How Long does Key Lime Juice Last? 7 Tips for Longer Shelf-life

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Unless you’re someone who uses key lime juice on a daily basis, it can be easy to buy or make juice and set it in the refrigerator. Weeks later, you might find yourself needing lime juice and wondering if it is still ok to use.

If you have ever wondered if your lime juice is safe to use, this article will explain all you need to know about the shelf-life of both store-bought and homemade key lime juice.

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How long does fresh homemade key lime juice last?

On average, homemade key lime juice lasts three to four days. In some cases, it may last up to one week. Make sure to store your homemade key lime juice in a sterile jar in the refrigerator to prevent contamination that speeds up spoilage.

The first step you can take to prevent this happening is storing your key lime juice properly. That is, store it in the refrigerator in a sterile container with the lid closed. Never leave it sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours.

Second, take note of the expiration date on the bottle. Keeping track of this date and tossing it after it has expired can save you a lot of trouble.

Homemade key lime juice has a shorter shelf life because it doesn’t contain added preservatives and it isn’t pasteurized like store-bought key lime juices are.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While preservatives and pasteurization go a long way to keep foods fresh, they also take away from the nutrition and health benefits in several ways.

Some preservatives like sodium sorbate have been linked to genotoxicity.

Chlorine dioxide is another preservative that is used in drinking water and on produce. It has been linked with several health issues and is on the Hazardous Substance List.

Pasteurization is a process in which the food or drink is heated to destroy or deactivate organisms and enzymes that can cause spoilage or disease, including vegetative bacteria. This doesn’t include bacterial spores, however.

The potential problem with pasteurization is that it may destroy beneficial compounds in the food or drink as it destroys bacteria.

For example, vitamin C is an important nutrient found in many foods. It is an antioxidant responsible for supporting the immune system and eliminating free radicals. Key limes happen to have a high vitamin C content. Heat has been shown to destroy vitamin C in studies.

Another benefit to freshly squeezed homemade key lime juice is that it has had less time to sit and oxidize. Oxidization is a chemical process that occurs in key lime juice when it releases an enzyme called polyphenoloxidace.

This enzyme mixes with oxygen to break down the integrity of the juice. In other words, you are getting the freshest possible juice when you squeeze it yourself.

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‌How long does store-bought key lime juice last?

If stored properly, store-bought key lime juice can last up to six months. Whether it is homemade or store-bought, you should always store your key lime juice in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and prevent spoilage.

Most store-bought key lime juice lasts much longer than homemade because it has been treated with preservatives and/or pasteurised.

It can be easy to use store-bought key lime juice and then forget about it, so make sure you take note of the “best by” date on the bottle before you use it.

If it has been a while since you last used the key lime juice and it is very close to the best by date on the side of the bottle, give it a sniff, a small taste, and check out the juice in a clear bowl to make sure it hasn’t grown mold or other bacteria/gone rancid.

Many store-bought key lime juices are sold unrefrigerated because of the added preservatives and the fact that they are sealed.

While it is okay to store unopened key lime juice in the pantry (as opposed to the refrigerator), once it is opened, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator.

Unopened key lime juice stored in the pantry will usually last from six to twelve months, and sometimes up to eighteen months.

Please note that the stated times on the table below are for the best quality. Lime juice will likely remain okay to use for longer periods of time.

Key Lime Juice	Pantry	Fridge
Fresh Homemade	–	2 – 3 days
Store-bought/Premade (unopened)	Up to 12 months or Best by	–
Store-bought/Premade (opened)	–	6 months after opening or Best by

‌How long does unrefrigerated key lime juice last?

When homemade key lime juice is left out at room temperature, bacteria can begin to grow quickly. It will often last up to two hours unrefrigerated, but any longer and you risk food poisoning.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises no more than two hours left out unrefrigerated due to bacteria growth.

Bacteria growth depends on several factors, such as the temperature in your house when you left it sitting out. Bacteria really begin to thrive at temperatures between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your house was very warm and you left your key lime juice out for more than two hours, it is a good idea to throw it out, as it likely grew bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

‌How long does key lime juice last in the freezer?

Frozen key lime juice will last up to four months. While it may last longer than four months in some cases, the flavor can be affected by freezing the juice for an extended amount of time.

Tips for Longer Shelf life

Many store-bought key lime juices are sold unrefrigerated because of the added preservatives and the fact that they are sealed.

While it is okay to store unopened premade key lime juice in the pantry (as opposed to the refrigerator), once it is opened, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator.

Below are tips to help prolong shelf life of both fresh homemade and premade key lime juice.

1. Store in the Refrigerator after Opening

Store opened pre-made key lime juice in the refrigerator. Unopened key lime juice can sit in the pantry and stay fresh so long it is used before expiration.

Homemade juice on the other hand must be stored in the refrigerator or at best frozen for longer term storage.

2. Freeze key lime juice

Freezing key lime juice is an excellent way to extend the shelf life of homemade key lime juice so you don’t waste any.

Simply pour any extra key lime juice you aren’t going to use into ice cube trays and freeze this overnight. The next day, pop them out and store them in a freezer bag.

3. Label Juices Properly

Label everything well and write the date the juice was squeezed on the bag so you know when the cubes are freshest.

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4. Take Note of Best by Dates

It can be easy to use store-bought key lime juice and then forget about it, so make sure you take note of the “best by” date on the bottle before you use it.

5. Confirm Spoilage before Use

6. Store homemade key lime juice in a sterile jar to prevent contamination

Storing any juice you make in a sterile glass jar prevents contamination that can lead to mold, bacteria, and spoilage even faster. Boil a pot of water and place your glass jar inside a few minutes to sterilize it. Then remove it with tongs and set it aside to use for your lime juice.

6. Sit Juice in Cold Water

If you happen to live in areas with no or little electricity, you can place the key lime juice in a mason jar, cover tightly and sit half way up inside a bowl of cold water.

7. Cover Juice with a film of Oil

Cover the juice with a few tablespoons of Oil and let sit in the refrigerator to last longer.

Conclusion

Whether you use homemade or store-bought key lime juice, you can rest-assured you will have the freshest product possible if you follow the recommendations in this article. Knowing when and how to store your key lime juice makes all the difference!

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