Food and Recipes Drinks The Difference Between Apple Cider and Apple Juice With fall weather fast approaching, now seems a good a time as any to answer this age-old question. By Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep has more than a decade of writing and editing experience for top publications. Her expertise extends from weddings and animals to every pop culture moment in between. She has been scouring the Internet for the buzziest Southern news since joining the team in 2017. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 15, 2022 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Jillian is a freelance writer, editor and fact-checker with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. In addition to fact-checking for Southern Living, Jillian works on multiple verticals across Dotdash-Meredith, including TripSavvy, The Spruce, and Travel + Leisure. brand's fact checking process Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: picture alliance/Getty Images Every fall, there seems to be some confusion when it comes to apple-based beverages, and now, it seems as good a time as any to finally settle the score. If you've ever found yourself standing in the grocery store and wondering what the difference between apple cider and apple juice is, you're certainly not alone. It's a question that's been plaguing generations of thirsty Americans. As it turns out, the only real difference lies in the amount of processing the liquid undergoes. Apple cider is fresh, unfiltered, and often unpasteurized. It's also considered a seasonal drink and can be hard to find outside of the autumn months. Apple juice, on the other hand, is filtered and pasteurized, which gives it a longer shelf life, a sweeter taste, and a smoother texture. WATCH: McDonald's Apple Pie Was Born in This Southern City Keep in mind, that because apple cider isn't filtered and often isn't pasteurized either, it only has a shelf life of about five days. It should also be refrigerated at all times to keep it from fermenting. So, there you have it. Bottoms up, y'all! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit