Can you freeze orange juice? Yes, with headspace
Can you freeze orange juice? Yes. How much headspace to leave, how long frozen juice keeps, how to thaw it and why it can separate.
Yes, you can freeze orange juice. Pour it into a freezer-safe container with room for the liquid to expand, freeze it at 0°F and thaw it in the refrigerator. Store-bought juice keeps best for 8 to 12 months, fresh-squeezed for only a few weeks. The juice may separate a little, so give it a good shake.
Can you freeze orange juice?
Yes. Juice is mostly water, so it freezes solid and thaws back into juice. Freezing is a handy way to save a carton before it runs out its refrigerator time, or to put away extra fresh-squeezed juice when oranges are cheap.
Two cautions. Liquid expands as it freezes, which breaks full containers. And freezing doesn't kill bacteria, it just pauses them. FSIS notes that bacteria already present can start multiplying once food warms above 40°F, so thaw in the fridge.
How can you freeze orange juice?
- Pour juice into a rigid, freezer-safe container such as a plastic tub or a wide-mouth freezer jar. Colorado State's preservation guide recommends rigid containers for liquids.
- Leave headspace for expansion, using the table below.
- Wipe the rim dry, seal and label it with the date.
- Freeze at 0°F.
| Container | Pint | Quart |
|---|---|---|
| Wide-top opening | 1/2 inch | 1 inch |
| Narrow-top opening | 1 1/2 inches | 1 1/2 inches |
Those headspace figures come from NCHFP's headspace chart for juices. Freezing in ice cube trays is another good option: pop the cubes into a bag and drop in a few at a time. For fresh-squeezed juice, the Colorado State guide says you can add a little sugar or ascorbic acid, but unsweetened works fine too.
How long does orange juice keep in the freezer, and how do you thaw it?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Best quality | Store-bought juice: 8 to 12 months at 0°F (USDA FoodKeeper), the same window NCHFP gives fruit. Fresh-squeezed juice: FoodKeeper lists only 2 to 3 weeks, so use it sooner |
| After thawing | Treat it like opened juice. FoodKeeper gives opened store-bought juice 7 to 10 days in the fridge and fresh-squeezed juice 2 to 3 days |
| Best thawing method | Refrigerator, at 40°F or below (FSIS) |
| Refreeze? | Not worth it. Quality drops each time |
Frozen food held at 0°F stays safe indefinitely, so the freezer times are about taste, not danger. Once it's thawed, though, treat it like opened juice. Our orange juice storage page covers how long opened juice lasts in the fridge.
When in doubt, throw it out. USDA guidance is that frozen food kept at 0°F stays safe, so the time limits here are about quality. If something smells off, looks slimy or was thawed on the counter, don't taste-test it.
What changes when you freeze orange juice, and how do you use it?
Pulp and juice can separate during freezing and thawing, so you may see a watery layer on top. Stir or shake it and it comes back together. Fresh-squeezed juice tends to taste a little flatter than it did the day you made it.
Don't have room to thaw a whole container? Frozen juice works well straight from the freezer in smoothies, popsicles, marinades and punch. Cubes also keep a pitcher cold without watering it down the way plain ice does.
Other foods you can freeze like orange juice
See the full can-you-freeze-it guide, or try:
- Can you freeze oranges?
- Can you freeze lemons?
- Can you freeze applesauce?
- Printable freezer storage chart
Orange juice freezing FAQ
Can you freeze orange juice in the carton?
It's safer to pour it into a rigid, freezer-safe container with headspace. A full carton has no room for the liquid to expand, and NCHFP's headspace chart calls for room in every liquid pack. For soda in cans and bottles, see can you freeze soda.
Can you freeze fresh-squeezed orange juice?
Yes, the same way. Leave headspace and freeze at 0°F, but use it sooner than store-bought juice: USDA FoodKeeper lists only 2 to 3 weeks in the freezer for freshly squeezed juice.
How long is orange juice good after thawing?
Treat it like opened juice: FoodKeeper gives opened store-bought juice 7 to 10 days in the fridge and fresh-squeezed juice 2 to 3 days. If it smells fermented or fizzy, throw it out.
Want to keep track of what's in your freezer?
Frozen food gets forgotten fast. Add what you have to Well Stockd and it estimates an expiration date for fridge and pantry food from typical shelf life, with the food closest to expiring at the top of your list. Freezer items don't get an estimated date, so write the freeze date on the package. Try it free and add three foods from your kitchen to see what you can cook. Our guide to the best apps for tracking expiration dates compares the options if you want to shop around.
Sources: NCHFP, Headspace to Allow, NCHFP, How Long Can I Store Frozen Foods, Colorado State, Freezing Citrus Juice, USDA FoodKeeper, FSIS, The Big Thaw, FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart.