Making homemade egg nog that's safe (2024)

Making homemade egg nog that's safe (1)

Is it time to update your eggnog recipes to avoid the risk of foodborne illness? Refrigerated eggs with clean, uncracked shells can still be contaminated withSalmonellabacteria.

Eggs must be cooked to 160 degrees F to kill bacteria such asSalmonellathat 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.

Use pasteurized eggs for eggnog

Eggnog may be safely made at home by using whole, liquidor pasteurized eggs. Pasteurized eggs are found next to regular eggs at the store. Egg substitutes can also be used. These products have also beenpasteurized. Using a pasteurized product means that no further cooking is necessary.

Cook regularegg mixture to 160℉

If using regular eggs that have not been pasteurized use a recipe in which you cook the egg mixture to 160℉. At this temperature,the egg mixture thickens enough to coat a spoon. Follow the recipe carefully. Refrigerate it at once. When refrigerating a large amount of cooked eggnog, divide it into several shallow containers. Then it will cool quickly.

If eggs whites are needed, use pasteurized eggs

If a recipe calls for folding raw, beaten egg whites into the eggnog, use pasteurized eggs. It has not been proven that raw egg whites are free ofSalmonellabacteria.

If you purchase eggnog from your local grocery store, the eggnog has been prepared with pasteurized eggs. You do not need to cook it.

Who's atrisk?

Salmonellaand the resulting foodborne illness can affect anyone but itsespecially risky for some people. This includes senior citizens, pregnant women and very young children. People with weakened immune systems who suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, liver disease and AIDS are also at risk. So be particularly careful when serving eggnog to those individuals.

Holidays are a fun but hectic time. By updating your eggnog recipes for safety, you'll have one less thing to worry about.

  • USDA.Consumer Food Safety Fact Sheets.
  • Utah State University, Food Safety Bulletin, No. 4 (2006).Safe eggnog requires pasteurized eggs (with recipe).

Kathy Brandt, Extension educator; and Suzanne Driessen, Extension educator

Reviewed in 2021

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Making homemade egg nog that's safe (2024)

FAQs

How to make eggs safe for eggnog? ›

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.

How long will homemade egg nog last? ›

Cover and refrigerate.

The more liquor you add, the longer it will keep — non-alcoholic eggnog should be consumed within 1 day; eggnog with 1/2 to 1 cup of liquor will keep for several days; and eggnog with 1 1/2 cups of liquor will keep for several weeks and continue aging and thickening quite nicely.

How is aged eggnog safe? ›

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!).

Can you drink eggnog right after making it? ›

That means you can enjoy raw, homemade eggnog without the worry! 4. Homemade eggnog should be enjoyed within a few days of making it.

How common is Salmonella in eggs? ›

Salmonella doesn't make the hen sick. Eggs are washed and sanitized at the processing plant. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in every 20,000 eggs are contaminated with Salmonella. Persons infected with Salmonella may experience diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting.

What makes eggnog unhealthy? ›

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.

Does alcohol sterilize eggnog? ›

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. Holidays are a fun but hectic time.

Can children drink eggnog? ›

When can babies have eggnog? 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.

Why is aged eggnog better? ›

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.

What alcohol is good in eggnog? ›

While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.

How to know if eggs are pasteurized? ›

Eggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella–by in-shell pasteurization, for example–are not required to carry safe handling instructions, but the labeling will usually say that they have been treated.

How to temper eggs for eggnog? ›

How to Temper Eggs
  1. Step 1: Boil the Milk. Bring the milk to a boil. ...
  2. Step 2: Whisk the Eggs in a Bowl. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk them. ...
  3. Step 3: Add the Milk to the Eggs. Add the milk in 1/2-cup increments to bring the temperature of the eggs up gradually while whisking.

Can you drink eggnog if allergic to eggs? ›

Avoid foods that contain eggs or any of these ingredients:

Egg (dried, powdered, solids, white, yolk) Eggnog.

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