If you are looking for health benefits of tomato juice and how to prepare it, how long it stays fresh, and anout its shelf-life, then you are at the right place. If you are curious to know the answer to ‘does the tomato juice goes bad?’, the answer is “Yes”; both commercial jar or homemade fresh juicehave a specific time limit.
In this article, we give you the whole information and tips and tricks to prevent your tomato juice from spoiling, and how you can store it for a longer time, so keep reading:
Tomato juice is very nutritious for health and taste good as well. Tomato juice is a valuable ingredient in many cocktails, Indian curry, and sauces. It is a highly refreshing beverage full of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B, and potassium. It is a good source of lycopene antioxidants, which decreases the risk of inflammation and heart disease, and a few cancers.
New research in the Journal of Food and Nutrition says that we should add fresh unsalted tomato juice to our daily diet reducing low blood pressure and cholesterol and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
How long can tomato juice last:
Commercial juice or freshly homemade juice can have a different shelf life. If you have appropriately frozen the freshly homemade juice and put it into the completely sealed in an airtight container and put it into the refrigerator, it will last for six months, but it’s advisable to consume it immediately to get more benefits and taste.
The commercial juice available in markets is processed and comes in bottles which makes its shelf life last longer for a few months until its opened; all bottles have an expiry date on it which shows after opening the bottled juice, one should consume it between 7 to 10 days time period, as after that, it becomes unpleasant and unhealthy to use.
How to detect if the tomato juice is spoiled:
If it’s been more than 24 hours that you’ve prepared the fresh juice and you are suspicious or confused about its quality, whether it is still usable or not, here are a few ways you can check the tomato juice:
1- If you find any mold in it, then it is undoubtedly spoiled so quickly throw it away.
2- Check the color of the juice; if you see discoloration, then it might not be useable anymore.
3-A sour smell is an indicator that tells the tomato juice has gone sour.
4-If its odor smells like vinegar or alcohol, then definitely you need to toss it away.
5-If you can not recognize whether the tomato juice is appropriate to consume by seeing and smelling it, you might take a sip; if it tastes awful, then it is not fit for use, and definitely very risky for your health.
6- Properly check the container and bottle in which you have preserved the juice; if you found any leakage, dent, or rust, throw the juice, and don’t take any chance with your health.
7-If you forget about an open container of tomato juice left in the fridge for more than ten days, the tomato juice has surely fermented by then, so throw it out.
How to preserve tomato juice for a longer shelf life:
For longer shelf life of freshly homemade juice, the process starts even before making the juice. Firstly, you have to choose very fresh seasonal tomatoes which are free from bruising. Wash these tomatoes under warm water or properly sanitize with a soapy solution.
After removing the core, cut it finely, and don’t discard its juice. Put the tomatoes in a non-aluminum bowl and boil it for 20-25 minutes until the mixture is smooth and soupy, then blend the mixture and strain to remove the skin and seeds. Add and mix well the salt, sugar, and pepper for the taste (completely optional); again boil it for 5 minutes, then move the pot away from the heat and let the juice cool down.
Finally, pour the juice into a sterilized airtight jar and leave some clear space from the head-side, close the lid, and clean the sides of the jar. Now, you can preserve this juice for six months in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but remember, once you open the jar, consume the tomato juice within a week.
1-Use the tomatoes to make the juice within three days of purchase.
2-If you think the above mention period is too short for storage of the juice, don’t forget to freeze your leftover juice into an ice cube tray for longer use.
3-If you buy tomato juice cans, make sure to pour the leftover into an airtight, completely sealed container, to protect it from spoiling.
4-If you buy a tomato juice carton, make sure to pour it down completely into another airtight resealed jar and ensure it doesn’t come in contact with air as it eventually leads to spoilage; it also helps prevent microorganisms from growing inside the carton. Do this if the carton is open in the fridge and past its date.
5-There are the juices available in the market labeled as unrefrigerated (no need to put in the refrigerator) before opening the jar; just put it into cool and dark places. Always check whether the jar is properly sealed and whether it is used or not.
6-Always check the expiry date on cans and cartons before buying them. Never drink or use expired juice because it grows many tiny microorganisms that are very harmful to your health and will make you sick.
There are plenty of health benefits of drinking the tomato juice, but there are also some demerits of its excessive use, combined with unhealthy cooking styles, which can give you various diseases as well such as acid reflux, bloating, allergies, skin rashes, diarrhea, lycopenodermia, joint pain, kidney stone, and prostate cancer. So, make sure you don’t use tomatoes excessively and consult a nutritionist or dietician before adding them into your diet.
Edited by Anupama Roy
