Cream cheese is a versatile ingredient. Whether it’s generously dolloped on a freshly baked bagel or turned into frosting. Unfortunately, as soon as you’ve opened a tub of cream cheese, it doesn’t tend to last very long. So, can you freeze it or not?
Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze cream cheese for up to 3 months. The best way to freeze cream cheese is to place it straight in the freezer as soon as you bring it home from the ship, in its original packaging.
Do Does Cream Cheese freeze well? No
Can you refreeze Cream Cheese? No
How to Freeze Cream Cheese
It’s important to note here that when you freeze cream cheese, its texture changes dramatically. Once it’s thawed, it will no longer boast a soft and creamy texture but will be a little grainy instead.
Cream cheese that has been frozen can be used in a range of baking recipes, but it probably won’t taste great on your morning toasted bagel!
If you’re still happy to go ahead, here’s how to freeze any cheese that has already been opened (if your tub is unopened, simply place it in the freezer as it is!):
- Transfer to an Airtight Container: Scoop your cream cheese out of its original packaging and transfer it to an airtight container—the smaller the container, the better.
- Seal, Label, and Freeze: Seal the airtight container and label as desired. It’s a good idea to write today’s date, as well as the date you should use it. Remember, you can freeze cream cheese for up to two months.
3 Tips for Freezing Cream Cheese
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cream cheese to have the best results:
Avoid Doing So
You should avoid freezing cream cheese altogether if you want to enjoy its soft and creamy texture. Because cream cheese is made up of about half water, it separates from the curds during the freezing process. If you’re not prepared for the texture change, you’ll be seriously disappointed when you come to enjoy your Philly Cheese Steak wrap!
Consider Recipes
Some sources might tell you it’s okay to use previously frozen cream cheese in a cheesecake recipe, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Frozen cream cheese is good for recipes like a pound cake, potato casserole, or an oven-baked dip, where the texture isn’t relevant.
Try Freeze Cheesecake
While it’s not a good idea to use cream cheese that has been frozen to make a cheesecake, it’s absolutely fine to freeze cheesecake once it has been made. This might seem strange, but cheesecake tends to freeze really well and is an ideal make-ahead dessert.
How Long Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?
You can freeze cream cheese for around two months.
The best way to protect cream cheese from freezer burn is to put it into the freezer in its original supermarket packaging before even opening it.
However, if you decide to use some before freezing it, just make sure you have transferred it to a suitable airtight container. Freezer burn will affect the taste of your cream cheese, so you need to make sure it’s well wrapped in the freezer.
Once opened, cream cheese will last for between 7 and 10 days in the fridge. If unopened, then it is usually fine for 1 month or until the use-by date on the packet.
How Do You Defrost Cream Cheese?
To thaw cream cheese, remove it from the freezer the night before you plan to use it, and allow it to defrost in the fridge.
When you open it, you will notice that its texture has changed dramatically (hopefully, you were aware of this before now!) Grab a whisk or spoon and try and reincorporate the ingredients as best you can.
You will most likely be left with a crumbly texture, but providing it has been well covered, the taste should still be good.
Can You Refreeze Cream Cheese?
Definitely not. While it’s safe to do so if it has been defrosted in the fridge, you should not freeze cream cheese more than once.
The flavour will be even less appealing after the second round of freezing and thawing, which limits its usefulness in recipes, to say the least.
Does Cream Cheese Freeze Well?
As you’ve probably realised by now, cream cheese doesn’t freeze well at all. If you put it in the freezer, you need to accept that its texture will change dramatically, and it will only be good for specific dishes.
If you want that rich, creamy texture that cream cheese is so well known for, it’s best to avoid putting it in the freezer altogether.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing cream cheese or cream cheese in general, then these may help:
Yes, you can freeze Philadelphia cream cheese. Portion it out into an airtight container, seal and then place it into the freezer. It can be frozen for around 3 months.
Unfortunately, reviving it isn’t all that possible. It does not freeze well, at all. It’s as simple as that. However, you can use it in some dishes where the texture won’t matter so much such as an oven-baked dip. But if you want smooth, creamy cheese then avoid using it.
