DecodedGuides

How to store vegetable juice

Best place: the pantry. Vegetable juice is shelf stable and keeps for 18 months in a cool, dry cupboard.

Pantry

18 months

from the package date

Fridge

No guideline

Freezer

No guideline

How to tell vegetable juice has gone bad

General signs for beverages, the group USDA lists vegetable juice 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.