Is Unpasteurized Apple Cider Dangerous? Here’s What Experts Say

I love fall traditions: pumpkin spice, decorative gourds and cozy cups of apple cider. Farm stands usually have the freshest, richest apple cider—but is unpasteurized apple cider safe to drink? Before you stop to sip a cup—or share one with your kids—here’s what you need to know.

What is unpasteurized apple cider?

All apple cider is made from the juice of apples, often niche or heirloom types of apples. Unlike clear apple juice, apple cider is unfiltered, meaning that it’s full of tiny particles of apples, giving it a distinctive, cloudy appearance and robust flavor. Apple cider is raw and unsweetened, which makes it a fairly healthy fresh drink—but it will also go bad quickly. (Eventually, it will turn into apple cider vinegar!)

Most apple cider, especially commercially made apple cider, is pasteurized, or treated with heat to kill bacteria. This extends its shelf life and makes it safer to drink. But smaller cider producers don’t always pasteurize their cider. Since 1998, the FDA has required that jugs or containers of unpasteurized apple cider be clearly labeled. Cups of apple cider, however, are not legally required to have a warning label. If you’re buying cups of apple cider from orchards, farmers markets or roadside stands, you may want to ask about their process.

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Is unpasteurized apple cider safe to drink?

Unpasteurized apple cider is generally safe to drink, as long as it’s fresh. Store it in the refrigerator, even if you haven’t opened the container. Use it within one week, or freeze it in an airtight container for up to one year.

That said, the FDA recommends that children, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system avoid drinking unpasteurized apple cider. Since it isn’t heat treated, it may contain harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, which can make people seriously ill.

If you’re worried about drinking unpasteurized cider, bring the cider to a simmer on the stove and heat it to at least 160° F before serving. In fact, warm spiced cider is a traditional and easy treat: Heat cider with sugar, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg and serve in cozy mugs with a cinnamon stick garnish. You can also cook with apple cider, adding it to pies, doughnuts and soups.

If you’re wondering how hard cider fits into all this—it doesn’t. Hard cider is made by fermenting apples with yeast to create a fizzy alcoholic beverage. Regular apple cider doesn’t have any alcohol, making it a family-friendly drink after a hay ride or a tasty topper on sweet rolls.