How to store juice, boxes
Best place: the pantry until opened, then the fridge. Unopened, juice, boxes keeps until the date on the package in the pantry. Once opened, the fridge gives 8 to 12 days.
Use by the package date
8 to 12 days
after opening
No guideline
How to tell juice, boxes has gone bad
General signs for beverages, the group USDA lists juice, boxes under.
- Fizzy drinks that have gone flat or taste metallic
- Sour or curdled smell from opened juice or milk alternatives
- Cloudiness or separation that will not shake back together
- Cork pushed slightly out or wine that smells like vinegar
- Mould ring forming at the neck of a bottle or carton
More on beverages. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Refrigerate opened juice, milk alternatives and any dairy-based drinks, and use them within about a week. Store unopened cans and bottles upright in a cool, dark spot away from direct sunlight. Keep coffee and tea in airtight containers away from heat and moisture to preserve flavour longer.
How to store other beverages
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.