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Does Lemon Juice Go Bad? All You Need To Know!

In this blog post, we will cover all you need to know about lemon juice. Does lemon juice go bad? We will dive deeper into shelf life, how to store it properly, and spoilage.

Today you’ve discovered there’s half a bottle of lemon juice left, probably from that great feast, you hosted a few weeks ago. You know it’s past the date on the bottle and you wonder if you can finish it or not. Is it still good or has it gone bad already?

If the lemon juice is bottled or freshly squeezed, one thing is certain, it will go bad eventually but the question is when.

You’re in the right place!

Enjoy your read

How Long Does Lemon Juice Last

Here, we’ll start with a nice overview of the period when your lemon juice should be good. Please always check if your lemon juice is still good or already has gone bad.

Lemon JuicePantryRefrigerator
Unopened bottleBest-by date + 3 to 6 months
Opened bottleBest-by date + 6 up to 12 months
Selfsqueezed lemon juiceUp to 4 days
Periods of how long lemon juice can last, are indicative, always use your senses

We will talk about 2 types of lemon juice, fresh lemon juice and bottled lemon juice (shelf-stable).

Fresh Lemon Juice

Lemon juice that is squeezed on the spot from fresh lemons will last up to 4 days maximum in the refrigerator, assuming everything is stored in an airtight and sealed container.

Always use this period of a maximum of 4 days for your decision-making.

If you happen to stock a large number of lemons, squeeze them and save them by freezing the lemon juice you don’t need and using them in your other dishes or even cleaning (2nd life).

Fresh lemon juice comes with a lot of advantages, it’s fresh, tastes good, and doesn’t contain any additives that prolong the shelf-life. It means it is less protected from external threats like light and heat sources.

Always try to consume or process it as fast as you can, within the first few days or the first day if possible.

You can opt for freezing the lemon juice. Just like orange juice or other juices, it can be a great idea to store them in your freezer in small ice cubes and drink them in the summer with a glass of water. Very simple and refreshing, you and your kids will love this!

You could also use the rest of the lemon juice in other recipes or dishes. You can always freeze some of that dish also.

If you think about what you need, you might not need to freeze or cook the leftovers away, to begin with!

Bottled Lemon Juice

Bottled lemon juice is different from freshly squeezed lemon juice and had some additives added to it to lengthen shelf-life. If the bottle is unopened and unrefrigerated, it can last up to 2 months past the date on the bottle. You can say up from 6 to 12 months after it has been opened. You should check which date of these 2 comes first.

Store-bought lemon juice that’s sold unrefrigerated is made from concentrate that’s mixed with water.

This concentrate contains some additives and is pasteurized to battle the bacteria changing the taste and form of your lemon juice.

Always check the best-by date or label on the bottle, this will give you an indication of quality. It doesn’t mean it will be very bad to drink. When it comes to best-by dates and consumables, producers don’t put long dates on them, assuming there’s some margin left. But always do check yourself!

But what if you are way past this date on the bottle?

Lemon Juice Past Expiration Date

We’ve already covered that unopened and unrefrigerated lemon juice can last a few months past the best-by date, but how long after you’ve opened it?

The quality will decrease but it should be okay within 1 to 3 months after opening for the first time.

Always write down on the bottle the date when you opened it for the first time. If you already know you won’t drink it all, freeze, bake, or cook the leftovers away so you don’t have to throw them away.

How Can You Tell If Lemon Juice Has Gone Bad

Like all other foods and drinks, lemon juice will eventually go bad.

Going bad means the process of decreasing quality first. That’s why foods and drinks have a date printed on their bottles or packs. That gives us an idea of when something will be less good to consume if unopened.

Shelf-stable lemon juice won’t go as fast bad compared to freshly squeezed lemon juice. If you use the product on a daily basis, you won’t notice something is different from before.

You can look at these classic signs to decide if something goes bad:

  1. Does the lemon juice have a weird color? Do you see colors changing or something odd? This might indicate that the bacteria have done a great job already.
  2. Does the lemon juice pack seem a bit expanded? Does it have some black spots on it? Do you see some white chunks in the juice? This can indicate that the bacteria have gone far already.
  3. Do you smell something funny or unpleasant? A strange smell indicates that the lemon juice has gone bad. Discard it.
  4. Does the taste is different from normal? Something unpleasant? You’ll note this because it will taste less like lemon juice, but still to some level.

On GoodOrGoneBad.com, we’d like to guide you but in the end, it’s you that has to make the decision. Trust your senses, your intuïtion and whenever you’re in doubt, just don’t drink it or use it.

Please make strict use of the periods we give you and do your own tests. Don’t be a hero drinking “fresh” lemon juice that’s a week old. Just don’t do it and buy yourself new lemons or lemon juice. Your stomach and well-being will thank you for that.

Now that you know more about when lemon juice will go bad, we can go deeper into the subject of how to store them.

How To Store Lemon Juice

Lemon juice should be stored in a dark and cool place, away from sources of light and heat. Other juices like orange juice, are also stored this way.

Light and heat, temperature fluctuations are bad news for lemon juice. The pantry or some other place in your kitchen will do great.

When you don’t use it, thus pouring lemon juice into your glass, make sure you put it back and sealed thoroughly. Either put it in the pantry or back in the refrigerator. If you do put it in the fridge, try to stash it in the fridge itself, not the fridge door as this is the less cooled area of your fridge. This shouldn’t be a big threat when you don’t open the fridge a lot during the day.

A common rule is also applicable for lemon juice, store it in the same way you’ve bought it in the store. Did you buy in the refrigerated section, store it in the refrigerator, otherwise in the pantry, not the other way around!

Remember to store freshly squeezed lemon juice in the refrigerator because these lemons are mostly cooled. Room temperature won’t do!

Should You Refrigerate Lemon Juice

Yes, you can always opt for refrigerating lemon juice. You have a “choice” when you’ve bought shelf-life lemon juice. If you’ve bought lemon juice in the refrigerated section of the store, you’ll have stored it in the refrigerator, that makes sense right?

If you invest more time and squeeze the fresh lemons yourself, be sure to store them in the fridge because they will decay fast if not stored in the fridge.

Remember: once in the refrigerator, they must stay in the refrigerator for storage.

Always, if you’ve too much lemon juice, you can freeze them.

Can You Freeze Lemon Juice

Yes of course. A lot of people don’t know or realize this but you can freeze lemon juice perfectly for later use, be it for drinking or for use in another recipe.

You can freeze them in small ice cubes and use them in a glass of water in the hot summer months for a great refreshing drink.

Enjoy your lemon juice!