Old, unpasteurized orange juice has extra tang
I've been buying unpasteurized orange juice recently for its richer flavor, as compared to pasteurized OJ. I've had some sitting in the fridge for about a week, and upon tasting it just now I noticed an extra tang that I'm pretty sure was not there when I first bought it. I presume this is due to some new acid in the juice that has formed from the breakdown of other components of the juice as it aged. I quite like this additional complexity of the flavor, but I am curious: What is it? In particular, what acid might I be tasting?
Best Answer
It is almost certainly a fermentation - opened juice does not keep for a week in the fridge. So you got some bacteria in it which are creating tangy byproducts (lactic or acetic acid). It is a method of creating fermented drinks such as cider (or even fruit wine), but without following a tested process, you cannot be sure if some of the bacteria may be harmful. So it is not safe by today's standards.
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Does expired orange juice ferment?
In short, it ferments over time. It will result in a beer- or wine-like juice, and if you think that's a good thing, it's not.How can you tell if orange juice is bad?
If the juice just appears slightly darker, then it's still okay. To confirm whether or not the color change is unusual, sniff the juice and if it has a rancid smell then it's time to let it go. The final way is to taste the juice. If the juice has a rancid or off flavor, then it's gone bad.Is unpasteurized orange juice safe to drink?
Most juice in the United States is pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. The remaining small percentage of juice sold is unpasteurized. Unpasteurized juice may contain harmful bacteria that could make some people sick.Why is my orange juice carbonated?
So, returning to your orange juice, once it has been opened, it is exposed to yeasts in the atmosphere. These start to ferment the sugar in the juice, forming alcohol and CO2 and thus making the juice fizzy.Pasteurized versus Unpasteurized Orange Juice
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Answer 2
I just opened a jug of unpasteurized orange juice that had been sitting in my fridge for a couple of weeks (as long as I've ever let it sit) and got a huge wallop of what I'm pretty sure is vinegar. So I believe the acid in question is acetic acid.
Answer 3
What is it? In particular, what acid might I be tasting?
Could be all kinds of stuff. In any event, you can be almost certain that a changing flavor of unpasteurized OJ is due to something not very healthy. Example literature.
If you really like the acidic flavors, consider purchasing pasteurized OJ, and then adding Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate. Or even food grade citric acid, a common ingredient in Sherbets.
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