Can Lemon Juice Go Bad?: Lemon is a staple citrus fruit and we use it often in our day-to-day lives in the form of juice or even for cooking. If you are one who bought long batches of lemon juice and is worried about How Long Lemon Juice Last for, Can It Go Bad then this article is for you.
We have done our research and you can get complete info on Storage Practices to employ to extend the Shelf life of Lemon and prevent it from getting spoiled, fun facts about lemon juice are all in detail here.
- Does Lemon Juice Go Bad?
- How Long Does Lemon Juice Last?
- How to Store Lemon Juice?
- Does Lemon Juice Need to be Refrigerated?
- How to Tell if Lime Juice is Bad?
- What Happens if You Drink Expired Lemon Juice?
- Can You Freeze Lemon Juice?
- Little Known Facts about Lemon Juice
- What color should lemon juice be?
- Can you get sick from expired lemon juice?
- What does spoiled lemon juice taste like?
- How long is lemon juice good in the Fridge?
Does Lemon Juice Go Bad?
Yes, lemon juice will go bad eventually at some point. However, the fast the variety goes bad depends on the kind of lemon juice you are having whether it is a freshly squeezed one or a bottled one. In general, freshly squeezed ones will have shorter shelf life compared to bottled ones. The method of storing the lemon juice also has an impact on how fast the lemon juice goes bad.
Refrigerating can be a great way to prolong the shelf life of Lemon Juice. If you have a large batch of lemon juice better to go with the freezing option as it helps to retain the freshness for a long time.
How Long Does Lemon Juice Last?
The shelf life of lemon juice depends on the variety you have. If it is freshly squeezed lemon juice the shelf life will be about a few days provided you store it properly. When it comes to commercially bottled lemon juice the shelf life will be longer than the homemade one as it is loaded with preservatives. Thus, Bottled lemon juice will stay up for a few months as long as it is unopened.
To identify how many preservatives are there in your lemon juice simply have a look at the best by date or sell by date. If yours doesn’t contain too many preservatives the shelf life will be for only days and if it contains more preservatives the shelf life will be for at least a few months.
| Type | Pantry | Fridge |
|---|---|---|
| Bottled lemon juice (unopened) | Best by + 3 – 6 months | |
| Bottled lemon juice (opened) | Best by or 6 – 12 months | |
| Freshly squeezed lemon juice | 3 – 4 days |
How to Store Lemon Juice?
Storing lemon juice is pretty much simple. You can store the freshly squeezed lemon juice in a refrigerator. However, the vitamin C in Lemon Juice will start to degrade much quicker. If you are drinking Lemon Juice for Vitamin C then try to finish it as soon as possible.
A Commercially Packaged Lemon Juice comes with preservatives and it will stay fine in the Pantry as long as it is left unopened. But once you open the lemon juice store it in the Fridge. Freezing can be a great option to preserve Lemon Juice, especially for freshly squeezed juice. simply pour the lemon juice into the ice cubes tray and then use the ice cubes whenever you need them.
Does Lemon Juice Need to be Refrigerated?
Yes, you should keep the Lemon Juice that is freshly squeezed in Refrigerator. when it comes to Unopened lemon Juice you can leave it in the Pantry itself as long as it is unopened. To deal with leftovers you need to store them in an air-tight container sealed tightly and then put it back in the Fridge.
How to Tell if Lime Juice is Bad?
Although it is an acidic substance lemon juice does go bad. If you store the preservative-free lemon juice at room temperature it spoils much more quickly. To decide if your Lemon Juice is good to use or not follow the below-listed signs and decide whether to toss it out or not.
- Color: In general, lemon juice has a light yellow color, and if you notice any darker color i.e. cloudy yellow it’s a sign that your lemon juice has gone bad. If you have stored the lemon juice in an opaque bottle pour it into a transparent glass and see the color difference.
- Odor: If your lemon juice has been kept for a long time it might begin to ferment and the smell will be tangier than usual. In general, you will get a citrus smell from the lemon juice and anything apart from this smell is clearly evident that your juice has become stale.
- Taste: If you feel checking the color and odor isn’t enough to decide the freshness of your juice you can simply taste it to know the freshness. If the taste is too sour better let it go.
- Check for Mold Growth: As lemon juice consists of water it can be a breeding ground for bacteria to get in. If you find any signs of mold or yeast in the lemon juice throw it away and clean the container to prevent further spread of mold in other pantry products.
What Happens if you Drink Expired Lemon Juice?
Drinking expired lemon juice can cause you symptoms of food poisoning. Expired lemon Juice can be a place for mold, bacteria, and yeast if not stored properly. These can cause you serious symptoms after 1-2 days of drinking the lemon juice that has gone bad. You will have symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, and weakness. if all these symptoms last more than 24 hours seek medical assistance from doctors.
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Can You Freeze Lemon Juice?
Yes, you can freeze lemon juice to extend the shelf life of Lemon Juice. Freeze lemon juice in smaller portions if you are one who uses lemon juice on a regular basis. Pop-out what you need and store the rest in the freezer. You can freeze the lemon juice using two methods. One way is to store the lemon juice freshly squeezed in ice cube trays and then use them in small portions. This way you can use lemon juice whenever you require them without disturbing the rest of the cubes.
The second method is to squeeze the lemon juice and keep it in ziplock bags and then freeze it. This method works fine for large quantities of lemon juice and makes sure there is no air trapped inside it. The air inside the zip lock bags will let the oxidation process take place and make it go bad easily.
Little Known Facts about Lemon Juice
To know more about the health benefits and nutritional values of lemons see the following sections. They are along the lines
- lemon juice contains around 5-6% of citric acid.
- It can be used to destroy intestinal worms.
- We can use lemon juice to remove bad odors.
- Lemons are a hybrid between sugar and citron.
- It is rich in Vitamin C.
- Oil extracted from the lemon skin can be used to produce a non-toxic insecticide.
FAQs on Does Lemon Juice Go Bad
1. What color should lemon juice be?
Lemon Juice should be in light yellow color.
2. Can you get sick from expired lemon juice?
Expired lemon juice can cause serious symptoms of food poisoning like nausea, headache, fever, chills, and weakness.
3. What does spoiled lemon juice taste like?
Spoiled lemon juice tastes tangier compared to regular lemon juice.
4. How long is lemon juice good in the Fridge?
Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice stays for about 3-4 days whereas bottled lemon juice will stay about best by date and 6-12 months there after that.
Final Thoughts
Hope the information prevailing on our page regarding Can lemon Juice Go Bad has shed some light on you. If you need any further assistance feel free to write us via the comment box and we will guide you. Bookmark our site to avail latest updates on Can Orange Juice Go Bad and many other drinks-related articles in no time.