Maybe you’ve got a few tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice left over from your last baking session.
Or perhaps you’ve just got a half-finished bottle of lemon juice out of your cupboard.
Whatever kind of lemon juice you have, you’ll find answers on how to store lemon juice, how long lemon juice lasts, and how to tell if your lemon juice has gone bad below.
You want quick information?
Commercially-bottled lemon juice will last more than a year if it isn’t opened. But that’s only if it has preservatives in – freshly squeezed lemon juice will only last a few days in the refrigerator, and store-bought lemon juice without preservatives will last 1-2 weeks.
Here’s how to tell if your lemonjuice is bad
Even though lemon juice is acidic, it can go bad, especially if it’s preservative-free – that probably means you’re squeezing your own lemons – or stored at room temperature.
Follow the order of appearance, smell, taste and texture. You should first look out for color changes, such as a change in texture. Then, smell your lemon juice – if it smells different, it’s time for the bin.
Try a small amount of lemon juice if it passes both the smell and appearance tests. Don’t worry – it won’t be unsafe, though it may be unpleasant!
Last thing. If your freshly squeezed lemon juice has been left on the counter for over 24 hours, don’t risk it. Throw it away.
How to store lemon juice
You should immediately put freshly squeezed lemon juice in the fridge. Since this lemon juice doesn’t have preservatives in, the Vitamin C content will start going down fast, so try to finish your lemon juice soon, or only squeeze as much as you need for the day.
Store-bought lemon juice often has preservatives in it, which means it can be stored in the pantry before it’s been opened. Once it’s opened, reseal it tightly and transfer it to the refrigerator.
For store-bought, unpreservative-free lemon juice, you can store it the same as for fresh lemon juice.
How long does lemon juice last?
Expect freshly squeezed lemon juice to last up to 3 days in the refrigerator, provided you’ve followed the storage instructions above.
Lemon juice purchased from a store will keep for more than a year in your fridge, and up to six months in the refrigerator. You should read the instructions for storage on each package, since different preservatives may be used.
Lemon juice from commercially produced lemons without preservatives should not be consumed for more than 1-2 weeks.
Here’s the lowdown on lemon juice
These are some key points to remember about lemon juice
- If you’re squeezing lemon juice fresh from the lemon, only squeeze however much you need that day. The rind of the lemon acts as a protective seal, and once you’ve squeezed the lemon, the juice will start depleting in Vitamin C.
- Lemon juice from stores with preservatives has a shelf life that is more than a year if it’s not opened.
- Lemon juice from a store Preservatives, you can store it at room temperature before it’s open. You can also store it in the refrigerator.
