Storing fresh juice: How to juice like a pro with tips for preserving fresh juice

Freshly squeezed fruit juice is heavenly. It’s not only full of flavour, but also those all-important vitamins and essential nutrients.

Whether you go for a simple glass of homemade orange juice or you want to explore exciting vegetable juice blends like avocado and radish, the right juicer makes it easy to achieve the best taste, texture, and quality.

However, fresh juice has an unfortunately short shelf life, as its vitamin content decreases shortly after preparation. Therefore, preserving fresh juice you’ve squeezed at home takes a little more thought. You’ll need to know how long can you keep it cool and how you might go about freezing fresh juice.

Our handy guide below will help you make the perfect homemade juice and offer guidance for the best way to store fresh juice to preserve it for a simple, delicious vitamin kick!

How to make the perfect juice

Before we show you how to store fresh juice, you need to squeeze some! A variety of products on the market that are ideal for making juice at home. If you want to know more about how to choose the perfect juicer, we have you covered in this simple guide.

Juicing methods

There are two main types of juicing.

• Steam juicing: This method uses steam, which heats the fruit, removing enzymes and concentrating your juice.
• Cold-pressed juicing: This method uses a hydraulic press to extract juice from fruit and vegetables.

Cold-pressed juicing has a clear advantage. Whenever fruit is heated, it loses enzymes and vitamins, but when it comes to pressing the juice you cannot go wrong: just put the fruit in the juicer, turn it on and enjoy a delicious, freshly squeezed juice.

Choosing your juicer

When choosing the juicer is it worthwhile taking a little time to investigate the differences between the different models available. Each one will influence the taste, consistency, and nutrient content of your vitamin-packed drink in a different way. In addition, they could also affect the shelf life of the fresh juice they help you make. Here is our simple guide to the two most common types of juicer.

• Centrifugal juicer: Of course, you can just use a hand blender to make juice. However, this not only costs strength and time, but it also costs vitamins.
  
  A good-quality device like the Philips Avance Collection Juicer has a closed system where the juice is poured directly into the glass or a jug to store fresh juice in the fridge.
  
  This reduces oxidation and vitamin loss. Thanks to the Avance offering two different juicing levels, you can also choose between thinner or thicker consistency.
  
  
• Slow Juicer: As the name says, the juicing process happens slowly and therefore is gentler, but don’t let the name confuse you. Although most slow juicers have a lower RPM, they still give you a glass of fresh juice in no time. Slow? Hardly. Gentle? Indeed! This also means more taste.
  
  The Philips Viva Collection Masticating juicer, has a unique design without a sieve that enables you to clean it in under a minute. Its wide opening allows you to squeeze whole, peeled, and pitted fruits where necessary.
  
  Another key benefit of the Philips Masticating Juicer is that it delivers up to 90% of the nutrients from fruits and vegetables thanks to its innovative low-rpm MicroMasticating technology*.

How to store fresh juice without losing nutrients 

If you’re wondering how to store fresh juice, then look no further! Here are a few answers to the most frequently asked questions about preserving fresh juice so you can enjoy your favourite, healthy home-squeezed juice for longer. 

How long does fresh juice last?

The length of time freshly made juice lasts varies depending on the type of juice you have made. For example, fresh orange juice lasts two to three days in the fridge, whereas fresh pineapple and lemon juice can last four to five days. However, if you freeze your juice, it can last 12 to 16 months. 

Another effective way to extend the shelf life of your homemade juice is by using vacuum sealing. Modern juicers and blenders like our High-Speed Vacuum Blender use vacuum technology to remove air from the container before blending, which significantly reduces oxidation. 

As a result, your juice stays fresher for longer, with more retained nutrients and vibrant flavours.  

What is the best way to store fresh juice?

This depends on how long you want to keep it, and whether you wish for it to maintain its vitamins and nutrients.

Keeping your juice in the fridge ensures that it loses fewer vitamins than it would if stored at room temperature. Preserving fresh juice in the freezer will allow you to store it for longer plus relatively few nutrients are lost.

What container should I store fresh juice in? 

Selecting the right storage container is essential to maintain the freshness, flavour, and nutritional value of your homemade juice. Consider the following factors when choosing containers for storing your fresh juice: 

• Glass vs. plastic: Glass containers are better to use than plastic containers, as they are free from harmful chemicals and an oxygen barrier, ensuring your juice remains fresh 
• Airtight seals: To keep the juice fresh and extend its shelf life, choose airtight containers to lock in the flavour and prevent oxidation  
• Opaque containers: Use containers that are opaque or dark to protect the juice from light as it can degrade the juice’s Vitamin C  
  

How can I get more nutrients in my fresh juice?

When using fruits with edible peel – like apples, for example – don’t peel the fruit first. The peel is full of vitamins and nutrients, which makes ideal for freshly squeezed juices.

Including the peel in your juice can help to extend the shelf life of the vitamins, as well as increase the nutritional content of the drink from the outset.