People who drink vodka commonly keep it in the freezer. The vodka gets nice and cold, yet it doesn't freeze. Have you ever wondered why that is? Will the vodka ever freeze?
The Freezing Point of Vodka
Vodka consists primarily of water and ethanol (grain alcohol). Pure water has a freezing point of 0ºC or 32ºF, while pure ethanol has a freezing point of-114ºC or -173ºF. Because it's a combination of chemicals, vodka doesn't freeze at the same temperature as either water or alcohol.
Of course, vodka will freeze, but not at the temperature of an ordinary freezer. This is because vodka contains enough alcohol to lower the freezing point of water below the -17°C of your typical freezer. It's the same freezing point depression phenomenon that occurs when you put salt on an icy walk or antifreeze in your car. In the case of Russian vodka, which is standardized to 40% ethanol by volume, the freezing point of the water is lowered to -26.95° C or -16.51° F. That vodka might freeze outdoors over the course of a Siberian winter, and you can freeze it with an industrial freezer or using liquid nitrogen, but it will remain liquid in a normal freezer, which typically has a temperature no lower than–23ºC to –18ºC (-9ºF to 0ºF). Other spirits behave the same way as vodka, so you could put your tequila, rum, or gin in the freezer with pretty much the same result.
Beer and wine will freeze in a home freezer because they contain much lower levels of alcohol than you'll find in distilled liquors. Beer is typically 4-6% alcohol (sometimes as high as 12%), while wine runs around 12-15% alcohol by volume.
Using Freezing to Enrich the Alcohol Content of Vodka
One handy trick for increasing the alcohol percentage of vodka, particularly if it's lower in alcohol content than 40 proof, is to apply a technique known as freeze distillation. This can be achieved by pouring the vodka in an open container, such as a bowl, and placing it in the freezer. Once the liquid cools below the freezing point of water, one or more ice cubes may be added to the bowl. The ice cubes serve as crystallization nuclei, much like using a seed crystal to grow larger crystals for a science project. The free water in the vodka will crystallize (form ice), leaving behind a higher concentration of alcohol.
Storing Vodka in the Freezer
It's probably a good thing vodka doesn't ordinarily freeze in a freezer, because if it did, the water in the liquor would expand. The pressure from the expansion could be enough to shatter the container. This is a good point to keep in mind if you're considering adding water to vodka to freeze it out and increase proof. Don't overfill the bottle or it will break when the water freezes! If you do freeze an alcoholic beverage, choose a flexible plastic container to minimize the risk of accidents or breakage. For example, choose a bag similar to the type used for premixed frozen co*cktails.
FAQs
That's because its freezing point is much lower than that of water. Because vodka contains 40% alcohol, it won't freeze over until around -10 degrees Fahrenheit, much lower than your typical freezer, which is around 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why does vodka not freeze in the freezer? ›
Due to its ethanol content, vodka will not actually freeze solid until it reaches a temperature of -16 degrees Fahrenheit. Standard freezers are 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but that is still too cold for premium vodka. The optimal drinking temperature of vodka is somewhere between 32-39 degrees Fahrenheit.
What stops vodka from freezing? ›
Vodka consists primarily of water and ethanol (grain alcohol). Pure water has a freezing point of 0ºC or 32ºF, while pure ethanol has a freezing point of -114ºC or -173ºF. Because it's a combination of chemicals, vodka doesn't freeze at the same temperature as either water or alcohol.
What alcohol does not freeze in freezer? ›
All alcohol will freeze at a cold enough temperature, but any proof higher than 50 will not freeze in a conventional freezer. This covers the majority of harder spirits you may buy, but beer, wine, and liqueurs will certainly freeze with enough time.
Is it better to put vodka in the freezer or fridge? ›
Vodka is a spirit that can either be kept at room temperature or kept in the fridge. It's really down to individual preference. In fact, vodka can even be stored in the freezer. This is because drinks with an alcohol content higher than 35% can be stored in the freezer and won't freeze.
Can I put tito's vodka in the freezer? ›
Keeping a bottle of vodka in your freezer won't freeze it but it does make it cold enough that you won't taste it when you drink it. You still feel the alcohol burn, but the actual taste isn't there.
Does Grey Goose vodka freeze? ›
Grey Goose Vodka will not freeze in a conventional freezer. Because vodka contains 40% alcohol, it won't freeze over until around -27 degrees Celsius, much lower than your typical freezer, which is around -18 degrees Celsius. This means that Grey Goose Vodka can be stored in the freezer and it will remain liquid.
Does putting vodka in the freezer make it stronger? ›
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.
Will watered down vodka freeze? ›
Vodka which is 40% ethanol and 60% water will freeze at about -29 C.
Why doesn't vodka give me a hangover? ›
But a study by the British Medical Journal found that vodka is actually the least likely drink to give you a hangover: it's so pure that it contains virtually no congeners. Mixing vodka with soda or fruit juice is ideal, as sugary soft drinks can contribute to a headache the morning after the night before. But go easy.
The exact freezing point of alcoholic beverages is dependent on its proof, or alcohol by volume. The lower the proof, the warmer the freezing point. Fireball Cinnamon products are lower in alcohol than Fireball Whisky, so they will likely freeze when placed in a standard home freezer typically set to 0°F.
Why don't spirits freeze? ›
It does not freeze because of the extremely low freezing point of alcohol. The freezing point of pure ethanol alcohol is -173°F or -114°C. It contains around 40% ethanol and since alcohol and water are both miscible liquids, the freezing point of water reduces from 0°C to -26.95°C after mixing it with vodka.
What alcohol is best kept in the freezer? ›
Spirits with an ABV of 40 percent or higher — or 80 proof and above — can be stored in the freezer with relatively little likelihood of them actually freezing, but does that mean you should? When alcohol is placed in the freezer, the cold temperature chills the liquid, but also causes it to taste muted.
Why doesn't vodka freeze in the freezer? ›
That's because its freezing point is much lower than that of water. Because vodka contains 40% alcohol, it won't freeze over until around -10 degrees Fahrenheit, much lower than your typical freezer, which is around 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does Absolut vodka freeze? ›
All 80 proof vodka freezes at a temperature of -24ºc (-11.2ºF). Sometimes the freezer is a little bit colder than this and it may actually freeze. It's still the same Absolut quality when it's melted, just shake the bottle gently.
Does vodka expire? ›
Unopened bottles of vodka have a long shelf life and do not technically expire. Due to its high alcohol content, vodka has an indefinite shelf life when stored properly. It can even last for 10 years, 20 years, or more. However, this does not mean that it will remain in peak condition forever.
Why do Americans put vodka in the freezer? ›
But as most vodkas are distilled to the point of being near-odorless and neutral on the palate, the spirit won't lose much character in the icebox, making it the ideal candidate for freezing. In fact, it will probably make Vodka Martinis and shots of the stuff much smoother going down.
What temperature does 40% alcohol freeze at? ›
Pure ethanol alcohol needs to be -173 degrees Fahrenheit to freeze. At around 40 percent alcohol (80 proof), vodka has a freezing point that hovers at around -16 degrees Fahrenheit. And while putting it in the freezer will affect it somewhat, it won't freeze solid in your traditional freezer.
Can vodka freeze to slush? ›
No, vodka does not freeze, but this recipe will still give you the frozen slush you are hoping for, even with the added vodka. Although pure vodka will not freeze on its own, the ratio of vodka to cranberry juice and soda is just right to pop in the freezer and turn to slush.
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