There is always a carton in the door of the fridge that nobody remembers opening. It might be Sunday’s mimosa juice or the half-gallon from two weeks ago. Orange juice is one of the few things in the morning routine that really can turn, and the answer depends on which kind you bought. A chilled carton, a shelf-stable box, a can of frozen concentrate and a glass squeezed at home follow different rules.
Does orange juice go bad?
The short answer: Yes. Unlike soda, orange juice is perishable once it’s open, and a refrigerated carton has a date for a reason. Florida’s Natural does not recommend using its juice past the Use By date and suggests finishing an opened carton within 7 to 10 days. Shelf-stable juice can sit in the pantry until it’s opened, then belongs in the fridge. Fresh-squeezed and unpasteurized juice are the riskiest, and FDA says to keep untreated juice refrigerated. We found no federal or university time limit for juice squeezed at home, so we don’t print one.
For a complete pantry storage reference, see our Food Storage Guide.
Does Orange Juice Go Bad: At a Glance
Refrigerated carton, unopened
Follow the date on the carton. Florida’s Natural does not recommend using its juice past the Use By date
Refrigerated juice, opened
Florida’s Natural suggests within 7 to 10 days of opening, and Minute Maid says some products must be used within 7 to 10 days, as noted on the package
Shelf-stable juice, unopened
Minute Maid says it can be stored at room temperature, 64 to 75°F, or colder
Shelf-stable juice, opened
Refrigerate it, per Minute Maid
Fresh-squeezed or unpasteurized
Keep refrigerated. FDA says labeled juice that hasn’t been treated may contain harmful bacteria, so ask about juice sold by the glass
Left out of the fridge
USDA’s general rule for perishable food is no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F
Swollen carton, fuzzy mold, or a fizzy, sour smell
Pour it out; don’t taste it
Key Takeaways
Orange juice does go bad, and the type you bought decides how: chilled, shelf-stable, frozen concentrate, or fresh-squeezed.
For a chilled carton, the printed date and the days-after-opening guidance on the package are the rules that count.
Shelf-stable juice is fine in the pantry until it’s opened. After that it belongs in the fridge.
FDA says untreated packaged juice must carry a warning label and should be kept refrigerated. Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems face the most risk.
Time out of the fridge adds up: the general rule is 2 hours, or 1 hour when it’s above 90°F.
A swollen carton, mold, or a sour, fizzy or alcoholic smell means the juice is done.
What “Pasteurized” Means on an Orange Juice LabelFDA’s standard for pasteurized orange juice, 21 CFR 146.140, says the juice is heat-treated to reduce enzymatic activity and the number of viable microorganisms. A chilled product is named “chilled pasteurized orange juice.” Juice proce
