Leaving Juice out on the counter can be an easy mistake, especially for busy parents and college students. Perhaps you fell asleep for the night just to wake up and find your juice still sitting on the counter. What should you do? Can you still drink it? 

You should avoid drinking juice that has sat at room temperature for more than 2-3 hours. All perishable foods run the risk of contamination and bacterial growth when left at warm temperatures. The longer the time they have been left out, the greater the risk of food poisoning.

Are all juices the same when it comes to their shelf life? Do they all grow bacteria at equal rates? How can you tell if your juice has gone bad? Keep reading to learn all these things and more!

How Long Does Opened Juice Last at Room Temperature?

As a general rule, juice of any kind should be stored within two hours of being left out at room temperature.

The type of juice and how it was processed can impact this time frame, though. As a rule of thumb, though, the FDA recommends throwing away perishable foods after 2 hours at room temperature. 

Some juices have a longer shelf life at room temperature than others. Pasteurized and processed orange juice has the longest shelf life at room temperature. This is because orange juice is naturally very acidic, while pasteurization kills off most of the bacteria during processing.

Some popular brands which fall under this category include Tropicana, Simply Orange, and Minute Maid. 

These brands can be left out on the counter for 4-6 hours without running a high risk of contamination. Although, it is always better to keep your juice refrigerated to avoid food poisoning. 

Other juices, such as unpasteurized, less acidic juice, will not last long on the counter. These include grape juice, cold-pressed juice of any variety, and vegetable juice. Vegetables and some fruits have a much lower acidic content making them more susceptible to bacteria growth and fermentation. 

What is Cold Pressed Juice Versus Regular? 

Cold pressed juice is made by applying pressure to fruits and vegetables to extract the juice. There is no heat or oxidation in this process which ensures the maximum amount of nutrient retention. Cold pressed juices include fruit, vegetable, and some non-dairy milks. 

Cold pressed juices retain almost all of their natural nutrients. Most juices are made through a heated method, such as boiling to draw out the juice into the water. This creates a juice concentrate, which depletes some of the vitamins and nutrients in the process. 

Cold pressed juice is just squeezed at very high pressure, without any heating or fermentation. Although, this variety of juice has a much shorter shelf life, even when stored in the fridge. Most cold-pressed juice should be consumed within a week if left unopened. 

You should throw it away if left on the counter for more than an hour in a room above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 degrees Celsius). If below this temperature, you might be able to drink it within 2 hours but be cautious. 

Can Old Juice Make You Sick?

Drinking old juice can make you sick if it has developed food poisoning bacteria. These include E. Coli and salmonella bacteria. However, drinking old juice will not usually make you sick and may only taste off due to fermentation. 

Sealed juices that are properly stored can last up to 12 months on the shelf at room temperature. Once opened, these juices should be refrigerated and consumed within 1 week. 

Cold pressed, and other unpasteurized juices should be consumed within 3 days after opening. This variety stands the greatest probability of making you sick if you consume it after it has expired. This is because it was never heated and therefore has the greatest potential to spoil and grow bacteria. 

Age is not always the best determining factor as to whether or not juice will make you sick, though. Juice that has aged will likely become fermented and alcoholic. This will probably taste unpleasant and may cause discomfort, but it will not harm you. 

Although, there is no real safe way to determine whether the bacteria in your juice is safe. Therefore, you should play it safe and avoid drinking expired juice. Expired juice with salmonella or other food-borne bacteria can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. 

How to Tell If Juice Has Gone Bad

Taste and smell are the best determining factors as to whether juice has gone bad. If juice tastes off, fermented, or otherwise unusual, you should stop drinking it. If it smells moldy or musty, there is a good chance it has spoiled and should not be consumed. 

If you see mold floating on the top of your or spot it growing on the sides of the bottle, you should not drink it. Even though some varieties of mold are harmless, others can be deadly and cause severe symptoms. 

If you are unsure if your juice is moldy, check to see if it looks cloudy. Cloudy juice indicates the presence of bacteria and fungal spores and should be avoided. 

Juice that smells fermented or rancid might be transitioning away from being juice into alcohol or vinegar. Much as the names indicate, red wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar are all made from aged alcohol. 

All fruit juices go through a fermentation process as they age. The sugars in fruit juices get consumed by food-safe bacteria which causes the juice to become alcohol. As this alcohol ages further, it becomes increasingly acidic until it is no longer alcohol but vinegar. 

Most of the time vinegar and alcohol are fermented in controlled environments. You should not drink your juice if it tastes or smells like vinegar or alcohol, because the bacteria might be bad for you. 

How Should Juice Be Stored?

Open juice should always be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Never leave the bottle exposed without a cap to prevent cross-contamination. Sealed and unopened juice should be stored in a cool dark room out of direct sunlight. 

Opened

Open, pasteurized juice has a refrigerated shelf life of 1-2 weeks. Juice should be stored in its original container with the lid on. If you purchased the juice in a bag or the bottle was damaged, then you should move it into another container with a lid. 

You can use a gallon-sized pitcher or quart-sized canning jar to store your juice if the original container is damaged. Just make sure your juice is always covered. If you do not have a lid, you can use plastic wrap or foil as a replacement lid. 

Unopened

Unopened, bottled juice can be stored for up to twelve months unopened. It should be kept away from direct sunlight and in a cool, dry area. A basement or pantry is your best bet for keeping these juices fresh and unspoiled for the longest time. 

Sunlight can damage the container and cause it to warp. If the container looks warped or bent, you should be careful before consuming it. It’s possible the seal was broken and the juice spoiled. 

Juice which has not been ultra high heat pasteurized must be refrigerated, even when unopened. These can stay in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, unopened. 

Should All Types of Juice Be Stored the Same Way?

Juices are generally all stored the same way. They must all be refrigerated or left unopened and sealed and kept in a cool place on the shelf. They must all be kept inside their original containers or stored in a covered plastic or glass container. 

Each type of juice has a different process by which it is preserved and varying levels of sugar and acid. Sugar and acid are natural preservatives that can extend juice’s shelf life and make it less susceptible to spoilage. 

Although all opened juices should be kept in the fridge, they each have a different shelf life. Be more careful about how you store vegetable juices, and ensure they have a cool environment at all times.

Fruit juices are the most resistant to spoilage. This is especially true for acidic juices such as lime, lemon, and orange. Orange juice can last for up to two weeks in the fridge. Unsweetened lemon and lime juice can be stored for several months n the fridge.

To protect yourself, mark the bottles after you open them so you can keep track of how long they have been opened. If you do not have a lid, then you should not store your juice for longer than 2 days to avoid cross-contamination.