Difference between Juice and Squash

Key Difference: Juice is a beverage which is derived by obtaining the liquid from the fruits and vegetables. Squash is a sweetened concentrated juice which is consumed after dilution.

Juice is the liquid which is naturally present in fruit and vegetables. It is squeezed from fruits and vegetables by using techniques like crushing, etc. Juice is generally used as a beverage. However, it is also used as an ingredient in the preparation of other beverages and food.

The word juice is mostly used in context to liquid contained in fruits. People prefer to have the juice of fresh fruits and vegetables in the morning along with their breakfast. Currently, juices in the market are mostly filtered and that is why they do not contain any fiber or pulp.

A juice labeled as ‘100 percent’ means that it is only made from juice of natural fruits and contains no additives, preservatives or sweeteners. Juice is regarded to be a good source of vitamins and minerals.

However, it is often recommended to drink moderate amount of fruit juice as they tend to have calories which can affect weight. People should avoid sweetened juice of fruit juice cocktails and should prefer 100 percent fruit juice. The manufacturing process of juice on a commercial scale goes through the process of juice extraction and filtration. Further processing and sterilization is done and then it is finally bottled.

On the other hand, squash refers to a concentrated liquid which is made by combination of fruit juice and sugar. In place of sugar, a sugar substitute is also used by many manufacturers. The manufacturing process involves processing and sterilizing of juice. Syrup of sugar and preservatives, etc., are added to this mixture until a uniform solution is obtained. Later, bottling and packaging is done. In order to make a drink, this liquid is diluted with water or carbonated water.

Like juice, it is also non-alcoholic but in the form of syrup. Squash is concentrated liquid, and therefore for the preparation of the drink it is mixed with water or carbonated water in the ratio of 1:5 or 1:4.

Squashes are generally made by citrus fruits of blend of different fruits. Squashes are generally measured by juice content which is about 30 percent in average. Squashes with added sugar are not recommended. They have very low amount of fiber or no fiber at all, and therefore pure juices are comparatively regarded as a better option in terms of health aspects.

The main difference between the two is that juice is consumed the way it is. On the other hand, squashes need to be diluted with water or carbonated water before consumption. Shelf life of squash is more than juice. The health benefits of both depends upon the content and types of preservatives. No sugar added juices and syrups are preferred for their health benefits.

Comparison between Juice and Squash:

	Juice	Squash
Type	Non alcoholic liquid	Non alcoholic concentrated syrup
Origin	From Latin jus 'broth, vegetable juice'	From alteration of Middle English squachen to crush, annul, from Anglo-French esquacher
Shelf life	Is comparatively less than squashes	Is comparatively longer than juices
Benefits	Juices are preferred for the nutrients and vitamins supplied by them – for example orange juice is rich in potassium and vitamin C. Juices are known for their ability to increase serum antioxidant capacity. Commercial fruit juices are generally not considered as good as home-made juices as they lack fiber and generally are over processed	No added sugar squashes are preferred for their low sugar content. However, they generally provide no or little fiber.