The Lush Chef

If Baileys Irish Cream contains about 50% fresh cream, then why is it that you don't have to put it in the fridge after opening it?  And why does it last so long?  It's kind of a magical mystery, like leprechauns and four-leaf clovers...

Your bottle of Irish Cream is good for over 2 years (30 months is the shelf life, according to Baileys), regardless of whether or not you put in the refrigerator.  It's that lovely combination of fresh cream, sans preservatives, plus the whiskey/spirits, that acts as a natural preservative.  Nothing like a crap load of alcohol to give something a shelf life, right?

However, keep note that Baileys will go bad, and sometimes that 30 month timeframe doesn't always apply.  It depends on how long that bottle has been sitting around in the store, and room temperature can have an effect as well.  Just know, that if you open it up and that whiskey and cream has separated...umm, throw it out.  The Lush Chef likes to buy the smaller bottles because she likes everything fresh.