EASY Eggnog Fudge Recipe (30 minutes!) - I Heart Naptime (2024)

FAQs

How long will eggnog last in the refrigerator? ›

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.

Freezing Fudge

Wrap your fudge in an air-tight container. Several layers of saran wrap, vacuum seal, Tupperware should all keep the moisture locked in pretty good. A couple hours before you would like to enjoy your fudge, take it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw out on your counter. ENJOY!

We've all probably smelled spoiled milk before — if your eggnog smells like that, it's no bueno. A sour aroma is a sign that the lactic acid bacteria in the milk and cream have spoiled. Trust your nose; if it smells like spoiled milk, it probably is.

They found, unanimously, that aged nog was mellower and smoother than fresh nog. Similarly, Alton Brown says that "the longer the nog ages, the more mellow it will get." In The Art of Eating, Holly Jennings found three-week nog to be "rounder, smoother, and noticeably more complex."

So to recap, it's best to store proper fudge at room temperature. Keeping it in the fridge takes out all its moisture, drying it out. Homemade fudge is best in the fridge. No matter where you store it, the goal is to protect the fudge from exposure to the elements so airtight containers are best!

If fudge experiences a change in temperature, it can melt or develop a slimy texture on the surface. If it is exposed to air, it can dry out and become hard. Specific add-ins to fudge have the potential to grow mold or give off a bad odor, and at that point, the fudge should be avoided.

Fudge should be stored in a dry, dark, and cool area away from direct sunlight, like a cupboard or pantry, and not on your kitchen counter. If you need to store your fudge for much longer, freezing is a great option.

Unopened bottled eggnog with alcohol: Unopened, shelf-stable bottled eggnog that contains alcohol can last up to 18 months without refrigeration [1].

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. Usually, I use the egg base and make my eggnog before the three-week mark (you can make it up to a year in advance!).

Adding the alcohol immediately reduced the number of bacteria, but there were still plenty left. After a week there were still quite a few, but after three weeks the eggnog was completely sterile. The ratio of alcohol to other ingredients matters for sterilization, of course.

How to preserve egg nog? ›

Carefully pour the egg nog into clean mason jars, swing-top bottles, or even the leftover liquor bottles and store them in the refrigerator. You can bottle your nog in leftover liquor bottles, swing-tops, or mason jars. You can even print your own labels! It makes a great gift.