ShelfLife
How long does cream cheese last?
Cream cheese keeps about 2 weeks in the fridge from the day you buy it. Once opened, keep it tightly covered and check it before each use. The USDA doesn't recommend freezing it, because it turns crumbly.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Cream cheese | 2 weeksfrom purchase | Not recommended |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if cream cheese has gone bad
- Mold of any color. Because cream cheese is soft, throw out the whole package rather than scraping it off.
- A sour or rancid smell, or a bitter taste.
- A slimy surface, or a dry, cracked texture with yellowish color.
- A little clear liquid on top is just whey: pour it off or stir it in.
How to store cream cheese
- Keep cream cheese in its original container or foil wrap, sealed, on a fridge shelf rather than in the door.
- Use a clean knife each time so crumbs and bacteria don't get in.
- Don't leave it out for more than 2 hours, including on a party platter.
- Wrap an opened block tightly in plastic or put it in a sealed container.
Can you freeze cream cheese?
The USDA doesn't recommend it: thawed cream cheese turns grainy and crumbly and won't spread smoothly. If you'd rather not waste it, freeze it in its sealed package and use it thawed in cooked or baked dishes like cheesecake, sauces, dips or casseroles, where the texture matters less.
Questions
Can you eat cream cheese after the expiration date?
Sealed cream cheese kept cold may still be fine a little past its date, but it's a soft, perishable cheese. Check it carefully: any mold, sour smell or sliminess means it goes in the bin.
How long can cream cheese sit out?
No more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour above 32 °C (90 °F). That includes cream cheese frosting on a cake.
Does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Keep frosted cakes and cookies in the fridge and take them out shortly before serving.
Add cream cheese to ShelfLife with its date, and get a reminder before it's past its best.
Related foods
- CheeseFridge: 6 months
- MilkFridge: until the use-by date
- YogurtFridge: 1–2 weeks
- BreadPantry: 14–18 days
Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.