Does Juniper Go Bad?

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Juniper is a fruit that looks just like berries. Commonly they are known as Juniper berries. Juniper is not a shelf-stable product. The color of Juniper is blue-black, and they are very fleshy and sticky. There are a lot of benefits of Juniper.

People who love to eat Juniper don’t want it to go bad at all. Therefore, we recommend you take great care of Juniper so that you can enjoy its delicious taste for a long time. If you don’t know anything about Juniper, then you are at the right place. This article will briefly discuss Juniper and the ways you can store it for a long time.

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How to Store Juniper?

The shelf life of fleshy fruits is not too big. Therefore, you need to store them properly so that they can last for a long time. Every juniper lover will never like to see his Juniper going bad.

If you have bought some junipers and don’t know how to store them, don’t worry. Some important storage guidelines that will help you in storing junipers are explained below.

Store in a cool and dark place

If you are confused that whether you can store Juniper at room temperature or not, then don’t worry, we are here to tell you. You can store Juniper at room temperature if it is not too hot. Too high temperatures are not suitable for junipers. Heat can affect the quality and freshness of Juniper.

Therefore, we recommend you store them in a cool and calm place. If you live in the areas where the temperatures are not too high, you can store Juniper in the pantry or the kitchen for a few days.

Dry the Juniper

You can extend the shelf life of juniper berries by drying them. Dried juniper berries can last for a very long time. If you want to use the Juniper in the cooked dishes, you can dry them for long-term storage.

Store in refrigerator

If you want your juniper berries to last for a long time, then you can store them in the fridge. The fridge provides a cool and calm place for the Juniper to last for a long time. Juniper berries can last for few months in the refrigerator.

If you store dried juniper berries in the refrigerator, they will last for a couple of years. It is because the dried juniper berries have a long shelf life.

Seal them properly

Air and moisture can affect the quality of Juniper. So, you should use airtight containers or plastic bags to store the juniper berries. It will keep the moisture away and will keep them fresh for a long time.

Can You Freeze Juniper?

For long-term storage, you can store the juniper berries in the freezer. The freezer will extend the shelf life of the juniper berries. You must keep the juniper berries in an airtight container before storing them in the freezer.

You can store the juniper berries as a whole in the freezer. You can also store the dried juniper berries. Before storing them in the freezer, pack them in an airtight container or freezer bags. Juniper berries can last for a long time in the freezer.

How Long Does Juniper Last?

Like other fruits and berries, Juniper is not one of the shelf-stable fruit. It could go bad very quickly if you failed to store it in the right conditions. Therefore, storage is very important for the life of juniper berries.

A whole juniper berry can last for almost three days at room temperature. At the same time, the shelf life of dried juniper berries is way too long. It can stay fresh for almost two to three years. If you store the juniper berries in the fridge, they can last for a few months; I have already mentioned that the dried juniper berries have a longer shelf life.

Freezing will extend the shelf life of fleshy juniper berries up to five months, whereas dried juniper berries can stay fresh for four years.

How to Tell If Juniper Is Bad?

To tell whether the juniper berries are bad or not, you will have to look at some common signs of spoilage. If the common traits of juniper change with time, then you should check them before using them. The following things may help you in telling whether the juniper berries are fresh or not.

If mold grows in the juniper berries, then it gets spoiled. So, if you notice any dark spots or molds on juniper berries, get rid of them at once.
The common color of fresh juniper berries is bluish-black. If it changes to yellow or pale, then you should not use it as well.
Change in the smell is another common sign of spoilage. If you Juniper smells bad, then it’s time to get rid of them at once.