Can you store liquor in the freezer? Is your beer safe outside on a cold winter night? These are common questions, and the answer depends on the beverages alcohol content. In general, liquor will not freeze though beer and wine will, though its not always guaranteed.
At this point, I would like to point out that you absolutely should put vodka in your freezer – serving it as a liquid that’s colder than ice is definitely something worth experiencing. But the alcohol content will be exactly the same as a room-temperature bottle.
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What Is the Freezing Point of Alcohol?
Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (zero degrees Celsius), and the freezing point of pure ethanol alcohol is -173 degrees Fahrenheit (-114 degrees Celsius). Alcoholic beverages are a mixture of both alcohol and water (in some cases, sugars and other additives), which puts the freezing point of your alcoholic beverages somewhere in between the two liquids.
The exact freezing point of any beer, liquor, or wine is dependent on its alcohol by volume (ABV, or proof):
- The lower the alcohol content, the warmer the freezing point and the quicker it will freeze.
- The higher the alcohol content, the colder the freezing point and the longer it can stay in the freezer.
| The Freezing Temperatures of Alcohol | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | ABV | Freezing Point | Notes and Examples |
| Beer | 3% to 12% | 28 F (-2 C) | Not recommended for the freezer beyond a quick chill. |
| Wine | 8% to 14% | 23 F (-5 C) | More than an hour or two in the freezer and you are putting the wine at risk. |
| 40-Proof Liquor | 20% | 22 F (-7 C) | Includes many low-proof liqueurs like Irish cream. If left in a really cold freezer too long, these may get slushy (its rare) and permanently change the texture. |
| 64-Proof Liquor | 32% | -10 F (-23 C) | A liqueur like amaretto and a flavored whiskey like Fireball fall in this range. These should be OK in the freezer. |
| 80-Proof Liquor | 40% | -17 F (-27 C) | Includes most standard base liquors like gin, vodka, whiskey, etc. Youre clear for the freezer! |
Note: These freezing points are not exact, particularly with the beer and wine. A small variation in the alcohol content will not make a big difference, but if its close, the chances of freezing are high. Use the temperatures as a general guideline, and dont push the limits.
Why Is Vodka Often Frozen But Whiskey Isn’t?
Whiskeys and other barrel-aged spirits are rarely stored cold because the volatiles that give them complex flavors are most noticeable at warmer temperatures. Vodka, on the other hand, is a very clean spirit and has fewer volatiles, so it can actually taste better when very cold. Experts say that the optimum temperature for premium vodka is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Going lower than that with cheaper vodkas can produce a smoother drink and reduce some of the burn.
Why Doesn’t Alcohol Freeze? | Does Wine Freeze | Does Vodka Freeze
FAQ
Does freezing reduce alcohol content?
How much does alcohol lower freezing point?
Does ice reduce alcohol content?
Does freezing beer lose alcohol content?
Does alcohol freeze?
That said, alcohol does freeze but at extremely low temperatures. Most home freezers have a temperature range between -9°F and 0°F, whereas the freezing point of pure ethanol (alcohol) is substantially lower than this. This means that you can store some types of alcohol in the freezer without worrying about it freezing. Did you know?
How can one stop alcohol consumption?
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. At times, it may even feel impossible. But it’s not. If you’re ready to stop drinking and willing to get the support you need, you can recover from alcoholism and alcohol abuse no matter how heavy your drinking or how powerless you feel. The following tips can help: Set your drinking goal. Choose a limit for how much you’ll drink, but make sure your limit is not more than one drink a day if you’re a woman, two drinks a day if you’re a man—and try to have some days each week when you won’t drink alcohol at all/Keep a record of your drinking to help you reach your goal. For 3 to 4 weeks, write down every time you have a drink and how much you drink. Reviewing the results, you may be surprised at your weekly drinking habits/Cut down drinking at home. Try to limit or remove alcohol from your home. It’s much easier to avoid drinking if you don’t keep temptations around/Drink slower. When you drink, sip slowly and take a break of 30 minutes or one hour between drinks. Or drink soda, water, or juice between alcoholic drinks. Drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea, so make sure you eat food when you drink/Schedule one or two alcohol-free days each week. Then, try to stop drinking for one week. Make a note about how you feel physically and mentally on these days recognizing the benefits may help you to cut down for good.
Does alcohol affect freezing point?
The lower the alcohol content, the warmer the freezing point and the quicker it will freeze. The higher the alcohol content, the colder the freezing point and the longer it can stay in the freezer. Not recommended for the freezer beyond a quick chill.
Why does alcohol freeze at low temperatures?
Since a hydrogen-oxygen bond is stronger than a carbon-oxygen bond, water molecules are more likely to stick together at colder temperatures, causing them to freeze early. That said, alcohol does freeze but at extremely low temperatures.