ᐅ How to Store Punch Drink and Eggnog for a party •【 2024 】

The punch comprises a wide range of drinks, which are usually a mixture of juices, with fruit or alcohol, and that is traditionally prepared at parties near the end of the year, but how do we store punch?

If the punch has fresh fruit, you can refrigerate them for 24 hours only. Therefore, storing it without adding fruit is best, so it can be in the fridge for 3 or 4 days and frozen for 8 to 12 months.

If you want to know how to preserve punch correctly, continue reading.

How to keep the punch in the fridge

The first recommendation to keep our punch in the fridge as long as possible is not to add fresh fruit (in case it takes) or ice until the time to serve.

As you add fresh fruit without skin, it is completely exposed, spoiling quickly, even if submerged in alcohol.

Concerning the ice, as time passes, it melts, which will dilute the punch by water. It is best in these cases to do the following:

Step 1: Place the punch in a container with a lid.

The punch you left over, or the one you want to prepare in advance, should be in a container with an airtight lid.

Step 2: Store the punch in the fridge.

Place the container in the coldest area of your refrigerator. The punch can remain refrigerated in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If the punch has fresh fruit, it will only stay refrigerated for 24 hours.

If you have added a bubbly drink, unfortunately, if you do not drink it in a few hours, your punch will lose the bubbles and be flat.

How to freeze punch

Can the punch be frozen? Of course, you can freeze the punch, although the results will not be good if you have fruits with a very high percentage of water.

Keep in mind that when the fruit is immersed in liquid, this, together with the natural water content of the fruit, will tend to form crystals that will break with the natural structure of the same, resulting in a strange sensation to the palate at the time of thawing.

To freeze the punch, you must do the following:

Step 1: Pour the punch into a container or bag.

As the punch will end up frozen, I advise you to use molds to make ice cubes, freeze them, and then transfer them to bags to freeze.

But if you have too much punch, you can use airtight bags suitable for freezing.

Another alternative would be to use a cold-resistant container with an airtight lid. However, you should not fill it because the punch expands when frozen, and it will break the container if it does not have space.

Step 2: Label the container.

Put a label with the storage date of the punch on the bag or container.

Step 3: Store the punch in the freezer.

You may freeze the punch for 8 to 12 months. To defrost, pass it a day before to the refrigerator, where it can be three more days, but you cannot freeze it again.

A tip I can give you about frozen punch is that it is an excellent substitute for water ice cubes when preparing a punch for a party. That way, it will not dilute the punch when it thaws.

How to preserve punch bottles

You can also buy bottles with punch already prepared and packaged in liquor stores and supermarkets. These last much longer because they do not have pieces of fresh fruit, in addition to the addition of preservatives.

You can keep an unopened punch bottle at room temperature in a dark, cool, and somewhat humid place. However, if you have a refrigerator to store wine, you could keep it there for 2 to 5 years.

Once the punch bottle has been uncapped, you can refrigerate it for 8 to 12 days if you cap it well. [1]

You could also freeze it; you must pass the punch to a freezer-resistant container for up to 1 year, although its flavor could change considerably.

How to preserve eggnog

Eggnog is a drink that carries dairy products in addition to eggs and can be prepared at home or bought for Christmas. This drink usually carries rum or similar liquor, and you can keep it as follows.

How to keep eggnog in the fridge

The bottle of eggnog sold commercially should be kept inside the refrigerator, whether it has been opened or not.

If the eggnog bottle is closed, refrigerate it until the expiration date. Once open, it can last 3 to 5 days inside the refrigerator. [2]

In case you have prepared eggnog, you must follow these instructions:

Step 1: Wait for the eggnog to cool.

In general, eggnog is usually cooked when mixing some ingredients. In case your version will not cook, skip this step.

Step 2: Pour the cream punch into a sterilized jar.

Preferably, these jars are glass bottles, although a glass jar with an airtight lid could serve you. In addition, they must have been previously sterilized and be completely dry.

To sterilize them, you have to heat water in a pot, wait for it to start boiling, carefully place the bottles or glass containers in the water, and cook for 15 minutes. Finally, you take them out with tweezers and let them drain.

Step 3: Store the eggnog in the fridge.

Place the bottle or container in the coldest part of your fridge. You can refrigerate the homemade eggnog for 2 to 3 days.

How to freeze eggnog

Can eggnog be frozen? You can freeze it, but its texture will change slightly since the dairy will separate from the liquor. However, mix it with a whisk to put it back together.

Step 1: Divide the eggnog.

As storing a glass container in the freezer is not good, it is best to put eggnog in cold-resistant plastic containers or freezer bags.

But I recommend splitting the punch into small portions since this punch cannot be re-frozen. You could also use a mold to make ice cubes: you pour the eggnog there, freeze it, and then transfer it to a freezer bag.

Step 2: Set the storage date.

Place the storage date on the bag or container where you put the eggnog.

Step 3: Store the eggnog in the freezer.

So you can freeze the eggnog for six months. [3]

How do you know if the punch spoiled?

Here are the signs that will tell you if the punch has gone bad:

Color: usually, the mixtures make the punch have a vibrant color, so if it starts to get opaque, it is that it has already begun to decompose.

Odor: If the punch has a rancid or unpleasant smell, it has gone bad, and you should not drink it.
Taste: If it tastes sour or unpleasant, throw it away and do not take it.
Appearance: If the drink is cloudy or has pieces of something you do not identify, it has been contaminated with something. I advise you to throw it down the drain.

How long does the punch last?

Product	Duration
Punch with fruit in the fridge	24 hours
Punch without fruit in the fridge	3 – 4 days
Punch in the freezer	8 – 12 months
Store-bought punch bottle at room temperature (sealed)	2 – 5 years
Store-bought punch bottle in the fridge (open)	5 – 7 days
Store-bought punch bottle in the freezer	1 year
Homemade eggnog in the fridge	2 – 3 days
Store-bought eggnog in the fridge (sealed)	Until the expiration date
Store-bought eggnog in the fridge (open)	3 – 5 days
Frozen eggnog	6 months

What is the best way to preserve punch?

You could say that the best way to preserve any punch is to refrigerate it, although, unfortunately, that way, it does not last too long.

You can also freeze the punch, if it has no fruit or the fruit itself freezes well, but its flavor will change the longer it goes frozen.

Commercial punch usually lasts longer, especially if the bottle is open.

The homemade version of eggnog does not usually last long unless it is frozen, and like regular punch, you can also purchase it in stores and last longer than the homemade.

If you are interested in learning how to preserve some other beverages, I have an extensive list of topics on food preservation that can help you.