Can Baileys be frozen? - What you should know

Some people consider Baileys to be a dessert. For others, it is a full-fledged alcoholic beverage. Whatever your case, it is always good to know the proper storage conditions for drinks that you let sit in the pantry for years.

Can Baileys be frozen?  Freezing Baileys is not recommended. Being a blend of whiskey and cream, the texture will undergo significant changes as a result of the freezing and thawing processes. It is best to store the Baileys in the pantry or in the fridge if you prefer it slightly cold. 

In this article, you’ll learn why you should never freeze Baileys and how long they will last refrigerated or stored at room temperature.

Does Baileys freeze well?

Freezing alcohol is tricky. The freezing point of alcohol varies by variety. Whether your drink comes out of the freezer unaltered, half-exploded, or with big changes in consistency depends on its alcohol content.

The higher the alcohol concentration in a drink, the lower the temperature it will need to be to freeze. 

The alcohol content of Baileys Irish Cream is 17%. But, as you can probably guess from the full name of this drink, it also contains cream. Baileys is a blend of Irish whiskey and heavy cream.

The alcohol concentration in the Baileys is low enough that the drink freezes to some extent. However, the cream portion turns to solid ice when frozen . When thawed, the texture will be different.

Therefore, freezing the Baileys will result in a slushie alcohol content drink with frozen cream inside. Once the drink is thawed, the consistency will not be the same as before.

What is the best way to store Baileys?

An unopened bottle of Baileys can be kept in the pantry or kitchen cabinet. Here are some key guidelines for storing it:

• Store it in a room where the temperature is between 32 and 77°F.
• Store the drink away from sunlight and heat sources.
• Store the bottle in a dark, dry place.
• Make sure not to expose it to temperature fluctuations.

An opened bottle of Baileys can be stored at room temperature by following the above storage rules.

You can also keep an open bottle of Baileys in the fridge. In fact, many people prefer to keep Baileys in the fridge rather than in the pantry.

Once cooled, Baileys Irish Cream takes on a crunchy texture that many people say makes it taste so much better.

When you store the open Baileys, be sure to keep the bottle closed. Otherwise, contact with air will cause the drink to degrade much faster.

How long does Baileys last?

The manufacturer claims that Baileys maintains its best flavor qualities for 2 years, whether the bottle is open or not.

The bottle also comes with an expiration date that you should always check before buying the drink or when you decide to drink it after you’ve had it for months.

After the 2 year mark, the quality of the drink will start to deteriorate until it goes bad.

However, the liquor will likely still be good for some time after the expiration date printed on the bottle. However, we recommend that you check before drinking, as cream liqueurs are more prone to spoilage than non-dairy ones.

Keep in mind that this estimate of the shelf life of Baileys is only true if you store the drink properly. Also, refrigerating Baileys doesn’t extend their shelf life, but it does keep the drink’s flavor at its best for much longer.

If your bottle of Baileys is half full and you don’t feel like throwing it away, there are numerous ways to use it. You can bake with Baileys, make mousses or sauces with it, or just drizzle a little on your ice cream.

How do you know that the Baileys has gone bad?

The cream contained in Baileys should make you more vigilant for signs of spoilage in this drink.

Although the whiskey in Baileys acts as a natural preservative and prevents the cream from going bad, it does not guarantee that it will not go bad in the long term.

To see if the Baileys is still good, take a sniff test. You will probably be able to recognize the sour smell of dairy that has gone bad.

If the drink smells good, pour it into a glass to inspect for consistency and color. If you see lumps in the drink, it means that you have exposed it to temperature fluctuations.

In these cases, it is better not to drink the liquor. Bad Baileys can also be detected by their darker color.

If the Baileys smells, looks and tastes good, you can drink it. But if you have been with the bottle for too long, err for sure and opt for another drink.