So, how long does fresh squeezed lemon juice last? As summer comes rolling in, it is tempting and exciting to make a delicious and freshly squeezed lemon juice! However, this juice does not last forever and you should consider how to store and preserve it.
Drinking old lemon juice after its prime can make you sick! To avoid this, it is important to know the signs when a lemon juice is no longer good. Although lemon juice in stores lasts months, this is not the case for freshly squeezed juice since no added preservatives are in the drink.
The Health Benefits Of Drinking Lemon Juice
There are so many health benefits that you can recieve from making and drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice! First off, lemon juice is primarily made with lemon, water, and sometimes honey or sugar. The lemon ingredient though is what gives the majority of benefits.
You see, lemons are great for weight management as well as surprising hunger. This acidic fruit contains a chemical that expands as it digests, keeping you full and satisfied for longer. There are also other benefits such as drinking or eating something with lemon can increase your chances of upping your iron in-take.
How To Make Your Own Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
It is not hard to make your own freshly squeezed lemon juice. The question is, how long does fresh squeezed lemon juice last? When making a delicious and tangy lemon juice, you should find ingredients that will not go bad quickly. For example, some people use dairy like milk or buttercream. Instead, use a water base.
You will need to squeeze out lemon juice from fresh lemons. Find lemons that are ripe and ready and use a lemon squeezer. I also recommend using strainer to keep the seeds and extra pulp from getting into the lemon juice mixture. It takes a lot of lemons to make freshly squeezed lemon juice!
How Long Does Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice Last?
Once you have your fresh squeezed lemon juice, it is important to consider how long does fresh squeezed lemon juice last? Usually, it only lasts up to four days in the refrigerator, a lot less if you don’t store it in the cold! However, if you want to add lemon juice to your freezer, you can freeze this mixture for up to 3 months before the flavor dullens.
How Can You Tell When Lemon Juice Has Gone Bad?
So, how can you tell when lemon juice has gone bad? How that you know how long does fresh squeezed lemon juice, you need to differentiate between fresh and spoiled lemon juice. When lemon juice goes bad, the juice typically starts to grow mold and produce bacteria.
Before you start seeing the mold or bacteria though, it is likelier that the consistency of the drink changes. For example, the ingredients start to separate. This is especially common if you make fresh squeezed lemon juice with large amounts of pulp and fresh fruit.
4 Ways To Preserve Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
There are a lot of tips and tricks you can use to preserve your freshly squeezed lemon juice longer. Truthfully, though, because homemade lemon juice does not use ingredients with preserves and added chemicals, it won’t last long! Drink your lemon juice before four days or store in the freezer.
1. Not Storing with Fruit
Some people like storing fresh citrus fruits in the lemon juice. As delicious as this sounds, though, the fruit and the pulp can actually cause the drink to spoil faster. Instead, if you want to add more fruits to your drink, do so once it is in a separate cup, not in the storage container or pitcher.
2. Tightly Sealed with a Lid
Don’t forget to place your fresh lemon juice in a container that has an air-tight lid! If the lid is not tight, too much oxygen and excess moisture can get into the container and the lemon juice. While it is tempting to wonder how long does fresh squeezed lemon juice last, your juice won’t last long if you leave it in the refrigerator but without a lid.
You don’t need anything fancy! Many kitchen and household stores sell pitchers with air tight lids for an affordable price. If you have any glass jars, recycle and use them! Plastic wrap is another alternative that could work to preserve your freshly squeezed lemon juice.
3. Refrigerator
The refrigerator is an amazing piece of technology that has changed the world. Now that we can use cooling technology to preserve food, it has made it easier to stock up on food and make your favorite dishes! Lemon juice requires refrigeration since the fruit is fresh and no longer protected by the peel of the fruit.
4. Freezer
Possibly the best way to preserve freshly squeezed lemon juice though is using the freezer! Do you have a lot of leftovers? Make ice pops! If you have an ice pop tray or an ice cube tray, you can freeze the juice for up to 4 months! However, it depends on how you store the lemon juice.
I like storing lemon juice in ice cubes and adding them to ice cold water on a hot summer day! Not only do the ice cubes look pretty, especially if there is fresh and raw fruit, but it melts into the water giving a delicious lemon flavor!
Conclusion
Who doesn’t want a delicious and freshly squeezed lemon juice? This amazing lemonade is wonderful for the hot summer days, especially if you are considering lounging by the pool. While this is the case, it is important to know how long does fresh squeezed lemon juice last. Usually, it is good for about 4 days after you have made it!
What do you think about the answer to how long does fresh squeezed lemon juice last? If you have any other insights about storing, preserving, or making your own fresh lemon juice, feel free to share it down below in the comments section! We are always ready to hear from you!
FAQs
How can you tell if lemon juice is bad?
Old lemon juice is cloudy and gives off a sour and foul odor. Since it is a sour juice though, this can be hard to tell.
How do you preserve fresh lemon juice?
The best way to preserve fresh lemon juice is to refrigerate it in a tightly sealed container!
What can you do with old lemon juice?
You cannot do a lot with old lemon juice. However, you can use old lemon juice mixed with water as an all purpose cleaner, as long as you like the delicious smell!
Will old lemon juice make you sick?
Drinking old lemon juice can make you sick. It also loses flavor and turns into a breeding ground for bacteria.