ShelfLife
How long does ice cream last?
Ice cream keeps its best quality for about 6 months in the freezer from the day you buy it, and sherbet or sorbet about 9 months. Once opened, it's at its best within a few weeks, before ice crystals set in.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Ice cream | — | 6 monthsfrom purchase |
| Sherbet and sorbet | Not recommended | 9 monthsfrom purchase |
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 ice cream has gone bad
- A layer of ice crystals on the surface or under the lid: freezer burn. It's safe, but tastes bland and icy.
- A gummy, sticky or grainy texture, often from melting and refreezing.
- An off or sour smell, or any mold, which can happen if ice cream has thawed for a long time.
How to store ice cream
- Keep ice cream at the back of the freezer, at −18 °C (0 °F) or colder, not in the door, where the temperature swings.
- Press a piece of plastic wrap or parchment onto the surface before closing the lid: it stops ice crystals forming.
- Put it back in the freezer straight after serving; don't let it sit out to soften.
- Buy it last when you shop and get it into the freezer quickly.
Can you refreeze melted ice cream?
It's best not to. Ice cream that has melted completely loses its texture and turns icy and dense when refrozen, and if it sat out for more than 2 hours, bacteria may have grown in it. Ice cream that only softened at the edges, and stayed cold, can go straight back in the freezer.
Questions
Can you eat ice cream past the date?
Ice cream kept frozen solid stays safe, and the date is about quality. Older ice cream may be icy or bland. Throw it out if it has thawed and refrozen, smells odd or shows mold.
Why does ice cream get icy?
Every time the freezer door opens or the tub softens, some ice cream melts and refreezes as larger crystals. Keeping it at the back of the freezer with a layer of wrap on the surface slows this down.
How long can ice cream sit out?
Like other dairy foods, no more than 2 hours at room temperature, and less on a hot day.
Add the freezer's contents to ShelfLife, ice cream included, and know what's in there before buying more.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.