In some cases, eating ice cream as a snack or even a dessert does not keep it long enough for concerns about expiration to arise. Does ice cream go bad?
Yes, ice cream can go bad. Ice cream has a limited shelf life even though it is kept in the freezer, a place where nothing seems to ever go bad. It’s totally understandable if you never thought to look, but your preferred dairy-based dessert does have a best-by date.
Whether you recently purchased some at the store or made your very own homemade tub of ice cream, you should definitely store it properly to prevent wastage of this delectable treat.
Continue reading to learn how long ice cream keeps, how to store it effectively, and how to tell if it’s gone bad.
How Does Ice Cream Go Bad in the Freezer?
You might imagine that the freezer is some sort of food-preserving fountain of youth that keeps food palatable indefinitely. In contrast to science fiction, your freezer doesn’t put your food in a state of cryostasis. The growth of bacteria can be slowed down but not completely by the freezer.
For non-vegan, lactose-tolerant ice cream lovers, it’s important to keep in mind that your typical ice cream contains a wide variety of frozen dairy, including condensed milk, cream, and even butter fat. There might also be eggs in there.
While all of that’s ultimately pasteurized and frozen before heading to its point of sale, you’re still working with dairy at the end of the day, and even storing your ice cream in a way that would give rise to serious freezer burn can’t stop bacteria from fulfilling its drive to promulgate.
If it helps to make things clearer, consider that ice cream is essentially frozen milk that has a longer shelf life. You’re not aging a fine cheese here, after all.
How Long Does Ice Cream Last in the Freezer?
We all adore ice cream, but regrettably, it does eventually spoil. So, before dipping into that tub of ice cream in the freezer’s back, there are a few important things you should look out for.
How long will your ice cream remain frozen then? Well, that depends on a few factors, such as how you’re storing it and whether you’ve already opened it.
Typically, an unopened tub of ice cream is safe to eat for 3 to 4 months. You’ll then have to discard it!
For optimal taste and quality, it’s recommended that you eat it within 2 months and store at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it has already been opened, you have about one month to finish it… but that won’t be a problem right? I’m certain it won’t apply to me!
It will spoil much more quickly if you’ve made an ice cream cake or if you’ve combined it with other ingredients like eggs, cream, or butter. Make sure to finish the ice cream cake within a week.
How to Tell If Your Ice Cream Has Gone Bad?
Take a closer look to determine whether your ice cream is truly past its prime. Typically, the best indicator of trouble is ice fragments on top of the lid and beneath the ice cream. You can certainly scrape them off and continue, but it’s a warning that a strange mixture of icy soup is about to come your way.
Even though this is something to be aware of, there doesn’t seem to be much information about a connection between eating ice cream that has gone bad and developing serious foodborne illnesses. However, even a minor incident of interacting with the wrong bacteria can be uncomfortable for your digestive system.
Read about What is Mochi Ice Cream?
How to Make Your Ice Cream Last Longer?
Ice cream should be kept in a properly closed container inside a freezer that is set to 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C). This is the ideal storage environment for ice cream. If you really want to go all out, you can place plastic wrap on top of the ice cream inside the container to create a texture-preserving seal that delays the formation of ice crystals. That’ll help you enjoy less “ice” and more “cream.”
Other than that, practice common sense safety measures like bringing ice cream home or serving it up without leaving it out of the refrigerator for an extended period of time. Making sure the lid is on tightly will also aid in the prevention of the problem in addition to the more aggressive action of plastic wrapping.
Ice cream is therefore just as mortal as the rest of us, despite the fact that you may wish it could last forever. Naturally, the easiest solution to your problems is to just eat however much ice cream you’re worried about as quickly as possible, whether that means going to town on a whole pint by yourself or throwing an impromptu ice cream social to make sure it all gets eaten. Eating ice cream before it spoils is one of the simplest ways to contribute to the effort to reduce food waste, which is a widespread issue. Do your part.
Read about Is Ice Cream Gluten-Free?
What is Freezer Burn?
Freezer burn is the main reason why ice cream and many other food items spoil even when they are frozen. This occurs as a result of moisture that permeates your ice cream, evaporates, and then freezes on the surface.
In order to maintain the highest quality of ice cream, you must avoid these ice crystals, which are the primary symptoms of freezer burn.
How to Prevent Freezer Burn?
Here are some suggestions for preventing freezer burn so that your ice cream stays sweet, creamy, and delicious as always.
- Ice cream should always be stored at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Your chances of avoiding freezer burn are higher the colder it is.
- Place your ice cream in the freezer’s very back. This is due to the fact that some components of the freezer, such as the freezer door, are susceptible to temperature changes. Make sure your prized tub of ice cream is in the coolest location, with a steady cool temperature.
- Sometimes you’ll need to remove the tub from the freezer to get a scoop, and doing so might cause the ice cream to partially melt. Before putting the tub back in the freezer, try to get rid of any melted components. It’s important to keep the tub completely frozen at all times because ice cream that has melted and been refrozen is more likely to contain bacteria.
- To keep the ice cream from being exposed to air, wrap it in plastic before replacing the lid on the tub. You can additionally seal the tub in a plastic bag for added security.
- FINISH YOUR ICE CREAM UP AT ONCE! When there is no more ice cream to freeze, this is the quickest, tastiest, and safest way to avoid freezer burn. Enjoy that sweet, creamy goodness, and if it’s a little too sinful for you, share it with someone else.
Can You Still Eat Ice Cream If It Gets Freezer Burn?
We were relieved to hear Mengnel say that eating ice cream with freezer burn is still possible, but she was quick to add that it won’t taste as good. She suggests making milkshakes out of freezer-burned ice cream to make up for it. We now have a reason to make milkshakes in the style of the South, so this was good news.
Conclusion on Making Your Ice Cream Last Longer
Covering your ice cream with wax paper or plastic cling wrap before replacing the lid will help it stay fresher longer and prevent freezer burn. It’s important to put it in the freezer as soon as you get home from the store so it doesn’t begin to soften or melt.
Thank you for reading.
