You dropped the kids off at school. And got through your favorite hot yoga class. Win.
But now you're starrrving. You reach into the back of the fridge only to find that your favorite green juice is now brown. If this sounds like you, you are not alone. Life gets busy and the back of the fridge can quickly turn into a grocery graveyard.
The struggle is real...but it doesn't have to be. With the right knowledge, you can learn to keep your juice fresh, recognize signs of spoilage, and enjoy the benefits that raw juice has to offer.
Understanding Our Juicing Process
Raw juices are made by running fresh fruits and veggies through a cold press juicer. They are gently pressed into a nutritional liquid without the use of high temperatures (unlike other types of juicers like high-speed juicers and centrifugal juicers, which use heat).
After juicing, most companies use treatments like high-pressure processing (HPP), pasteurization, and adding preservatives for a longer shelf-life. These practices can compromise nutrition, freshness, and taste [1].
Unlike these companies, we never heat or treat any of our products. Instead, we blast-freeze our juices and smoothies immediately after they are produced. Blast-freezing naturally helps preserve the nutritional value of a product, from enzymes to antioxidants, so you can savor those benefits with every sip.
The Benefit of Our Cold-Pressed Juices Vs. Store Bought Juice
Consuming fresh, cold-pressed juice offers a world of difference compared to store-bought pasteurized juice. By refraining from heating and treating, essential nutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants stay intact. Not only are these 100% raw juices providing you with an abundant amount of nutrients with every sip, but they also taste significantly better than chemically treated juices from the grocery store.
The fruits and vegetables in raw cold-pressed juices provide a range of potential benefits, including hydration, digestive support, and concentrated plant-based nutrition. You simply are not getting the same quality from heated and treated juices.
How Long Does Cold-Pressed Juice Last?
Store-bought juices have a longer shelf life than raw, cold-pressed juices due to those high heat and pressure treatments.
Since we skip the use of any such treatments and are committed to using fresh produce daily, our bottled juices do have a shorter window of freshness.
To maintain freshness and help preserve maximum nutritional value, we strongly recommend keeping our products frozen until you are ready to consume them. Thaw the bottles in the refrigerator. Thawing may take up to 48 hours, depending on how cold your refrigerator is. Juices must be consumed within 24 hours of thawing. Never consume juices left out at room temperature or past the suggested 24-hour mark.
How Do I Recognize Spoilage?
When it comes to juice, understanding the oxidation process means trusting your senses. Color, texture, smell, and taste are indicators that your juice may need to be discarded:
Color: Significant changes in color, from vibrant to murky, are typically a warning sign (i.e., green juice turning brown). Note: This is not to be confused with the natural separation in fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
Texture: Chunky or slimy texture indicates a lack of freshness.
Smell: Sour smells are a red flag and are often the most obvious one. This indicates over-fermentation.
Taste: Do not taste the juice if any of the above bullets are suspect. Discard it immediately.
How Can I Prevent Spoilage?
Preventing juice waste is quite simple:
Thawing: Store bottles in the freezer upon arrival and defrost only the number you plan on drinking. Plan ahead, as thawing can take 28-48 hours.
Consume within 24 hours: The shelf life of cold-pressed juices is short. Consume juices within 24 hours of thawing.
Always drink fresh juice: The sooner you drink your juice, the more enjoyable your experience will be.
References:
[1] Hussain, S. et al. (2023). Characterization of Fruit Juices and Effect of Pasteurization and Storage Conditions on Their Microbial, Physicochemical, and Nutritional Quality. Food Chemistry.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new dietary program, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a medical condition.
