What's the difference between cooked and uncooked eggnog?
I am planning on making eggnog for the first time, and in looking across recipes I am finding both “cooked” and “uncooked” recipes. For example, Alton Brown's eggnog recipe on Food Network has both an uncooked variant (first half) and a cooked variant (second half).
I do not have much experience seeing eggnog made and have not tasted it before. I grew up in a country where eggnog is not a thing (Australia) meaning I have not grown up around people making it, and am living in another where that still seems true (the UK).
What's the difference between cooked and uncooked? What should I know when making a choice between which version to make? Is this just a personal preference thing?
Chef Treble comments on cooked having a richer flavour, at least for one recipe. I have read about people recommending pasteurised eggs for eggnog, and UMN says in their article about making safe eggnog that “using a pasteurized product means that no further cooking is necessary.” Should the uncooked version only be using pasteurised eggs, or something like that?
Best Answer
Cooked or Uncooked eggnog is a safety decision.In US you get pasteurised eggs generally, unless you are in a raw food store or something. With pasteurised eggs you can use then raw in recipes without worry. In some other countries (like in India where I am now) eggs are not pasteurised. So to kill the salmonella etc, it is required to bring the eggs to above 160F in recipes. This you can see in Tiramisu recipes also where it similarly starts with a custard.
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Quick Answer about "What's the difference between cooked and uncooked eggnog?"
Cooked. Raw. So after the initial taste test with both batches freshly made, the cooked one tasted better, no doubt; it was richer, creamier, more custardy, and packed a lot more flavour than the raw one.Is eggnog supposed to be cooked?
If you purchase eggnog from your local grocery store, the eggnog has been prepared with pasteurized eggs. You do not need to cook it.What happens when you cook eggnog?
As both the egg yolks and whites are completely cooked, this cooked eggnog will stay in the fridge for 5-6 days, though as always, use your best judgment. The cream will settle in a layer towards the top, so give it a stir/shake to remix it before serving. Freshly grated nutmeg is my eggnog topping of choice!Is it safe to drink uncooked eggnog?
"Eggnog made with raw, unpasteurized eggs can contain Salmonella, a leading cause of food poisoning," Lee Cotton, RDN LPN, tells Allrecipes. She adds, while the bacteria can make anyone sick, young children, older adults, pregnant women, and anyone with a weakened immune system are particularly vulnerable.Is there raw egg in eggnog?
Traditional eggnog is made with raw egg. Although, when alcohol is added to the eggnog, the alcohol acts as a preservative. Alcohol prevents the eggs from developing Salmonella or any other bacteria for that matter. So making it safe to consume.More answers regarding what's the difference between cooked and uncooked eggnog?
Answer 2
As you've never made any eggnog, stick to the uncooked version this year and ensure all of it is gone by New Year.
The cooked eggnog is what you use during the year to get rid of the excess eggs you have all year long from your chickens and then drink during the Christmas period.¹
Noter¹: Or at least, that's how my granny used to do it, so I've never bothered making the cooked version
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