Dangerous breakfast mistake: How orange juice makes you sick

Whether for breakfast, as a refreshing drink, or to boost the immune system: orange juice is a morning ritual for many. However, the juice shouldn't be exposed to air for too long, as this could damage it.

Leave orange juice out in the open: Here's what you should pay attention to.

If juice is exposed to air for too long, it can often change color and develop a bitter taste. During pressing, cells are damaged, and polyphenol oxidase is released. This then reacts with oxygen, leading to the oxidation of polyphenols and vitamin C.

This doesn't just apply to orange juice; other fruit juices can be affected as well. However, juices with a high vitamin C content oxidize more slowly than juices with a lower vitamin C content.

Although the oxidation of orange juice is not harmful in itself, it leads to the loss of valuable nutrients. If the juice is left open for too long, it can also spoil – this is recognizable by an unpleasant, sour smell. To prevent this, fresh orange juice should not be left outdoors for more than two hours, and in warm weather, no more than one hour. Otherwise, according to reliable sources, bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli could multiply.

As soon as the juice comes into contact with oxygen, the oxidation process begins. To prevent this and increase shelf life, packaged orange juice is often heated or treated with substances that inhibit oxidation. However, the significantly healthier option is to drink freshly squeezed orange juice.

How to store orange juice correctly

The best thing to do is drink orange juice immediately and not leave it exposed to air for too long. However, if you do have any leftovers, we have a few tips for you on how to best store orange juice:

• Add lemon juice: Adding a little lemon or lime juice to the orange juice can significantly slow oxidation thanks to ascorbic acid.
• Use sterile, airtight bottles: Transfer the juice into an airtight bottle. Narrow bottles are better than wide bottles because they have less contact with air.
• Store in the refrigerator: Regardless of the container you use, chill the juice as quickly as possible. In the refrigerator, the juice is protected from heat and light.
• Ideally, you should not store the juice for longer than 24 to 48 hours, otherwise the vitamins will be lost.

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