When we extract juice from apples using an apple juicer, we think about how we have to preserve the apple juice for extended periods. To provide the longevity of juice, we should know the exact process of how to pasteurize apple juice properly.
Table of Contents
What Is Pasteurized Apple Juice?
Pasteurization is a unique way to provide longer Juice shelf life. It is a process of killing the germs or bacteria that are responsible for spoiling the apple juice within a short possible time.
When you want to pasteurize apple juice, you have to heat the liquid below the boiling points to kill the bacteria. Most Juice Companies in the U.S.A use the pasteurization method to kill the bacteria and ensure a longer shelf life of the juice.
If you buy unpasteurized juice that is kept in the refrigerator, you have to see the following warning on the label that are suggested by FDA–
WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.
So before buying apple juice from any super shop, see the warning label on bottles, cans, and boxes.
Does Pasteurized Apple Juice Have Nutrients?
You probably drink juice to get the full nutritional value that the juicing elements contain. if you would like to store the fluid for up to two to three months, you must preserve the apple juice using the pasteurization method.
But you probably wonder whether pasteurized juice has full nutrients or not. It would be best if you remembered that the pasteurization method is used to kill the bacteria not to spoil the nutrients entirely. To ensure less spoilage of apple’s nutrients,
The juice heats up below the boiling point. The more heat you put in, the more nutrients spoils. Pasteurization of juice may spoil the nutrients with bacteria but on a little scale.
To ensure maximum juice nutrients, most juice processing companies heat the apple juice at about 85°C and for up to 16 seconds to destroy bacteria. These juices are as nutritious as the unheated liquid.
Does Pasteurized Apple Juice Taste Different?
We all know freshly squeezed apple juice tastes best if we use a masticating cold press machine instead of a fast centrifugal juicer. The fastest juicer creates much oxidation which gives us foamy apple juice and reduces juice’s natural taste.
We even don’t know how the pasteurized apple juice tastes. The taste depends on how much heat needs to boil the fluid as a process of pasteurization. The much heat tends to reduce the natural taste of liquid than the less heat.
On the other hand, if we drink unpasteurized juice that is already fermented for being left out for more extended periods unrefrigerated, we may suffer from many food-borne illnesses.
Besides, this juice gives a bit of sour flavor. Some companies sell unpasteurized apple juice in the market with the permission of the government. Therefore, to avoid any unforeseen mishap, you have to stay away from drinking unpasteurized juices though they taste like fresh juice.
Should You Pasteurize your Apple Juice?
Whether you would pasteurize juice or not, depends on how long do you want to preserve the squeezed apple juice? Generally, to get full health benefits from apple juice, we have to make fresh apple juice with the best greens.
But, sometimes we could not drink concentrated juice at a time. It may be for our busyness or other personal reasons. Therefore, to provide longer juice shelf life, we can pasteurize the apple juice for up to two-three months or even further.
If we leave out the juice for more extended periods without refrigerating or pasteurizing, the juice may spoil sooner. When we drink the left-out juice later, we face several health issues. Pasteurization helps kill harmful bacteria and gives more extended juice shelf life.
Why Do Companies Pasteurize Juice?
Most of the commercial juice processing companies sell pasteurized apple juice. They pasteurize juice at 80°C-95°C to kill all harmful bacteria. This pasteurization process ensures retaining all-natural nutrients and natural taste.
Apart from that, as juice companies need longer juices shelf life, this preservation method helps them preserve the juice for up to one year to two years. Besides they don’t want to take the risk of being charged if someone gets sick by drinking unpasteurized liquid. On top of that, any sue can badly blemish their goodwill. So to stay in the safe zone, they pasteurize their apple juice.
How long does homemade pasteurized apple juice last?
If you wish you can preserve the apple juice for more extended periods. Though many people claim that homemade pasteurized apple juice can keep up to 1-2 years, it is applicable for commercial purposes.
It would be best if you did not store the juice for longer periods. Homemade Pasteurized juice is a shelf-stable juice that is sorted out to store for two-three months. It is stored in a way that the fluid should not be kept in the refrigerator if stays unopen.
But when you open the can or sealed box of pasteurized liquid, you should preserve the juice in the fridge. Thus, keep the opened pasteurized juice in the refrigerator to prevent it from fermenting and retains its longevity of the juice.
How to pasteurize apple juice
Before going through the pasteurization process, you have to do the following things.
- Choose fresh apples
- Wash the apples properly
- Throw out the bruised apples before juicing
- Extract apple juice using a slow juicer instead of a high-speed juicer
Apple juice pasteurization process at home:
You have to follow several steps to pasteurize freshly squeezed apple juice at home.
- Pour the fresh juice into a pan, leaving some space on the top to boil the liquid properly.
- Keep the pan on a stove and turn the burner on. Keep an eye on the juice, whether it starts heating or not, and stir the liquid now and then. You can use a double boiler for getting a better result.
- When the juice starts simmering, measure the temperature using a thermometer, make sure you heat the fluid at 75°C. To get a proper temperature reading, use the thermometer over the pan instead of the sides of the pan. Heat the juice for about 1 minute at 75° degrees Celsius if you directly place the pan on the stove. If you use the double boiler to heat the fluid, Heat the liquid for about 15- 20 minutes at 75° degrees Celsius.
- Now take a Mason jar or glass bottle. Boil them for about 15 minutes to sterilize properly.
- Pour the hot pasteurized apple juice into the pots and close the lid tightly for getting longer juice shelf life.
Read more:
