Can You Freeze Cream Cheese – Steps To Freeze And Thaw Cream Cheese

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Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?: Have you ever eaten a bagel with that white spread or had a cake with yummy white frosting? If you have, then there is a very high chance that you would have absolutely loved the finger licking flavors of that white cream. Well, it is none other than cream cheese. This smooth and creamy cream is used in various ways, for instance as dips, frosting, spread, cream blocks, etc.

Its versatility makes it a common item in probably all households, thereby augmenting the need to store it properly. Since cream cheese is a perishable dairy product, it is important to freeze it smoothly so it stays fresh for a long time. That is why, in this article, we will be telling you everything that you need to know about freezing cream cheese, extending its shelf life, and eventually thawing it.

Can You Freeze Cream Cheese

Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?

Yes absolutely. You can freeze cream cheese in the freezer at a temperature of -3 degree celsius. If you have not opened the packet yet, then you can just put it away in the freezer directly. On the other hand, if you have already used some of the cheese, then you can cover the rest of it with a thin plastic wrap and leave it in the freezer.

Just make sure that you place it in the seclusion otherwise it might catch aromas from other items in the freezer. Lastly, there might be a slight change in the texture of cream cheese as it will turn grainy, but with enough heating and whisking, you can retrieve back its original texture.

How Long Does Frozen Cream Cheese Last?

Cream cheese is a dairy product that has a comparatively smaller shelf life, thereby making it vulnerable to spoilage pretty soon. However, if you have made it with good quality milk and preserved it professionally in the freezer, then it can last up to a month. Also, there is a stark difference in the shelf lives of homemade cream cheese and shop-bought one because of the number of preservatives added in the former.

A table with the estimated shelf lives of various kinds of cream cheese is given below for your reference.

Type of Cream Cheese At room temperature In the refrigerator In the freezer
Shop-bought Cream Cheese 2-3 days Up to 10 days At least a month
Homemade cream cheese – 4-5 days 15-20 days

‘-’ means that cream cheese is not meant to be stored there.

Can You Refreeze Cream Cheese?

Technically speaking, Yes! You can refreeze cream cheese exactly the way you froze it i.e. by wrapping it up tightly in fresh foil and leaving it in the freezer. However, we would strongly suggest against doing so because cream cheese loses its texture and flavor considerably if it’s refrozen. It may turn severely grainy and might not spread properly on bagels and other bread.

Hence, it is advised that you should only refreeze cream cheese if you are going to use it as frosting or filling. In contrast, if you wish to use it as a dip or spread, you probably won’t like grainy cream cheese.

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Does Cream Cheese Freeze Well?

Yes, Cream cheese freezes really well given that you are freezing it for the very first time. If you are refreezing it, then results might not be desirable. Just grab that block of cheese, wrap it up in fresh plastic foils, and leave it in the freezer. If you have shop-bought cream cheese, then it will freeze even better as it has a uniform texture and a large number of preservatives.

What Else To Know About Freezing Cream Cheese?

Apart from the instructions given before, you must consider incorporating these pointers as well when you are about to freeze your cream cheese. Let’s go through them as well.

  • When you are done wrapping the leftover cheese with foil, make sure that you place it only in the coldest and secluded section of the freezer. This ensures that this cheese doesn’t catch any aromas from other items present in the freezer.
  • After doing so, you must mark every cheese block with its packaging date so you get an idea about its expiry as well.
  • Cream cheese must not be left in the freezer for a very long time as its probiotics might become permanently inactive by then.

How To Thaw Frozen Cream Cheese?

Now that you have successfully frozen your cream cheese, the next step must be to thaw it gently. Well, no worries, we got you covered! In this section, we will explain every single step that is required for thawing cream cheese.

  • If you are in no hurry to use your cream cheese, then simply leave it in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours and it will soften up naturally.
  • However, if you wish to use it immediately in a dish, then you can keep it in a preheated oven for another 10-15 minutes and then whisk it gently. This will make it creamy again.
  • Lastly, if your cream cheese has got freezer burns and has turned grainy, then you must whisk it roughly and then leave on the kitchen counter for some time. After it settles down, you may use it for either spread or frosting.

Become familiar with many details of freezing brie cheese and the steps involved too detailed by following our quick guide on Can you Freeze Brie and learn the tips & tricks.

FAQs On Can You Freeze Cream Cheese

1. Can you freeze cream cheese dips?

Sure! You can easily freeze cream cheese dips as long as you have covered them nicely and placed in a secluded portion. Afterwards, if you wish to thaw it, then you can simply heat it a little and then whisk. This will make cream cheese dips even more creamier, thereby improving its appeal.

2. Can you freeze cream cheese frosting?

Yes, you can freeze cream cheese frosting similar to cream cheese dips, spreads, etc. All you need to do is pour it into an airtight container, cover it tightly, and then leave it in the freezer. You will not have to worry about it turning grainy because the texture doesn’t matter in cream cheese frosting.

3. How do you make cream cheese creamy after freezing?

When you are thawing cream cheese, you might stumble upon a major issue i.e. cream cheese turning grainy. In such a situation, you can take out the cream cheese and heat it in the oven for at least 10 minutes. Afterward, you can whisk it for some time and it will become creamier again.

Final Thoughts

We hope that this article told you everything that you needed to know about storing cream cheese in the freezer, its estimated shelf life, and much more. Given the fragility of cream cheese, it makes sense to put in some effort to freeze it in a 100% secure manner. Keep connected to our website for freezing articles like Can you Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting and others.

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