The Korean liquor soju is a popular drink in the country and around the world, but it’s tough to find information about it in English. But thankfully we’re here to help. You’ll find the facts and history of soju on this site, plus answers to some of the big questions that people ask about soju. One of these that we have the answer to, is: does soju freeze? To find out, just keep reading!
Does soju freeze?
The answer to this question is a little complicated, but in general: no, soju does not freeze. At least, not easily.
Generally, if you are keeping soju in your fridge at home, it probably won’t get to a level where it’s so cold that it will significantly affect the viscosity of the liquid.
However, varieties of soju with a lower alcohol content – particular in lower strength flavored soju – are more likely to freeze. It’s also quite possible that if you keep soju in the freezer, it will become a little bit slushy as the water in the drink freezes at a higher temperature.
Soju is typically somewhere in the region of about 12% to 20% alcohol by volume (“abv”). Whilst it typically contains around 50% alcohol, diluted by water and other flavorings and additives, the alcohol content means that it is pretty difficult to freeze solid.
If you want to learn more about the typical alcohol content of soju, we have a whole article on it that you can read right here.
What temperature does soju freeze?
If for some reason you want to freeze soju solid, you would need to reduce it to a temperature of at least minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 158 degrees Fahrenheit).
At higher temperatures than this, but below the freezing point of water of 0 degrees Celsius, it is likely to freeze partially, due to the water content as we’ve discussed above.
To get soju to the point where it is entirely frozen, you would need to get it to a temperature way lower than a standard domestic freezer. For example, my freezer is currently set at minus 12 degrees Celsius (approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit).
However, this will start freezing the water in the soju. At the very least, it will chill the soju and make it easier to drink. Some restaurants therefore keep their soju in the freezer for this very reason.
A commercial deep freeze will usually be set in the range of between -18C to -22C – so below 0 degrees Fahrenheit – which still won’t be sufficient to fully freeze soju.
What happens if you put soju in the freezer?
The main effect – some might say benefit – of keeping soju in the freezer is the influence on the way it tastes.
If you chill or freeze soju, this will impact both the aromas of the drink, and the way your tongue interprets the taste.
As many people find the taste of soju to be quite strong, you may therefore wish to store your soju in the freezer for a short while before drinking. If you want to learn more about how soju tastes, please have a look at our article about what soju tastes like.
However, if you’re drinking flavored soju, this means that you are less likely to get the full force of the (usually fruit) flavor. For that reason, we don’t recommend storing flavored soju in the freezer.
However, a short disclaimer. Please don’t drink straight from the bottle just after it’s been taken out of the freezer. It’s possible that you could get your lips or tongue stuck to a bottle that has been frozen, and we wouldn’t want you to get injured.
Like most people, you’ll want to drink it out of a shot glass. We have a guide to the best soju shot glasses that you might want to read.
Glass bottles can also be damaged if they are stored in a freezer for a long period of time. Soju has a higher water content and lower alcohol by volume when compared to, for example, tequila or whisky.
Therefore, if the bottle is full and sealed, the water could expand and weaken the glass. For this reason, we don’t recommend keeping soju in the freezer for any longer than a few hours.
Soju popsicle recipe
Do you fancy something a bit different to just drinking soju out of a shot glass? Why not try a soju popsicle?
If you dilute soju with soda – or even better, with Yakult – and leave it in the freezer until it’s solid, you can make a summery treat.
Because the juice and Yakult freeze at a higher temperature than soju, and the concentration of the alcohol is reduced by the extra ingredients, you can make an awesome freeze pop!
We like simple recipes here at DrinkPirate.com. This means our favorite recipe contains just three ingredients:
- Soju: half a bottle
- Yakult: two bottles
- Sprite (or similar): one can
The above quantities will make six popsicles, but if you want more, simply increase the quantities accordingly.
Simply stir together the ingredients, decant them into the popsicle mould – this set is perfect for the job – and pop them in the freezer until they are solid.
To make sure they have chance to freeze, it’s best to ensure you’ve prepared them a day in advance. This will give them chance to freeze overnight. However, if your freezer at home is particularly cold, you might be able to give them a bit less time in the chiller.
Conclusion
So we’ve learnt that, whilst it’s not impossible, it’s quite difficult to freeze soju at home.
Some might say that trying to freeze soju is a waste of a perfectly good bottle. However, if the taste of soju isn’t for you, or you want to drink it quickly, it may well be a good plan.
But don’t take my word for it. Try freezing soju for yourself to see how it tastes and how it alters the flavor profile.
And if that’s not for you, why not try making soju and Yakult freeze pops with our recipe? They’re great on a warm day if you fancy something to cool off and impress your friends.