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As all lovers of freshly squeezed homemade juice (vegetables or fruits), the best time to drink your own juices is immediately after squeezing or extracting them. Sometimes, however, you overdo it and don’t have time to drink it all, or maybe you just want to have some on hand for those times of the day when you won’t have access to your wine press.
Whether you are on a juice detox diet, or just a fan of fresh juice, this guide will teach you about all aspects of healthy storage of freshly squeezed juices.
8 things to know to store your juices properly
1. Plan carefully
How much juice will you and your family need? What are your favorite fruit juices? Think about these simple little questions and keep them in mind when shopping.
This will eliminate waste and excess amounts that exceed your needs.
2. Use a traditional type juicer
If your intention is to consume the juice you prepare more than 24 hours after squeezing it, it is recommended that you use a traditional, slow-type juicer; this includes the following models: juice extractors, twin screw presses and hydraulic juice presses.
The juicers that are gaining popularity these days produce juices that don’t keep longer than 24 hours.
Cold-pressed juices, on the other hand, can keep for up to 72 hours (sometimes even longer). In addition, so-called ‘slow’ presses have a better yield and will produce more volume of juice than centrifuges.
Here is the Happiness and health selection of 3 models that will not disappoint you:
3. Always use fresh and organic products
This is almost obvious. Fresh, organic produce doesn’t contain pesticides or harmful chemicals, so your juice is healthier and tastier. In addition, in the absence of pesticides and chemicals, the juice keeps better and longer.
Organic products also have the advantage of not having been genetically modified.
4. Put your squeezed juices away immediately
As with water, air and direct sunlight tend to affect your juices over time. For best results, squeeze your fruit and veg straight out of the fridge, and store them as soon as they’re ready.
This will keep your juices fresh for longer.
Adding lemon to your juice can also increase its shelf life.
5. Use an airtight jar or container and avoid plastic.
Avoid plastic bottles and vials as much as possible, even if they are BPA free. We will explain in detail a little later how this is crucial.
6. Fill all containers up to the rim.
If you store your juices in a mason jar or container, be sure to fill it to the top. This will prevent too much air (oxygen) in the jar, and slow the oxidation of the juice.
7. Use labels on your bottles
Your juice is going to look very different from the fruit or vegetable it comes from, especially if you combine and blend them. It will help you to know right away whether what you are about to drink is grape juice or onion juice!
Label your jars with transparent tape that will be easy to remove or change.
8. Never add ice cubes
Since your containers and jars will be filled to the brim, remember never to put them in the freezer, especially if they are made of glass. If your jars are made of glass, in fact, the juice at the freezing point would make the walls of the glass explode and increase in volume.
Either way, freezing is bad for the taste of your juice and you would be sure to notice this if you thaw it.
How long can I keep the juice once squeezed?
If you carefully follow the instructions provided here, you should be able to keep your juice for at least 3 days (72 hours), maybe even longer. The reason why it is essential to shelter your juice as soon as it is prepared is that it is particularly vulnerable to the natural process of oxidation.
Oxidation, the combined effect of air and sunlight, impoverishes the quality of your juice and eventually makes it undrinkable. The oxidation process is the same process that causes rusting on metals and turns apples black as soon as you slice them.
What takes place within the juice is that in the absence of the skin of the fruit or vegetable there is no longer any protection against oxidation, and the oxygen molecules attack on the flesh of the fruit or vegetable in question.
The oxygen then manages to start a combustion of the cell walls of the vegetable or fruit, and this is what causes brown spots or decomposition to appear.
If you think about it, basically a juice is a liquefied set of cells of fruits or vegetables – as long as it remains well bottled, in a dark, cool place, oxidation is delayed. Oxidation begins as soon as you peel the product and place it in the juicer, and so is inevitable.
However, you can delay it using the instructions presented here.
Your options for jars and bottles
1. Canning jars
Canning jars are inexpensive, and there are even brands that have a tight seal, which will allow your juice to keep even longer. The metal hook will prevent oxygen from entering the jar.
The only other precaution to take is to protect the juice from the sun’s rays, but that worry is taken care of if you place the jar inside the refrigerator.
The canning jars are dishwasher safe, making cleaning a breeze. Personally, I particularly like those who have a handle.
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2. Glass bottles
For those of you who want a more convenient container to take with you on the go, glass bottles can be very practical solutions. Get one with a small handle; they are ideal when you are on the move during the day.
Glass bottles offer the same advantages as canning jars, apart from the airtight lid of course.
Some glass bottles are sold with a silicone sleeve that is placed on the glass to prevent condensation and reduce the harmful effect of light. Some bottles have a size and shape that allows them to be added to your child’s lunchtime sandwich box.
3. Glass decanters
If you like to entertain guests or if you frequently squeeze large amounts of juice, an airtight carafe may be the perfect solution for you.
Glass carafes have a larger capacity than canning jars or glass bottles, and some even have an internal compartment where you can place ice in order to refresh your juices without diluting them.
Other models have an infuser that allows you to add aromatic herbs or whole slices of fruit, without having difficulty removing them later.
4. Steel cups and jugs
When you want to squeeze large amounts of juice, steel carafes are even more practical than glass ones. Steel is lighter than glass and prevents light from entering once the cover is closed.
A steel bottle won’t break if you accidentally drop it either, so it’s an ideal small-size solution for families with children or pets. If you get a thermos model, the contents will also stay cold for a long time.
Plastic containers and bottles are strong, lightweight and inexpensive, but they do leak chemicals and toxins into your food and drink.
In addition, plastic is always porous, which means that oxidation takes place slowly, and decomposition begins.
The ban on BPA does not have the impact that we think either because plastic still contains certain chemical traces that are harmful to health.
However, eliminating a particular chemical does not make plastic containers any better for you. This is the reason why some countries have started banning the sale of plastic bottled water.
Chemicals of concern found in plastic include phthalates, which interfere with the proper functioning of the immune system, and polyvinyl chloride, which is carcinogenic.
Bonus: Discover all our juice recipes and their benefits
Conclusion
If after 72 hours your juice changes color or taste, throw it out. Do not take the risk of consuming a juice if you are in doubt as this can cause considerable health problems.
The best way to keep your juices fresh is to prepare it in a slow juicer, store it in a container that isn’t made of plastic, and consume it as quickly as possible. These precautions will guarantee its nutritional value.
Good juice preparation!
Photo credit: Pixabay – .graphicstock.com