Do you have eggnog in your fridge? If so, you may be wondering how long it will last and when to dispose of it.
How long does eggnog keep in the fridge? Eggnog often keeps for around 7 days in the refrigerator, but a few things can affect how long it lasts, including storage method and ingredients. If you’ve made eggnog at home, it may not last as long as store-bought eggnog.
How long does eggnog keep?
Eggnog will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Some eggnogs contain raw eggs, so it’s important to store them correctly below 40 degrees F or there is a high risk of salmonella poisoning. Many eggnog recipes also include cream and milk. Don’t leave eggnog on the counter or outside the fridge.
There are many different types of eggnog, and canned eggnog can last much longer than fresh eggnog. However, most eggnog will spoil if you leave it out of the fridge for more than two hours, or an hour in warm weather.
If you bought commercial eggnog, no matter what kind you bought, there should be an expiration date printed on the package. Check this out and lean on the estimates given here because eggnog can vary wildly depending on the ingredients.
Eggnog that has preservatives in it keeps much better, and unopened eggnog also keeps better. Therefore, follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to when you should use the eggnog.
You can improve eggnog’s longevity by placing it in the back of the fridge instead of in the door. The temperature of your refrigerator door fluctuates significantly as you open and close it, and products stored there may not stay particularly cold. You can’t guarantee your eggnog will be cool enough to keep it fresh if you leave it in the door.
How long does homemade eggnog keep?
If you make your own eggnog at home, it will need to be used up faster because it doesn’t contain the same preservatives as commercial eggnog. However, its longevity is determined to some extent by the alcohol. The more alcohol you put in, the longer it will last. For low-alcohol eggnog, use 3 days as the deadline for consuming the drink.
When you make eggnog at home, the perishable ingredients like the milk and egg can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria. This is particularly problematic if you use raw egg in the drink, as the risk of contamination from Salmonella bacteria is high.
However, salmonella cannot survive if pickled in alcohol. So if you use a relatively large amount of alcohol in your eggnog, you should overcome this danger and drastically increase the time you can store the eggnog.
For example, an eggnog recipe with ½ cup of rum should keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about 3 days. If you add a full cup of rum instead, the same recipe can last a week or even longer.
Some eggnog drinks are made as early as November for Christmas, but if you plan to do so, make sure you choose a reputable source for your recipe and read their storage instructions. Don’t keep eggnog any longer than the recipe suggests, especially if you’re serving it to guests.
How can you tell if eggnog has gone bad?
If you’re concerned that eggnog has gone bad, you should check the smell, texture, color, and taste. All of these things will help you determine if it’s still good to drink or not.
You may be able to tell if the eggnog is spoiled just by looking at it. Take the eggnog out of the fridge and examine it. Tilt the container so you can see both the consistency and color.
Eggnog that has turned gray or darker yellow should not be consumed. Eggnog should be a rich creamy color, somewhere between white and beige. Any other tint or noticeable change in color indicates the eggnog has gone bad.
If the eggnog has become lumpy or has come loose at all, that is also a clear sign that it has gone bad. The liquid should be smooth and silky, like when you first made it.
If you’re still not sure about a portion of eggnog, smell it and taste a small amount. A sour odor or an unpleasant taste both indicate that the eggnog has spoiled and needs to be discarded. Instead of swallowing, spit out the liquid you tasted and discard the eggnog.
Can you freeze eggnog?
You can freeze eggnog, perhaps surprisingly. Many people do this and it can extend the shelf life to around 6 months. However, you should make sure that you put the eggnog in a sealed container.
You’ll want to leave about an inch to an inch of space at the top of the container to allow the eggnog space to expand and prevent the container from cracking as it freezes. Make sure you seal it to reduce the risk of freezer burn damaging the drink.
It’s a good idea to use eggnog within 6 months of freezing, otherwise you may find that the texture of the drink has been ruined. Sometimes it gets lumpy in the freezer, so test your recipe with a small batch before freezing a whole batch of eggnog.
Final Thoughts
The shelf life of eggnog varies widely depending on the alcohol content, but you shouldn’t keep most eggnogs in your fridge for more than 7 days. Homemade low-alcohol eggnog should be used within a few days, otherwise it can become a breeding ground for nasty bacteria.
