There is a jug of cider from the orchard in the refrigerator, a bottle in the pantry, and half a pot of mulled cider on the stove. They aren’t the same product, and the numbers online run from 2 days to 4 weeks. Here is what the makers and the agencies actually say, including where they differ.
Does apple cider go bad?
The short answer: Yes. Fresh, unpasteurized cider has the shortest clock. FDA says it should be kept under refrigeration, and Iowa State puts the standard period at two weeks, or one week after opening. One mill gives its own cider 10 to 14 days from purchase. Pasteurized cider runs four weeks or more, per Iowa State. A sealed shelf-stable bottle lasts for years for quality, and Martinelli’s gives an opened bottle 5 to 10 days. Frozen, cider keeps about a year, per two mills. Left out, it has about 2 hours.
For a complete pantry storage reference, see our Food Storage Guide.
Does Apple Cider Go Bad: At a Glance
Fresh, unpasteurized cider
Keep it refrigerated. Iowa State: two weeks, or one week after opening. Ritter’s: 10 to 14 days from purchase
Pasteurized refrigerated jug
Iowa State: four weeks or more. Cold Hollow lists about 6 weeks. Go by the date on the jug
Shelf-stable bottle, unopened
Martinelli’s: 3 years in glass, 2 years in plastic, from production, for quality
Opened bottle
Refrigerate it. Martinelli’s says 5 to 10 days
Frozen
About a year for quality, per two cider mills
Hot or mulled leftovers
Refrigerate within 2 hours. We use USDA’s 3 to 4 days for leftovers
Key Takeaways
Yes, apple cider goes bad, and the type matters more than the brand. Fresh unpasteurized cider has the shortest clock, and shelf-stable bottled cider has the longest.
FDA says untreated juice and cider should be kept under refrigeration and are required to carry a warning label, except when sold by the glass.
Sources give different numbers: two weeks, or one week after opening (Iowa State), 10 to 14 days (Ritter’s), 2 to 3 weeks (Christ Orchard) and about 6 weeks (Cold Hollow). Martinelli’s says 5 to 10 days once a shelf-stable bottle is opened. Pages that print 2 days to 4 weeks cite no source.
Our rule: follow the date and the maker’s window on your jug. If there is none, we’d use fresh cider within a week of opening and no more than 10 to 14 days from purchase, and freeze what you won’t finish.
Fizzing, foam, a sour or vinegar smell or mold means throw it out. Iowa State says a bulging jug of unpasteurized cider can be harmless yeast activity, but a normal look doesn’t prove cider is safe, and we don’t suggest tasting it.
Which Kind of Cider Is This?
FDA’s juice safety page says untreated juice is required to carry a warning: “This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria.” Untreated juice is most likely sold in the refrigerated section. Treated products are sold there too, as well as in frozen cases and in non-refrigerated bottles, boxes and cans. FDA does
