Can I Freeze Cream Cheese
You can freeze cream cheese for much longer but the texture will change considerably. Cream cheese can last for six months in the freezer if you properly store it. It can be thawed by placing it in the refrigerator overnight. It will be more crumbly and less creamy once thawed.
With your cream cheese unopened, freezing is easy; you can put your cheese straight into the freezer, or you can wrap it with foil or in a crate to better protect from freezing burns. You can place the package straight in the freezer as it came from the store, as long as it is unopened. If it is opened, you may want to place a layer of plastic wrap on the top, and then place the cover over the top of that to prevent freezer burn.
Best is, since foil wrap and the cardboard box will offer a lot of protection against any freezer burn. The leaves will provide layers of protection, and the foil wrap is already a leak-proof seal that prevents freezer burn.
Place blocks into your cooler bag or wrap them with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn, and eliminate any air so that you do not create any ice crystals. For Philly blocks, put them into containers (without wrapping), even though you are freezing whole blocks. The containers Philadelphia crackers come in are perfect for this – you do not have to repackage them if you freeze the whole thing.
The same basic storing methods work well with frozen grated cheese, goat cheese, and frozen cottage cheese, among other types of cheeses. The culinary possibilities are nearly limitless, and you do not need to go running out to the store if you suddenly decide to whip up a recipe using frozen cheese.
Properly freezing cottage cheese and other cheeses will make sure that you have delicious cheese whenever you need it, whether that is for going into recipes such as the Mexican Seven Layer Dip, or adding as a topping for hash brown casserole. The faster you can freeze your cheese, the better it retains its nutrients and stops the formation of ice crystals. You should not keep your cheese around at room temperature too long, because it will develop a more gritty, mushy texture.
| Types | Freezing |
| Unopened | You can put your cheese straight into the freezer, or you can wrap it with foil or in a crate to better protect from freezing burns |
| Opened | To freeze opened cheese, store them in an airtight bag and remove the air |
Although your cream cheese will have changed in texture once frozen, you will still be able to use it in many recipes. The melted cream cheese after it has been defrosted, will have its components separated, and in order to get the creamy back, you can use the following methods.
Before going in for a bigger chill, remember that while you can safely keep your cream cheese frozen up to two months, freezing changes its texture quite drastically. If you know how to properly freeze and thaw your cheese, this does not alter the texture of your cheese much, and you will be able to use it for a variety of purposes. You can easily use formerly frozen cream cheese in baked goods, or for any other application where its gritty texture now would not stand out–in casseroles, for example, or pound cakes.
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As long as the frozen cream cheese is stored correctly, either in an airtight container, or its original wrapper, if the packages are not opened, cream cheese should last for around 8 weeks when kept frozen. If you do not expect to use the cream cheese within a one- or two-week period, and are OK with being unable to use the frozen cream cheese as a spread on breads and other foods, then freezing the open cream cheese is fine.
Remember to check the original package expiration date to ensure the cheese does not expire until two months. Be sure to label each package with the best-by date for six months after it is frozen, so you are not second-guessing yourself afterward.
Allowing it to sit in your fridge beyond its use-by date, prior to freezing, can reduce overall thawed quality. You may have to take a couple tries to nail down a texture problem once you have thawed, but you should be able to get the freeze-thaw thing going. Not that using it poses any risk to your health, but the change in texture and consistency makes it less than enjoyable to dispense.
Works is because when mixed with other ingredients, the changes in consistency and texture are almost invisible, and do not ruin the recipe or dish. While these methods will not give you perfect consistency and consistency, they will bring you closer, and will leave the thawed ice cream smooth enough to be used as a spread. We recommend using soft-thawed ice cream in recipes like pancakes, hot dips, and baked dishes, where the texture will be less apparent.
Once it has thawed, frozen hard cheeses are crumbly, although often the flavor does not noticeably change. You also do not need to worry about defrosting and turning cheese back to cream again when you want to use it. The most common uses include spreading cheese on crackers, sourdough bread, and bagels topped with smoked salmon, avocado, or prosciutto ham.
Philadelphia cheese and Boursin cheese are the two most popular brands that make soft spreadable cheese. Versatile, tasty, and infinitely versatile, cream cheese works just as well as a spread or a component of a recipe, and its rich flavors improve every dish in which it is used, including cheesecakes made to the New York-style, as well as cream cheese frosting. You can use it as a spread, to spread over bagels and toast, and with fruit and crunchy nuts.
1/2 frozen 1/2 fresh I tried it, it was okay, but the fresh is better in the cheesecake recipe, I think. In other words, the Philadelphia Cheesecake Filling, when thawed, requires some additional work before you can use Philadelphia Cheesecake Filling, as long as you are concerned with quality in your pie. Unopened cream cheese can be frozen for up to two months in the original package–a tightly covered foil box, along with a cardboard one, can easily keep it freezer-burn-free.
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From what happens to cream cheese when you freeze it, how you can freeze opened or unopened cream cheese, how long frozen cream cheese lasts, and even how to thaw your frozen cream cheese back to its creamy goodness, we have empowered you with all of the basic information needed to freeze cream cheese successfully. Whether you have been jumping on sales and picking up every carton of cream cheese you can find, or just like having them around for use in your next exciting recipe, we have covered in depth how to preserve and prolong your cream cheeses shelf life through freezing. Since mild cheeses are not known for their ability to resist freezing temperatures, 2-3 months seems to be a reasonable time frame.
Is cream cheese good after frozen?
The best time to use frozen cream cheese is within two months. However, it will last indefinitely. You shouldn’t keep outdated cream cheese in your freezer, even though this probably goes without saying. It won’t improve from the moment you put it in there.
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Why can’t cream cheese be frozen?
Cream cheese cannot be frozen because it contains water content and is thus sensitive to creating and melting ice crystals during freezing and defrosting. During freezing, the water separates from the cheese to form ice crystals, resulting in the thawed cheese becoming grainy and crumbly.
How long can you keep cream cheese in the refrigerator?
You can keep your unopened package of cream cheese in the refrigerator for at least one month beyond the expiration date, with the temperature setting at 40° at all times. However, you can store an opened cream cheese package for only 9-10 days.