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Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?

cream cheese in a bowl and spread on a bagel.
Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com

Cream cheese is a delicious staple to have in the fridge. But sometimes the container is too big, and it’s hard to finish it before it spoils.

To make this ingredient last even longer, store it in the freezer.

Opened cream cheese can last in the fridge for up to 10 days; unopened, it can last up to 3-4 weeks past the sell-by date. If you don’t want this food to go to waste, you can also store cream cheese in the freezer for several months.

For unopened cream cheese, you can place the container directly in the freezer. If the container is open, wrap it in aluminum foil or in a freezer-safe bag. This method protects it from the cold air.

Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil

Lock in flavor and protect your food with heavy duty aluminum foil.

When you’re ready to reuse your frozen cream cheese, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge for a few hours.

Keep in mind that the texture will be slightly different when you freeze the cream cheese. After thawing your spread, the consistency will be more crumbly than before. Although this texture may not work as well to spread over a bagel, it’s still an excellent ingredient for home-cooked meals like a creamy soup or yummy desserts like cheesecake.

If you’re looking to find some creative recipes in the kitchen, you can also learn how to make your own cream cheese from scratch.

Kelsey Opel Kelsey Opel
Kelsey Opel is a freelance writer and digital storyteller based in Austin, Texas. She enjoys writing for food, entertainment and mental health spaces. Off the clock, she loves indulging in an avocado margarita and chips and queso at her favorite Tex-Mex spot in town. Read Full Bio »
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