For the ultimate decadence, you can’t beat double cream. Perfect for both flavour and texture, this dairy product provides the basis for many desserts and savoury recipes. It is a firm favourite poured over fruit, cake or pie for a tasty treat but can you freeze it?
Can You Freeze Double Cream?
Yes, you can freeze double cream for up to 3 months. However, double cream does not freeze well, as it will often split when frozen. There are a few tips you can follow to combat this, however.
How To Freeze Double Cream
So now you know that you can freeze double cream let’s dive in and find out how.
You have a couple of options to consider, and how you freeze your cream will depend on how much you have and how you plan to use it. If you only use small amounts of cream in your cooking then you can use the ice cube method for perfect portions of easy to use double cream.
If you tend to use more significant amounts or want to freeze all of your cream in one large portion then you can do this too!
How to Freeze Large Portions of Double Cream
If you find that you use a lot of cream in a recipe then this is the option for you.
It is perfect for freezing larger amounts, although it is still recommended you measure out your portions and freeze these separately to avoid wastage when it comes to thawing out your cream.
- Label Bags
Prepare some liquid-safe freezer bags by writing the name of the contents and the date on the bag. - Portion Out
Spoon or pour the perfect amount of cream into each bag so that you have one portion of cream in each bag. Make sure you don’t fill the bags completely. You need to allow some space for the cream to expand as it freezes.
- Seal
Squeeze out any excess air and pop the bags upright into the freezer being careful to avoid any spills.
- Freeze
Place the bag in the freezer.
How to Freeze Double Cream In Ice Cube Trays
This method is perfect if you cook a lot of recipes that need just a tablespoon or two of cream added. This method takes a few extra steps but it is worth it to have a bag full of frozen cream ice cubes to hand whenever you need them.
- Grab Ice Cube Tray
Grab yourself an ice cube tray. - Decant Cream
Pour the double cream into each section of the tray. Make sure you leave a small gap at the top because the cream will expand as it freezes. - Freeze Once
Put the tray into the freezer, keeping it flat and allow it to freeze for a few hours. - Bag Up
Once the double cream has frozen, take it out of the freezer and pop the cubes out of the tray. - Final Freeze
Put the frozen cubes into a freezer bag. Label the bag with the contents and the date, and then pop it into the freezer.
You absolutely can freeze extra thick double cream! If it has a higher fat content it may even freeze better than your usual double cream. If you tend to prefer your cream whipped then this is a bonus because whipping your double cream before freezing should help to avoid some of that grainy texture.
As long as you are happy to take the risk that your Elmlea double cream’s texture and potentially even the taste will change after it has been frozen, then you can freeze Elmlea double cream. It freezes just as well as any double cream.
We recommend removing the cream from its carton as there is a risk it was filled to the brim, which can result in the carton splitting during the freezing process. Cream will expand as it freezes so it needs room to expand into.
How Long Can You Freeze Double Cream?
Unfortunately, double cream isn’t one of those food items that you can keep for a long time in the freezer.
It will degrade pretty fast, and with an item that already isn’t great for freezing, this can lead to an even grainier texture, bad taste and even sour cream!
To avoid this you should use any frozen double cream within three weeks of freezing. The less time it spends in the freezer the better so if you can use it before this time then this will help.
Once opened, double cream will keep for around 4 to 5 days in the fridge. You should seal the top of the cream with a piece of cling film to help preserve it.
How Do You Defrost Double Cream?
For best results, you need to allow your cream to defrost slowly. So when you know you are going to need cream for a recipe, grab it out of the freezer the night before. Then pop it into a bowl and put it in the fridge.
By the morning, you will have defrosted cream ready for use.
You may notice that there is a change in texture, and your cream may look separated and unappetising. Before using the cream, give it a quick blend or stir to mix it back up again. This won’t remove the grainy texture completely but it will help.
Can You Refreeze Double Cream?
Once you have frozen and thawed out your cream you should never refreeze it. The cream will already be in a degraded state and freezing it again would only make this worse.
Make sure you use any defrosted cream within 24 hours of thawing it out.
After this, it may start to go rancid and could even make you feel ill!
Does Double Cream Freeze Well?
Whilst you can freeze double cream safely it is not a food item that freezes well.
The freezing and thawing process does change the texture of the cream considerably and it is only usable in cooking or baking recipes. Unfortunately, this tends to be the case for most types of cream and dairy products.
Sources
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