How Long To Chill Beer In The Fridge (And How To Speed It Up!)

Do you ever find yourself staring at a six-pack of beer, wondering just how long it needs to chill in the fridge before it’s ready to drink? Well, you’re not alone! As a beer lover myself, I know the struggle of trying to achieve that perfect level of chill for my cold beer.

In fact, just last weekend I was in a backyard BBQ with friends and everyone wanted to know how long to chill beer in the fridge to make sure we didn’t serve up any lukewarm beverages. That’s why I’m here to share some helpful tips for getting your beer to that ideal temperature the fastest possible.

So, grab a cold one (or room temperature one, we’ll fix that soon) and let’s get started!

How Long Does It Take For Beer To Get Cold In The Fridge

Whether you’re dealing with bottled or canned beers, or even other drinks like soda, the amount of time it takes to chill them in the fridge can vary.  Multiple factors affect the chilling time of alcoholic beverages like the alcohol content of the beer, sugar content, starting temperature of the drink, fridge temperature and others.

However, on average, a good rule of thumb is to leave your room-temperature beers in a standard refrigerator(*) for at least 7–9 hours to get them to a good cold temperature, typically 40° F (4° C).

(*) The FDA recommends keeping the fridge temperature at or below 40° F (4° C).

This is typically how long does it take to get something cold in the fridge.

Probably you are thinking, ok, that’s great, but how can I speed up this process?

How To Chill Your Beers Fast In The Fridge?

Here I tell you what I always take into consideration that help to cool down my beers faster in the fridge:

Tips:

1. Set the fridge to the coldest temperature: Before putting your beer cans or bottles in the fridge, make sure the fridge itself is already as cold as possible. This can help reduce the overall time it takes for your beer to reach the ideal beer temperature.
2. Use a colder part of the fridge: The back of the fridge is typically the coldest part, so consider placing your beer there to help it chill faster. 
3. Avoid overcrowding the fridge: If there are too many items in the fridge, it can take longer for everything to chill properly. Try to leave enough space for the cold air to circulate and avoid overcrowding the fridge.
4. Use a beer chiller stick: Simply take the chiller stick out of the freezer and then insert it into your beer bottle to help cool it down and keep it cold for longer.
5. Learn from the experience. It’s also important to avoid over-chilling or under-chilling your beer, as both can have a negative impact on taste. Depending on the type of beer you drink and your fridge, consider using a thermometer and a timer, so you can learn how long it takes to chill your beer to your preferred temperature.
6. Finally, if you have a fridge-freezer (a fridge that includes a freezer compartment) and you are in a hurry, you can chill your beer faster by wrapping your drinks in a damp paper towel and placing them in the freezer. 

This method is risky and requires more explanation, see the following section below.

If you have the time, stick to chilling your beer in the fridge for the safer results:

Pros:

• Chilling your beers in the refrigerator is an effective method if you have time.
• It’s also a good place to leave some of your beers to have them always ready if some unexpected guests come home.
• There is no chance of explosion or freezing.

Cons:

• You need a fridge and electricity. 
• It is not fast. It will take 7–9 hours for a warm beer to get cold (about 40° F / 4° C). It may not be the best option for those who require their beers chilled quickly. In such cases, there are other methods to chill your beers much faster. More on this later!
• It can take up a significant amount of space in your fridge and may not be the most efficient use of energy.
• It may not be the best option for those who want their cold beer to be at the optimal temperature for drinking.

For the last two disadvantages above, some beer enthusiasts prefer to invest in a separate beer fridge or cooler to keep their beers at the perfect temperature without sacrificing fridge space. We can help you find the best mini fridge for beer that will your guests jealous.

How Long To Get A Beer Cold In The Freezer

What happens if you are in a hurry and want to chill your beer fast? It may be tempting to try to speed up the chilling process by putting your beer in the freezer. It is a quick but not always safe way, your delicious and sometimes expensive beers can freeze or even explode. You can read my explosion-free step-by-step guide about how to chill a beer in the freezer without ruin it.

Pros: It is faster. You can chill an average room-temperature beer by putting it in the freezer for about 20–30 minutes. If the bottle or can is wrapped with a wet dish towel, the chilling time can be about 10–5 minutes, due to the heat transfer, as I explain in the article.

Cons: You need to set a timer and never forget them in the freezer. They can be ruined quickly: they can freeze and even explode.

The freezer is definitely not the place to store your beers. Not even overnight, unless you are happy with frozen beer or a night explosion…

How Long Does It Take To Chill A Beer Fast Without A Fridge

Let’s see now some alternatives methods to chill your beers without a fridge.

This is the situation: you want to enjoy a cold brew but you don’t have a fridge, or space in the fridge or enough time to wait for it to chill.

I can relate to such a situation, which is why I delved deeper into the topic of how to chill a beer fast and compiled a list of 11 proven and effective methods that any beer enthusiast will find useful.

In summary, here you have the table of chilling times:

Method	Chilling time is about
Put the beer in the freezer	20–30 minutes
Wrap the beer with wet paper towel when stay in the freezer	10–15 minutes
Soak the beer in an ice bath with salt	2 minutes
Soak the beer in an ice bath with salt in a cooler	2 minutes
Soak the beer in ice water	30 minutes
Use a chiller machine: Chill-o-Matic	1 minute
Leave the beer in the fridge	7–9 hours
Submerge your beer in a river or cold water	2–4 hours
Bury the beers	more than 4 hours
The 2 pots method	more than 4 hours
Blow your beer with compressed air	3–5 minutes

Last Words

Chilling beer is an important part of the enjoyment for any true beer enthusiast. Whether you’re planning a party or just want to enjoy a cold brew after a long day, It’s relevant to figure out how long it takes to chill your beer in the fridge. You now know the answer.

And if you’re in a hurry, follow the simple tips I’ve recommended you to speed up the process.

So, grab your favorite beer, pop it in the fridge, and cheers to a perfectly chilled brew!