How to Chill Wine Fast
Fridge, freezer, or ice bucket? We tested all three methods to see how they compare for chilling a bottle of wine fast.
Dinner is just around the corner, guests are arriving any minute, and your favorite bottle of Chardonnay is waiting to be opened. There’s just one problem — it’s not cold yet. Whether the best bottle was only available at room temperature at the wine store, or you're going through wine bottles faster than anticipated at a gathering, and people are tempted to use ice in their glass, we've been there.
How long will it take to chill that bottle of wine at the last minute? Don’t worry. We’ve done the legwork for you.
How to chill wine fast
The team at Food & Wine chilled red and white wines in refrigerator, a freezer, and an ice water bath to determine exactly how long each method took to chill wine.
How long to chill wine in the fridge
In a refrigerator, it took 2.5 hours for red wine to reach its ideal temperature of 55°F and three hours for white wine to reach its ideal temperature of 45°F. Keep in mind that the door shelves often don't stay as cold as the interior of the refrigerator, especially if you'll be opening the doors during those two hours.
To prevent last-minute wine chilling in the future, invest in a wine fridge. Our experts evaluated the best wine fridges available based on functionality, capacity, noise, and other factors. If a wine fridge is out of your budget or you don't have space, we also tested concrete, stone, and terra cotta storage vessels that chill wine.
How long to chill wine in the freezer
In a freezer, it took 40 minutes for red wine to reach its ideal temperature and one hour for white wine to reach its ideal temperature.
How long to chill wine in an ice bucket
The winner! In an ice bath, it took just 10 minutes for red wine to reach its ideal temperature and 20 minutes for white wine to reach its ideal temperature. Don't forget the vital step of using water, not just ice.
Related:The 8 Best Ice Buckets to Keep Beverages Cold
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Read the original article on Food & Wine.