Category · Beverages

How long do beverages last?

30 beverages with cited storage and handling guidance. Open an item for its supported periods, state-specific conditions and sources.

Orange Juice Fridge 7–10 days · Freezer 1 year
Apple Juice Fridge 7–10 days · Freezer 1 year
Wine (red, opened) Fridge 3–5 days · Pantry 1–2 days
Wine (white, opened) Fridge 3–5 days
Beer (opened) Fridge ~1 day · Pantry Best the same day (goes flat)
Kombucha Fridge ~1 month
Cold Brew Coffee Package Commercial pasteurized cold brew or concentrate: follow the label after opening · Fridge Up to 7 days (homemade)
Sparkling Water Fridge 2–3 days (fizzy) · Pantry 2–3 days (flat sooner)
Oat Milk (opened) Fridge 7–10 days
Almond Milk (opened) Fridge 7–10 days
Soy Milk (opened) Fridge 7–10 days
Vegetable / Tomato Juice Fridge 7–10 days · Freezer 1 year
Brewed Tea Fridge 3–5 days
Brewed Coffee Pantry best within hours (black coffee quality)
Flavored Milk (packaged, opened) Fridge 5–7 days after opening · Freezer 2–3 months
Smoothie (Blended Fruit / Dairy) Fridge 1–2 days
Coconut water Check the exact coconut-water package. Vita Coco's Tetra Pak can stay outside the fridge before opening. Harmless Harvest's original refrigerated coconut water must stay cold, and its separate shelf-stable line has different directions. Refrigerate after opening and follow that product's label.
Rice milk DREAM says its unopened shelf-stable rice beverage can stay in the cupboard until the printed date or opening. Once opened, refrigerate and use within its 7–10-day freshness guidance. Rice milk labelled keep refrigerated belongs in the fridge before opening too.
Cranberry juice Refrigerate cranberry juice after opening and match the bottle. Ocean Spray’s 60 oz, 27%-juice cocktail gives two weeks for quality and freshness. Lakewood Organic Pure Cranberry 32 oz gives four–six refrigerated weeks after opening, but use that longer quality advice only if your bottle’s instructions match; Lakewood’s general FAQ says two weeks and defers to the label.
Hot chocolate mix Hot chocolate mix is a formulated drink powder, distinct from unsweetened cocoa. Swiss Miss uses a package date for best quality and calls for cool, dry storage. A water-made drink can still contain milk from the mix, so dry-powder date guidance does not apply after preparation.
Milkshake Fresh dairy milkshakes need prompt refrigeration at 40°F (4°C) or below if they are not being served immediately. No universal fridge-days duration is established here. YAZOO UK separately instructs three refrigerated days after opening its long-life flavored milk.
Popsicle (water and fruit ice pops) For ice pops bought frozen, FoodKeeper lists nine months from purchase for quality. Keep them continuously frozen at 0°F (-18°C), follow the package, and do not reuse that period for homemade pops or products that have thawed.
Ice cubes (edible ice) Plain edible ice has no universal expiry countdown in the FDA guidance used here. Make it from safe water, store it in clean food-safe containers, and prevent contamination. Freezing does not sterilize water or make dirty ice safe.
Whole-bean and ground coffee Keep dry roasted coffee airtight in a cool, dark place and follow the package date. FoodKeeper lists 3–5 months after opening for whole beans, two weeks for commercially ground non-vacuum coffee and 3–5 weeks for home-ground non-vacuum coffee. These are separate quality references, not safety deadlines or a promise of peak flavor for that long.
Instant coffee Keep dry instant coffee tightly closed in a cool, dry place. FoodKeeper gives 2–3 months after opening in the pantry as a quality guide. Nestlé Canada separately advises 4–6 weeks for properly stored opened NESCAFÉ Taster’s Choice. Follow the exact product’s label and market-specific directions instead of combining these into one universal period.
Dry tea (bags and loose leaves) Keep dry tea protected in its package or a suitable closed container, and follow the label. FoodKeeper lists 6–12 months after opening in the pantry for both tea bags and loose tea. Its purchase-based guides differ: 18–36 months for tea bags and two years for loose tea. These are quality estimates, not a guarantee that old or damp tea is safe.
Commercially bottled water For commercially bottled water, retain the intact original bottle and observe the date and storage directions on its label. CDC specifically advises observing the expiration date on store-bought emergency water. No universal after-opening day count is established here, and FoodKeeper’s indefinite-storage description is not a guarantee about every bottle or storage condition.
Carbonated soft drinks For opened commercial soda, FoodKeeper gives a 2–3-day refrigerator quality guide. Follow the bottle or can’s directions and keep it covered where practical. The number is a freshness reference, not proof that a particular drink is safe or a universal unopened shelf life.
Bottled lemon and lime juice Follow the exact bottle’s storage directions. ReaLemon’s Canadian FAQ says to refrigerate its lemon juice after opening and refers readers to the Best Before date on the bottle. This is a named-product example, not a universal period for all lemon or lime juice. Fresh-squeezed, untreated and chilled juices require their own instructions.
Ready-to-Drink Protein Shakes Ready-to-drink protein shakes are sold in both shelf-stable and refrigerated formats. OWYN and Ripple state that their sealed RTDs do not need refrigeration before opening, but their opened-product instructions and freshness periods are brand-specific. Check the exact package rather than applying one shake’s direction to another.