Can You Put Hot Coffee In The Fridge? (Find Out Now!)
Coffee is a delicious morning pick-me-up, but it can lead to an afternoon slump if you have it too early. To avoid this, should you put a hot cup of coffee in the fridge and save it for later?
You can put coffee in the refrigerator, given it’s in a vacuum-sealed container to prevent oxidation and degraded flavoring. After your coffee is stored in the proper cup inside of a fridge, it can easily be reheated later. If you want to make your hot coffee iced, try freezing a batch in ice cube trays for cooling.
Coffee can also be stored in the freezer, but it is not recommended if you plan on reheating it. The high moisture levels and frequent temperature changes will result in freezer burn and a loss of flavor.
Follow along to learn if it’s a good idea to store hot coffee in the fridge and about alternatives for cooling down your cup of joe. You’ll also find out if you can reheat coffee after it sits in the fridge.
Is It a Good Idea to Put Hot Coffee in the Fridge?
The answer to this is pretty simple- you can, but you shouldn’t. Putting a cup of coffee in the fridge can cause all sorts of problems.
It’s a bad idea to put hot coffee in the refrigerator mostly due to oxidation. When this happens, your coffee turns sour and tastes bitter. The coffee might be cold now, but it won’t taste very good.
To prevent this, it’s best to store your liquid in a vacuum-sealed container. This will prevent too much air from getting inside your coffee mug.
Another reason why putting hot coffee in the fridge is not a good idea is because it can absorb flavors and odors from other foods and drinks inside. This is especially true for flavored coffees, like those with hazelnut or vanilla syrup.
Nobody wants a cup of coffee that tastes like last night’s spaghetti!
If you keep your coffee in the fridge, it will not taste as fresh or flavorful as when it’s in a sealed canister.
Other Ways to Cool Hot Coffee Off
Now, you have to ask yourself: Do you want an iced coffee? Are you trying to save your cup for later? Are you keeping the whole pot cold for the rest of the week?
If you simply want an iced coffee and don’t have a machine that makes a cold cup, try this trick:
- Brew a batch of coffee as you normally would.
- Then, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze them.
Next time you dream of iced coffee, use these cubes instead of regular ice, as this method prevents the watering-down effect that usually occurs.
If you want to save your cup for later, just put it in a thermos and leave it sitting on the counter. There’s no reason to alter the temperature that extremely, just to heat it back up.
Keeping a whole pot in the refrigerator for the rest of the week is not usually recommended. If you want iced coffee, most grocery stores sell versions of it pre-packaged. If you want just a hot cup per day, invest in a single-serving machine like a Keurig or Nespresso.
Can I Reheat Coffee After Putting It in the Fridge?
Yes, you can most definitely reheat your coffee after putting it in the fridge (although we recommend just leaving it sitting out if it’s for same-day drinking).
Just remember to put the coffee in a sealed container first, so it doesn’t lose all of its rich flavor!
Related Questions
Can you put hot coffee in a plastic cup?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!Never put hot coffee in a plastic cup. Plastic, in general, can be dangerous to drink out of, and this multiplies when you’re talking about hot liquids.Although the cup seems to be intact, when you heat plastic to higher temperatures, it will leach toxins and essentially make your otherwise safe cup of coffee dangerous to ingest.Opt to drink out of a ceramic, stainless steel, or approved glass cup (like Pyrex) instead.
Is hot coffee good for a sore throat?
If you mix honey into your cup of coffee, it can be good for a sore throat.However, when you’re sick, the general rule of thumb is to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods. Coffee can be rather acidic, so it’s best to trade your usual morning cup for a decaf tea or other warm beverage until you feel better.
Can you put hot coffee in the freezer?
You can freeze hot coffee, but it’s best to only use it in the form of ice cubes for your iced coffee afterward.An air-tight container won’t work in the freezer because it’s too sealed off to allow for the internal components to get that cold. Freezing an entire pot of hot coffee can also be dangerous due to the way thermal shock affects glass.Trust me; you won’t want to drink coffee after it’s been frozen anyways- it tastes pretty gross. Luckily single-serve machines are fairly affordable and can provide you with a fresh cup every morning.
The Conclusion
Putting hot coffee in the fridge can cause it to absorb odors and flavors from other foods. This is why you should avoid this practice altogether.
Storing coffee in the refrigerator will also induce an oxidation process, leaving you with sour, expired-tasting coffee. To prevent this, try storing your cup in a vacuum-sealed container.
The best place for storing your coffee is on the counter in order to keep it at room temperature or even slightly cooler than that. If you are looking to save your coffee for later, invest in a thermos that will preserve not only the taste but also the temperature.
If iced coffee is on your mind, try the tips listed above for how to make coffee-flavored ice cubes!
Emily is a copywriter with over five years of experience in crafting content for the home renovation and remodeling industry. She loves house projects, whether it be painting a room or tweaking small design elements to transform a space. Her favorite aesthetic is french modern because of its clean lines and airy feeling! When not writing, Emily loves to travel and check out architectural details all over the world.
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