287940 Wed Nov 21 10:13:13 -0800 2001 4 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1551672 I have a bottle of Irish Cream that has been in my refrigerator opened since last Christmas (I forgot about it, okay). Is it still good or should I throw it out? Wed Nov 21 10:13:13 -0800 2001 0 ChrisKC 1 1551673 No good. Say bye-bye. My sister-in-law gave me a bottle that she had never even opened but had sat around for five years! When I opened it, the stuff inside had congealed! No sense taking any chance when there is a dairy product (even a FAKE dairy product) involved... I like the addage "Better Safe Than Sick." Or is it "When In Doubt, Throw It Out." Wed Nov 21 10:15:45 -0800 2001 1551672 0 Carolyn Tillie 2 1551684 Thank you, I'll definitely throw it out. Of course this means I'll have to buy another. It's become my traditional favorite drink for Christmas eve. Wed Nov 21 11:36:40 -0800 2001 1551673 0 ChrisKC 1 1551695 Gee, I didn't know that Irish cream couldn't stay in the fridge for a long period of time. I've had my bottle for about four years and it still tasted fine. No coagulations, no change in taste. I've always thought that the alcohol preserved the cream. Wed Nov 21 14:23:16 -0800 2001 1551672 0 Jennifer J 1 1551724 I think Bailey's and the like are pasteurized, plus they obviously contain alcohol, so they'll last a very long time refrigerated. But, if you have any doubts, it's probably better to be safe than sorry. Rather than buy a new bottle every year, though, why don't you make your own? It's better, plus you can make as much or as little as you want. I've been making it for gifts (and my own consumption) for years, and it beats Bailey's cold. My recipe is: 2 cups Irish whisky 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 pint heavy or whipping cream (this is the one time I like ultra pasteurized, because it lasts longer) 1 Tbsp. chocolate syrup 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. instant coffee dissolved in 2 Tbsp. hot water 1/4 tsp. almond extract Mix thoroughly (if you have a large bottle with a lid, add all the ingredients and shake) and enjoy. It's slightly better if it sits for a couple of days, but it's not bad freshly made, either. You do have to keep it refrigerated, and to be honest, I've never had enough to last more than a month or so, so I'm not sure what the shelf life is. But if you cut the recipe in half, you probably won't have to keep it long enough for it to go bad. Thu Nov 22 01:15:58 -0800 2001 1551672 0 Janet A. Zimmerman