Making homemade egg nog that's safe (2024)

FAQs

How is homemade eggnog safe to drink? ›

Eggs must be cooked to 160 degrees F to kill bacteria such as Salmonella that may be present. If your eggnog recipe calls for raw eggs, it may not be safe. Adding alcohol inhibits bacterial growth, but it cannot be relied upon to kill bacteria.

Traditionally made with eggs, cream, milk, and sugar, no one would say that eggnog is a healthy drink. Even a small serving can pack significant amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, and added sugars. And then there's the fact that homemade eggnog made with raw eggs can be a food-poisoning risk.

Once alcohol is diluted, it no longer effectively kills bacteria. You will still need to use pasteurized eggs. Keep in mind that simmering eggnog over heat will remove the alcohol.

Can Eggnog Be Aged? Yes, when the alcohol content is 20% of the egg and sugar mixture, it becomes sterile and can sit in cool storage on a shelf for up to a year.

To pasteurize eggs at home, break them into the top part of a double boiler, place over hot water, heat to 140°F, and hold at this temperature for 30 minutes. Whisk constantly for until the temperature of the water drops.

The Food and Drug Administration suggests consuming commercial eggnog within three to five days of opening a carton, and you should drink homemade eggnog within two to four days of making. If you're unsure whether eggnog has gone off, give it a whiff, and check for these signs: lumpy texture. spoiled milk smell.

Most plants keep producing eggnog through New Year's, and start dumping their unsold product in January. Although associated with the holidays, eggnog doesn't need to be seasonal. Dairy plants could produce small batches of eggnog off-season for hard-core nogheads, but they don't because it's not cost-effective.

According to the USDA, fresh eggs should be cooked until the white and yolk are firm, or until they reach 160° F. While the tempering process won't get eggs to this temperature, most custard recipes call for cooking the mixture until it reaches 180°, so there shouldn't be a salmonella risk.

Whatever the specifics of your coquito, though, don't be fooled into thinking that the coconut base makes it somehow a healthier option. While the cream and whole milk in eggnog are high in saturated fat, so are the coconut milk and evaporated milk used in coquito.

A lot of factors—batch size or the method of cooking, for example—affect the textures and tastes we've discussed here. The obvious solution is to use regular eggs for cooked egg recipes, and use pasteurized eggs for sauces and other recipes and dressings that call for raw or partially cooked eggs.

Is store-bought eggnog safe for kids? ›

After 12 months of age, if the eggnog is pasteurized and free of alcohol. While we generally recommend waiting until age 2 to introduce sugar into a toddler's diet, a small taste of pasteurized, alcohol-free eggnog on a special occasion after a child's first birthday is just fine.

Consuming raw eggs puts you at risk for contracting salmonellosis, a foodborne illness from Salmonella bacteria that can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

Bottom line: Eggnog and egg white co*cktails made with pasteurized eggs are safest, but alcohol can prevent the growth of bad bacteria like Salmonella. So you can safely sip your eggnog this holiday season, knowing the only reason you might regret it the next day is because you had one glass too many.

The idea? Make a batch of eggnog and let it age for at least three weeks in the refrigerator before drinking. The rest period supposedly drives off eggy taste while giving the other flavors a chance to meld. At the same time, the alcohol has a chance to kill any potential pathogens in the mix.

Combine dairy, booze, and salt in a second bowl or pitcher and then slowly beat into the egg mixture. Move to a large glass jar (or a couple of smaller ones) and store in the fridge for a minimum of 2 weeks. A month would be better, and 2 better still.

Serve your eggnog chilled and plain for a classic treat.

The most classic way to serve eggnog doesn't involve any prep, and it's perfect as an after-dinner treat around the holidays. All you have to do is pour chilled eggnog into a glass. It pairs nicely with sweets, especially baked goods make with milk or cream.

Using commercial pasteurized eggs or heating the milk-egg mixture sufficiently can make the drink safe; one recipe calls for heating the mixture gently, without boiling, until it thickens enough to "coat the back of a spoon." However, aged alcoholic eggnog becomes sterilized even if made with contaminated eggs.