How Long Does Apple Juice Last?
Opened apple juice lasts 7–10 days in the fridge. Unopened shelf-stable bottles and juice boxes keep about 1 year in the pantry. Fresh, unpasteurized apple cider lasts about 1 week refrigerated.
Apple Juice — opened
shelf life- Unopened: 1 year in the fridge
- Fresh, unpasteurized: 1 week in the fridge
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Apple juice is the filtered, pasteurized juice of pressed apples, most often sold shelf-stable in bottles and juice boxes. Fresh apple cider is the same juice left unfiltered and sometimes unpasteurized. Both are sugary and acidic, so once air and wild yeasts get in, the usual fate is fermentation toward hard cider and then vinegar.
How to store apple juice
- Store unopened bottles in a cool, dark cupboard; light and heat darken the juice and flatten its flavor well before the date.
- Write the opening date on the cap, because a large bottle of apple juice easily outlasts its 7–10 days in a small household.
- Freeze fresh cider in plastic jugs with a cup or so poured off first to leave room for expansion.
- For lunchboxes, pack a shelf-stable juice box rather than a cup of poured juice, which will be warm by noon.
How to tell if apple juice has gone bad
- A sharp, boozy or vinegar smell, or a fizzy taste, means it has started to ferment.
- A bottle, jug or juice box that is bloated, or that spurts when opened.
- Cloudiness in juice that was originally clear, or stringy, slimy strands.
- Mold on the surface or around the neck. Sediment at the bottom of unfiltered cider is normal.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Apple Juice shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | 7–10 days | 8–12 months | Not safe |
| Refrigerate right after opening, even if it was bought off the shelf. | |||
| Unopened | 1 year | Not recommended | 1 year |
| Shelf-stable bottles, cans and boxes; best by the printed date. Juice boxes are often dated shorter. | |||
| Fresh, unpasteurized | 1 week | 8–12 months | Not safe |
| Orchard or farm-stand cider. Keep it cold from purchase; it starts fermenting within days. | |||
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Does apple juice need to be refrigerated?
Only after opening, in most cases. Shelf-stable apple juice is pasteurized and sealed, so unopened bottles and boxes live in the pantry. Once opened, it goes in the fridge and keeps 7–10 days. Apple juice and cider sold from the refrigerated case must stay refrigerated from the start.
Is unpasteurized apple cider safe to drink?
It carries a real risk, particularly for some people. Raw cider has been linked to E. coli O157:H7 and Cryptosporidium outbreaks, and the FDA requires a warning label on untreated juice sold in stores. Children, pregnant women, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system should drink pasteurized cider, or heat raw cider to a simmer first.
What happens if you drink apple juice that has fermented?
Usually nothing serious, but it is not recommended. Fermented juice contains some alcohol and tastes sour and fizzy, and uncontrolled fermentation can involve molds as well as yeasts. It should not be given to children. If a bottle is bulging or the juice tastes off, pour it out.
Can kids drink a juice box that was left in a hot car?
An unopened, shelf-stable juice box is still safe after a warm afternoon, though heat degrades the flavor and repeated heating shortens its life. An opened or partly drunk box is different: it should be discarded after 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour in a hot car.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apples Whole |
4–6 weeks | Not recommended | 1–3 weeks |
| Orange Juice Opened |
7–10 days | 8–12 months | Not safe |
| Applesauce Opened |
7–10 days | 8–12 months | Not safe |
| Lemonade Homemade |
5–7 days | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Vinegar Opened |
Not recommended | Not recommended | Indefinitely |
| Coconut Water Opened |
1–2 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
More juice: Smoothies.
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.