John Myers
Pure in a cup, as an aperitif, but also in cake batter, as a cocktail component, or on ice cream – eggnog is something fine. But how long does the creamy treat actually last? And how long? We inform you about the shelf life of eggnog.
Eggnog – What’s in it?
The ingredient list of industrial and homemade eggnog can be very different, especially homemade eggnog everyone makes a little differently.
The basic ingredients of every eggnog are:
- raw egg yolk
- sugar and honey
- alcohol
With homemade eggnog, the list of ingredients is sometimes extended a little, since there are hardly any limits to the wide variety of recipes – depending on personal taste, there are also:
- cream, milk, and milk products
- raw egg white
- Vanilla, cinnamon, and other spices
However, one ingredient is always included – the eggs! And that’s exactly why the shelf life of eggnog is such an important issue, as eggs spoil quickly and there is a risk of salmonella.
Shelf life of eggnog
Industrial Eggnog:
Thanks to the high alcohol content, modern production techniques, and good hygiene conditions, industrially produced eggnog can be kept for several years – provided it is unopened, in its original packaging, and stored in a cool place. However, we recommend that you use your liqueur within a year, otherwise its taste may suffer. Once the bottle has been opened, the liqueur will keep for about 6 months and you should consume it within this period.
Homemade eggnog:
In contrast to industrial production, this harbors dangers such as salmonella poisoning, since eggs and their shells can be contaminated with salmonella. Therefore, be particularly careful when making your eggnog. When preparing homemade eggnog, it is important that you:
- using fresh eggs and pure alcohol
- first mix the yolk with the alcohol, for example, to prevent salmonella infection
- achieve a high alcohol content, like the 14 percent by volume that is usual for eggnog, and thus reduce the germ load.
You should use up homemade eggnog within a month. If you didn’t heat it when making it, it should be used up even more quickly, within a week.
Store eggnog correctly
You should store your eggnog in a cool and dark place, preferably in the fridge, this applies to both industrial and homemade ones. But you can also store it in a light-protected cupboard, as long as the summer temperatures are not high. Eggnog is quite well preserved, firstly because of the high alcohol content and secondly because of the high sugar content. Storage and shelf life are not necessarily about spoilage per se, but rather about the taste of the eggnog, which suffers greatly if it is stored too long or incorrectly.
Eggnog tastes stale
If you accidentally forgot your eggnog, just rediscovered it, and stored it for too long, but it’s still good, then it doesn’t have to go into the bin right away.
Even if your eggnog is no longer a highlight in terms of taste in the drinking cup, it may still be processed:
- in delicious muffins, tarts, and cakes
- on your sundae
- in a creamy pudding with fruits and berries
