Pomegranate juice comes from the tasty, ruby red seeds found in pomegranate fruit. Pomegranates are usually picked in the fall and have a tough outer skin. Inside, you’ll find lots of little seeds, which are juicy and a bit sweet and sour.
People make juice from the seeds. You can sip it by itself, or add it to drinks like smoothies or cocktails for some extra flavor and health benefits. Pomegranate juice is not just yummy, but it’s also good for you and a nice thing to have in your diet.
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Can Pomegranate Juice Go Off?
Just like most fruit juices, pomegranate juice can indeed go bad if you don’t store or handle it the right way. How long it lasts before it goes bad depends on how it’s made, how you keep it, and if you’ve opened it yet.
If you have a bottle of pomegranate juice that’s not opened yet, and you store it in a cool and dry place, it can often stay good for months after the date on the label. But once you open it, you need to drink it pretty fast or put it in the fridge. If you do chill it, it should be okay for about a week.
If your pomegranate juice has a sour taste, looks cloudy or dirty, has mold on it, or smells funny, then it’s not good anymore. Don’t drink it if you see these signs, to avoid getting sick.
Keep your pomegranate juice in the fridge to make it last longer, and make sure to enjoy it while it’s still fresh. Also, keep it away from places where it’s hot or bright, since that can make it go bad quicker.
How to Know if Pomegranate Juice Is Spoiled?
Signs That Pomegranate Juice Has Spoiled:
- Bad smell: If it smells off or sour, it’s probably not good anymore.
- Change in color: If the juice isn’t clear or has a strange color, it might have gone bad.
- Mold: If you see dark spots or anything that looks like mold, you should throw it out right away.
- Weird taste: When the juice tastes different, especially sour or strange, it’s likely spoiled.
- Fizzing or bubbling: This could mean it has started to ferment, so you should not drink it.
If you think your pomegranate juice might have gone bad, it’s better to throw it out to avoid getting sick.
How Long Does Pomegranate Juice Last?
The life of pomegranate juice before it goes bad can vary based on different things like how it’s processed, where you keep it, and if the bottle has been opened. If you haven’t opened the bottle and you store it in a spot that’s cool and dry, usually it can stay good for a few months past what the expiration date says. But once you open it, it’s best to either drink it right away or keep it cold in the fridge.
If you squeeze your own juice from pomegranates, it can be good for up to five days if you put it in a container that seals tight and keep it chilled in the fridge at a certain temperature, between 32-40°F (0-4°C). Juice that you buy from the store and then open can also last around that long in the fridge. It’s important to keep the juice out of the sun or heat to help it stay fresh longer.
Should you see or smell anything that suggests the juice has gone bad, like a sour odor, taste that’s not right, funny colors, or mold, throw it out right away. These signs could mean the juice is contaminated and could make you sick.
What About Juice You Squeeze Yourself?
Fresh juice you squeeze yourself from pomegranates doesn’t last as long as the juice you buy because it doesn’t have preservatives. It can stay fresh for different lengths of time depending on how you store it and if it’s been through a process like pasteurization, which kills bacteria.
Keep freshly squeezed pomegranate juice in a container that’s sealed well and store it in the fridge at 32-40°F (0-4°C). This way, it should be good for about five days. Don’t leave it out at room temperature for too long (more than a few hours), because that will make it spoil faster.
For the freshest and best-tasting juice, drink it soon after you squeeze it. Keep it in a tightly closed container and away from sunlight or warmth to help it stay good longer.
