Cranberry juice cocktail lasts in the pantry for six to nine months. The juice will last for the same amount of time in the refrigerator. Ocean Spray cranberry juice stays fresh in the pantry for two to three weeks.
If the juice develops a sour smell, it is no longer safe to drink. Cranberry juice should be discarded if it changes color. If the juice container starts to swell or if the container bursts, the cranberry juice should be thrown away immediately. The swelling of the container is due to micro-organisms from the air that get into the juice and cause the cranberry juice to ferment.
