Do you frequently worry about the cream cheese in your refrigerator? Cream cheese typically spoils after a few days after opening, right?
The good news is that you won’t need to worry again because I’ll explain to you cream cheese’s shelf life and storage options. Let’s start.
How to Tell If Cream Cheese is Bad?
If cream cheese develops mold, has yellow or green specks, or dries out on the surface, those are signs that it needs to be thrown out. It’s also spoiled if it gives off a sour or “funny” smell or if it starts to taste sour.
Your cream cheese should be white, creamy, and fresh-smelling, and it should have its distinctive flesh and slightly tangy flavor. Your cream cheese is likely spoiled if either fails to meet those requirements.
If both the smell and appearance are okay, tasting the product makes perfect sense. It won’t harm you to consume a small amount of cream cheese, even if it is already beginning to spoil.
If cream cheese appears to have some liquid on top, this is a harmless result of separation.
How Long Does Cream Cheese Last?
Cream cheese has a shelf life of several weeks and can typically last for up to a few weeks beyond the use-by date. After opening, the dairy product keeps good quality for 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the brand and ingredients used.
That is a summary of cream cheese’s shelf life. Let’s get to the specifics right away.
Unopened
A sell-by or use-by date is printed on the container of cream cheese, and it typically keeps for an additional week or two, occasionally even longer. It makes sense to open up and check the quality of your expired cream cheese even if it is only a week or so past the printed expiration date. Most likely, everything will go smoothly.
Of course, this is a dairy product we’re talking about, and these aren’t known for their longevity and predictability regarding shelf life. This means that if cream cheese was handled improperly before it was placed in the grocery store’s refrigerated section, it could just as easily expire one week before the date on the label.
After Opening
Depending on the brand, cream cheese keeps for one to two weeks in an open tub or in foil packaging. Some sellers are quite conservative and suggest a fairly short 7-day period, while other sources say you can freely keep open cream cheese for up to two weeks.
The sooner you use the product, the better the quality and the lower the likelihood that your cream cheese will begin to go bad.
In other words, open cream cheese keeps a little longer than open ricotta or cottage cheese.
Finally, mascarpone cheese also fits all of the aforementioned criteria. Although cream cheese and mascarpone are different, they are similar in terms of shelf life.
How to Store Cream Cheese
Like other dairy products, such as buttermilk or yogurt, you should store cream cheese in the fridge.
Once you open the package, make sure it’s well covered when not in use. To further safeguard against microbial contamination, think about putting the original packaging in a freezer bag if it isn’t resealable. Alternately, put the leftovers in a container that can close tightly.
If you’re using cream cheese as a spread, as many people do with for example Philadelphia Cream Cheese, remember to practice proper food hygiene.
That means always use clean cutlery when scooping the cheese and never double-dip. Using a single butter knife for everything, despite the fact that it is much more practical, is not a good idea. especially for dairy products, which don’t last all that long and spoil quickly.
Last but not least, you can freeze cream cheese, but the quality won’t be all that great after defrosting.
TIP
If you don’t have either, you can create a temporary seal out of plastic or aluminum wrap and a rubber band.
Conclusion
Unopened cream cheese comes with a sell-by or use-by date. For opened cream cheese, you can store them for 1 to 2 weeks in the proper way. If cream cheese goes bad, you can judge by its appearance and smell.
Related Reading
Why Does Cheese Mold in The Refrigerator
How to Fix Grainy Cheese Sauce
FAQs
How Do You Know If Cream Cheese Has Gone Bad?
If your cheese has turned yellow or you notice patches of discoloration– blue or green mold formation– then it has already gone bad. Dry or slimy texture. Cream cheese should be smooth or creamy. If your cheese feels dry, grainy, chalky or has a slimy texture, then it is already spoiled.
Can I Still Use Expired Cream Cheese?
When stored properly, cream cheese is best when used by its use-by date. It should still be creamy within a few weeks past this date, by as much as three to four weeks in the refrigerator, but when opened and it’s crumbly, it’s best to throw it out. If mold starts to grow on it, throw it out as well.
What Does Bad Cream Cheese Smell Like?
Cream cheese is a dairy product that can spoil if it is not stored properly. If cream cheese spoils, it will often turn green, develop mold, or smell sour. If you see any of these signs, it is best to discard the cream cheese.
