In this article, we’re describing cranberry juice. You’ll know what it tastes like, how to store it and what kinds of delicious drinks you can make with it.
Let’s get started…
What Does Cranberry Juice Taste Like?
Cranberries are notoriously sour, but the juice they’re made from is tart and sweet as it contains sugar. Unlike orange or apple juice, cranberry juice really needs the sweetener to be quaffable.
Once it’s been sweetened, it’s very refreshing with a deep, almost cherry-like flavor. Most store-bought cranberry juices are sweeter than they are tart. In contrast, an unsweetened juice will be extremely puckery and bitter.
How Do You Drink Cranberry Juice?
There’s no reason you can’t drink cranberry juice by itself, but it does work well with citrus and sweet fruits in blended juices and smoothies.
Cranberry juice is quite famous as a mixer in both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. We’ll show you some of the tastiest mocktails below.
Did you know you can also cook with cranberry juice? Think of adding it to sauces with fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme or reductions to drizzle over roasted veggies.
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Can You Leave Cranberry Juice Out?
If it’s an unopened bottle that you purchased in the non-refrigerated section of the supermarket, you can leave cranberry juice out of the refrigerator.
But once you open it, you’ll need to store it in the fridge. You can safely leave it out for an hour or two if you’re setting it out at the beverage station of a party, but it’s a better idea to put it on ice.
How Do You Know If Cranberry Juice Is Bad?
Smelling cranberry juice is a good first step to ascertaining its freshness. A funky, fermented or sour-smelling (sweetened) juice is not likely very good anymore.
Mold can also grow in really old cranberry juice, so give a glance, too. Once you’ve opened it, aim to use it within a week or so, but if you don’t have time, just freeze it. You can even make your own cranberry ice cubes for pretty drinks.
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Cranberry Juice Recipe Tips
This is where things get exciting. We’re linking some videos to show you what sorts of brilliant beverages people are coming up with that feature cranberry juice.
The kombucha tea in this mocktail is perfectly matched to tangy cranberry juice.
You’ll need:
- Fresh rosemary
- Ginger root
- Cranberry juice (sweetened or unsweetened)
- Kombucha
- Ice
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The fresh herb garnish is what makes this mocktail as gorgeous as it is tasty.
Here’s what you need:
- Cranberry juice
- Pineapple juice
- Sparkling water
- Ice
- Fresh thyme
- Pomegranate seeds
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Wrap Up
Cranberry juice is intensely sour and bitter if there’s no sugar in it, but most of the time, it’s sweetened and deliciously brisk. Add it to smoothies, cook with it, give sauces a fruity twist or turn it into fun mocktails. Anything bubbly like kombucha or sparkling water will make it special.
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Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
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