

Brown spots also indicate the lemon is going bad. Any discoloration, particularly white or black areas are likely to be mold growing. If part of your lemon is moldy, it’s better to discard the entire fruit. Unlike some food items, because of the high moisture content, mold can spread a lot further than you anticipate, and you may not always be able to detect it. With the whole fruit, it’s easy to tell when a lemon is past its prime. Both lemons and lemon juice can go bad, growing bacteria and making you sick if consumed.Ī fresh lemon should be firm to the touch and have a uniform, bright yellow or greenish skin. While washing your produce can remove dirt and may reduce pesticide exposure, bacteria are a constant we all deal with. Spoiled juice may also lose any inherent flavor – so if your juice is strangely tasteless, it’s probably past its prime. Again, if there are any odd flavors in there other than the familiar lemon taste, better to discard it. If you detect any smells other than fresh lemon, throw it out. Lemon juice that is turning or has turned will become darker. Bacteria, mold and yeast can grow, and you can potentially get food poisoning if you consume old lemon juice. Lemon juice can and will go bad, particularly if not stored in the fridge or freezer. In the freezer, it will be okay for up to 12 months before losing some of those delicious qualities – although still safe to consume following that. Processed, store-bought lemonade can last around two weeks in the fridge when unopened, or one week once opened. It will last for up to one week when refrigerated correctly, or two to three months in the freezer. Lemonadeįreshly squeezed lemonade should be consumed within one day if not stored in the fridge. The bottled alternative will keep much longer than fresh lemon juice. While lemons are acidic enough to have their own preservative properties, they do contain water, and water is a breeding ground for bacteria. While it should still be safe to consume the juice a few months after this date, it gives you a good idea of how long the juice will remain tasty. As a general guide, check the expiry date. The more preservatives, the longer the juice will last. Most store-bought versions will have preservatives added. In the freezer, the longevity is again indefinite. In the fridge, once opened, it can last up to six months. Unopened, you can store bottled (commercial) lemon juice in the pantry for around a year. SEE ALSO: How Much Juice Is In One Lemon Bottled Lemon Juice Fresh Lemon Juiceįreshly squeezed lemon juice that you aren’t using should immediately be stored in the fridge, where it can last for two to three days, or the freezer, where it will still be usable after three to four months.įresh lemon juice is susceptible to bacteria contamination from the peel – if you can’t use or freeze fresh lemon juice within three days, it should be discarded. Both cut lemons and whole lemons may get a bit mushy when stored in the freezer for long periods.
