The best juice storage for keeping your juice cold on the go is stainless steel bottles. Stainless steel bottles are often thermally insulated to keep beverages hot or cold for many hours.
The best storage for keeping juices cold at home is in glass jars. Sealed mason jars or hermetic jars can be kept in the coldest part of your fridge.
Be Prepared
Preparing everything before starting to juice is ideal. Choose your juice storage carefully and have it ready to go, as well as space in your fridge for the resulting juice. Plan how much juice you would require in three days since it’s the maximum time you could store it. This will avoid excess in produce.
Remove The Pulp
Once you have finished juicing, pour the juice into a glass container as close to the top of the container as possible. Filter out the pulp to prevent any browning of the remaining cellulose in the juice. Juice with a lot of pulp will also go bad faster regardless of how you store it.
Filling and Sealing
Using a wide-mouthed jar makes filling (and cleaning!) simplistic. Fill the jar all the way to the top. The goal is to leave as little space as possible between the juice and the top of the jar, therefore, forcing the air out of the jar.
Make sure to seal the jar tightly with the lid then place it in the refrigerator instantly.
To seal mason jars, get the seal portion of the lid wet with room temperature water, then immediately screw it onto the mason jar to create a seal. Hermetic jars are sealed when closed unless the seal has been damaged.
Keep in mind that glass pitchers, glass bottles, and stainless-steel bottles do not have a true seal.
How Long Can You Store Your Juice?
As long as you followed all the recommendations above, the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in your juice will still be intact for up to 3 days or 72 hours with minimal loss.
The key is to prevent contact with air and sunlight. Exposure to air or oxidation causes vitamins A, E, and C to break down, exposure to sunlight will cause significant loss of the same vitamins plus vitamins K, B-6, and B-12.
Heat is not an issue at all it’s not common to reach a boiling point when juicing unless you’re using an explosion to juice a tomato.
The same reason applies to why juice processed by a centrifugal juicer only lasts for twenty-two hours. It’s not the explosion but the amount of oxidation happening at a juicing chamber with blade assembly spinning at a very high velocity.
If you have a centrifugal juicer there’s no way you can extend the life span of your juice, even refrigerating it won’t save it from spoiling. Freezing it will do but your juice will not taste as good.
The best way to enjoy juice out of a centrifugal juicer is to drink it right away.
Signs of Degradation
Some signs to look out for when storing your juice include a change in color and a difference in taste.
To slow down degradation, juice a lemon with your produce to aid in preserving your juice with the citric acid that is found naturally in lemons.
Avoid experiencing degradation by drinking your juice as soon as possible.
Labeling and Storage
Label the jar with the juice contents and the date it was created. This is especially helpful when creating different concoctions.
Store for no longer than 24 hours when using a centrifugal juicer and no longer than 72 hours when using a masticating juicer.
Of course, you will absorb more of the nutrients and experience bolder flavors if you consume your juice far ahead of the tentative expiration date.
Don’t Freeze Your Juice
Refrigerating your juice is more than enough to maximize the shelf life of your juice. I don’t really recommend freezing as it can ruin the taste of your juice.
However, if you really have no choice, leave enough room to allow the volume of juice to expand. Don’t fill it all the way up. You don’t want to clean up broken glass in your freezer, right?
Conclusion
Your juice can last for three days if you follow these simple rules—use a cold press juicer, follow the tips above, and use a non-plastic container. If you don’t have the luxury of a cold press juicer, drink your juice as soon as possible, this way you’ll still enjoy all the nutrients in your juice.
Once you notice a discoloration or a funny smell or taste. Discard it for obvious reasons.
What’s your favorite juice container? Do you have a container that I haven’t mentioned? Feel free to drop a comment below.
