A Guide To Pomegranate Juice Storage And Shelf Life

If you buy more than one bottle or don’t drink yours fast enough, you may be asking, can pomegranate juice go bad?

Pomegranate juice can go bad. How long it takes to go bad depends on the packaging, brand or freshly juiced. Fresh pomegranate juice will last for three days in the refrigerator. If unopened, packaged pomegranate juice can last up to 18 months or by the expiration date. Once it is open, it must be refrigerated and consumed in two weeks or by the expiration date, whichever comes first.

This blog post will cover the different packaging used for pomegranate juice, fresh juice and how long each one will last.

Fresh Pomegranate Juice Storage

As a Certified Health Coach many clients ask me about food storage including pomegranate juice. Also, I purchase and consume it almost every day. Therefore, I have researched this topic in the past and present. Let’s examine the storage methods closely.

Did you make your own pomegranate juice fresh from the fruit? If so, the juice should be refrigerated immediately.

Typically, freshly squeezed juice will last in the fridge for about two to five days. If you’d like to keep it longer, it can be frozen and will last up to six months.

Pomegranate Juice Packaging

All fruit juices come in different packages and this can seriously affect the shelf life of the product and then it can also affect the lifespan of the juice. This is true whether it is opened and in the refrigerator or closed and on the shelf.

Always check the expiration dates listed on the packaging and be guided by those dates. The dates will differ by manufacturer and when your juice was packaged and shipped.

You have probably noticed they come in different packaging, and this is what you should look out for.

Plastic Packaging

Because of the structural integrity of plastic packaging, it’s best to keep your fruit juice in the refrigerator at all times. If unopened, the juice will go bad by the date printed on the bottle. Typically after opening, the juice will remain good for about two weeks.

The pomegranate juice I buy and recommend, POM, says once opened it should be consumed in two weeks or by the expiration date printed. Unopened, use it by the expiration date¹. If needed, POM can be contacted at this phone number, 877-450-9493.

pomegranate juice in plastic bottles. — Pomegranate juice in plastic

Glass Bottles

Once extremely popular for almost every beverage, many companies have switched to other materials. Glass is heavy, breaks easily and cost more money to ship.

On the other hand, glass is an effective barrier for the juice, resistant to temperature, non-toxic, odorless, transparent and looks good. Most glass bottle juice can be stored on a shelf and has to be consumed by the expiration date on the bottle. After opening, typically the juice will remain good for two weeks.

A popular pomegranate juice sold in a bottle is made by Lakewood. The company states to refrigerate after opening and use within two weeks.

If the bottle remains unopened and stored on the shelf, refer to the expiration date on the bottle². You can also call the company if there’s any doubts. Their number is 1-866-324-5900.

POM Pomegranate juice on a shelf in my fridge. — My favorite Pomegranate Juice in my fridge

Pomegranate Juice In A Can

Pomegranate juice packaged in a can should last up to 1 year outside of the refrigerator. You should still try and store it in a cool area or an area that is at least room temperature. Once opened, you must place the juice in the refrigerator and consume it within 3 days.

One thing that you can do to prolong the lifespan of the juice is to keep it in the refrigerator even when it is closed. It is also important to note you should always keep in mind what the expiration date is.

If you canned fresh pomegranate juice, it may turn brown and lose its flavor. Consider adding two tablespoons of lemon juice which may help preserve the flavor and color³

Cardboard Packaging

Cardboard packaging can be recycled easily and is environmentally friendly. In addition, it’s low cost, light weight and convenient. When it comes to withstanding pressure and maintaining air tightness, it takes a backseat to the other packing materials.

Pomegranate juice stored in cardboard like juice boxes or higher quantity boxes should last up to 18 months outside of the refrigerator. Most people would recommend consuming it within 12 months. Once opened, you must place it in the refrigerator and consume it within 3 days.

Again, be mindful of the expiration date and try your best not to store the juice in warm areas of the pantry or kitchen.

Keep Your Pomegranate Juice Refrigerated

Once you have bought your pomegranate juice and brought it home, there is a right way and a wrong way of storing it. Again, as we mentioned above, fruit juices have different types of packaging. Depending on which one you bought, cardboard or plastic, you would need to store your juice accordingly.

For me, it doesn’t matter whether it is plastic, glass or cardboard, I tend to always store my fruit juices in the fridge because refrigeration will help items last longer⁴.

That being said, with pomegranate juice and other fruit juices in cardboard or cans, you can keep it out of the fridge until its respective expiration date unless your choice says differently on the package.

Once the juice has been open, you’ll need to store it in the fridge or else it will go bad very quickly.

pomegranate juice in a glass and pitcher. — Pomegranate juice

Does Unopened Pomegranate Juice Go Bad

Pomegranate juice goes bad whether it’s refrigerated or stored on the shelf and whether it is opened and unopened. This is just an unfortunate reality when it comes to food or beverages.

A company that sells pomegranate juice cannot really add many preservatives to their fruit juice lineups and then claim the juice is 100% natural and healthy. So in most cases and especially when you see that the juice is 100% pomegranate, it will go bad faster than if it had chemicals to preserve it.

Depending on which brand you purchased or the packaging, how long it takes to go bad may differ. Always check the expiration dates on your particular package.

Why Does Pomegranate Juice Go Bad?

Pomegranate juice, like all fruit juices, does in fact go bad and this can be a little bit frustrating to people. In this section, I’m going to discuss why exactly fruit juice, more specifically, pomegranate juice goes bad.

You have to start with the pomegranate itself. As soon as it starts budding on the tree, it starts the ripening process. So when the pomegranate does just start budding, it has a high concentration of acid and a very, very small concentration of sugar.

For the pomegranate to become ripe, the acid to sugar ratio needs to change, and this is a natural process. It is where the sugars become more concentrated within the pomegranate and the acid levels drop.

This process does not stop until the pomegranate is bad. The sugar within the pomegranate will start fermenting, and this is what causes the pomegranate to go bad. So, even though all the juices have been squeezed out of the fruit to make pomegranate juice, the sugar content within the juice will ferment to a stage where the pomegranate juice is not good anymore.

How Can You Tell If Pomegranate Juice Is Bad?

Being able to tell whether or not your pomegranate juice is bad will help you prevent any situations where you accidently pour your guests a glass of bad juice. It will also help you determine whether or not you need to restock your juice from the grocery store. How to tell if your pomegranate juice is bad:

If your pomegranate juice has any mold, then obviously it’s bad. If it looks normal, you’ll need to smell it and maybe take a small taste. If the pomegranate juice is bad, it will have a sour smell and a bitter taste. Always check for the expiration date on the package and note what date you opened the package.

Also, check your expiration date prior to purchasing your product in the store and compare it to the other bottles.

Find out if pomegranate juice or beet juice is better in my article, Pomegranate Juice or Beet Juice: An in-depth Comparison.

If you have any questions to ask me about this article don’t hesitate to comment below or email us. You can find an email on our contact page.