How Long is Cream Cheese (Open and Unopened) Good For?
Cream cheese is a versatile topping or ingredient. Whether you want to spread it on a bagel or implement it into your latest dish, there are tons of uses for cream cheese. It may become a staple in your refrigerator.
But how long does cream cheese last for? If you keep it in the fridge for too long, can it go bad? The truth is that it varies. Unopened cream cheese can typically last for 3 or 4 weeks after the sell-by date and be fine. As far as open cream cheese containers, you are typically looking at a week to 10 days before it starts to turn.
Using Cream Cheese
For the most part, cream cheese comes in small enough containers that it going bad is rarely an issue. Philadelphia, the most notable manufacturer of cream cheese, typically have containers that are about 8 ounces in size.
Since you can use cream cheese for so many things, it tends to go long before the expiration date. Whether you use it for bagels or as an addition to a recipe, that 8 ounces can run out really quickly. That said, there are times where it can go ignored and unused. That is where questions about its shelf life come into play.
How Long Will Cream Cheese Last in the Fridge?
Like just about any other food item that we purchase, we have the intention of using it within a relatively short period. That said, schedules change, like eating out more often than normal. Before you know it, you have a few items in the fridge that may become questionable.
Unopened
Should you leave your cream cheese unopened for a bit, you are likely fine. Sealed cream cheese can last 3-4 weeks after the sell-by date and still be good. Just check it when you open it to ensure that there isn’t an odd smell or a liquid texture. Don’t notice those things? You are in the clear.
Opened
Now, if you have opened the cream cheese container already, that is a whole other situation. Typically speaking, you can expect an open cream cheese container to stay good for about a week or so, maybe 10 days at the most. Some of the new containers with sealable lids are extending that shelf life a bit, however.
It is not uncommon to get a small, 8-ounce tub of Philadelphia cream cheese and make it last for weeks. As always, take a good look at the cream cheese before you eat it, especially if it has been there a while.
Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?
When it comes to storing food items, we all know that storing them in the freezer is typically best for long-term storage. So, if you have a lot of cream cheese and you don’t want it to go bad, can you freeze it?
The opinions tend to be mixed when it comes to freezing cream cheese. Some say that it freezes just fine while others are not in favor of it. Cream cheese can become a bit crumbly when it is frozen and then thawed. You may be able to run it through a blender or stir it, though the texture may not quite be right.
Recipes. If you plan to use the cream cheese in a recipe, the consistency may not be a big deal. For some recipes, that consistency change in the cream cheese may not matter at all. So, if you plan to take it out to spread on a bagel, you may not like the result. But for recipes, long-term freezing will likely be a fine option.
How Do You Store Cream Cheese to Give it a Longer Shelf Life?
Storing cream cheese comes down to a few things. Will it be opened or sealed? And will you be storing it for the short- or long-term? Those are the most important questions to ask yourself before trying to store cream cheese.
In the Fridge
There are a couple of ways that you will be storing your cream cheese in the fridge. The first is sealed. When you buy cream cheese, it will come pre-sealed, more often than not in a little tub or container. Keeping it sealed is the best way to ensure that your cream cheese stays fresh.
When you open the container, things change. Yes, there is more of a defined shelf life when it is opened. You can help to extend the shelf life by ensuring that it is in a properly sealed container and stored in the fridge whenever it is not in use. Though you may not go much past that 10-day mark, it is still better than letting it go bad sooner.
In the Freezer
There is also the option of storing it in the freezer. If you buy your cream cheese in bulk, you more often than not can simply toss the sealed container in the freezer without a second thought. That preserves the integrity of the cream cheese for longer. It should also help with consistency issues when you defrost it.
When you have an already opened container of cream cheese, however, things change. If you plan to freeze already open cream cheese, it is all about preparation. When it comes in the small tub, you can seal up the tub and put it into the freezer. If it comes in the foil package, move it into an airtight container before freezing.
How Do You Tell if Cream Cheese Has Gone Bad?
All that said, you will no doubt come across a container of cream cheese that has gone bad. Items that have relatively short expiration dates can get ignored or pushed to the backburner for other items. It happens to all of us.
You should be able to identify the signs that your cream cheese has gone bad. While it mostly won’t have an impact on you, no one wants to shovel gross food into their mouths.
- Appearance. More often than not, you will see a noticeable difference when the cream cheese has gone bad. Cream cheese tends to get watery or slimy when left for too long. Of course, it can also become dried out and harder than normal, too.
- Mold. Mold is a major no-no. If you notice that there are signs of mold on the cream cheese – green or yellow specs in particular – toss it out right away. Mold can be potentially dangerous when ingested. Moreover, the spores can spread, so don’t hesitate to throw the container out right away.
- Smells off. Maybe the cream cheese looks alright. If you still have doubts about the freshness of your cream cheese, give it the sniff test. Sometimes cream cheese can smell “funny”, a bit off, or even sour. When any of those smells become detectable, give your cream cheese a toss.
- Sour taste. Sometimes cream cheese can pass both the visual and smell test and still be bad. When it looks and smells fine, dip your finger in to give it a taste. So long as it doesn’t taste sour, you are probably fine. The last thing you want to do is spread a bunch of it on your toast or bagel only to be met with that sour taste.
What Happens if You Eat Expired Cream Cheese?
When it comes to our perishable food, the expiration date is one of the most important details. After all, that expiration date gives us a better idea of when that food may turn and spoil, making it unsavory or unhealthy to eat.
So, the burning question remains: what happens if you eat cream cheese that has expired?
Probably Nothing
The simple answer is that, more often than not, you will simply have a gross experience. Most of the time, when cream cheese turns and goes bad, it is readily apparent. You can either see or smell that the cream cheese is off and avoid eating it.
Even if everything looks and smells normal, the taste is also a dead giveaway. That sour taste is more than enough to get you to spit out the expired cream cheese. But that doesn’t mean it is a guaranteed effect.
More likely, you will have an unpleasant experience. Even if you don’t notice that it is bad, the likelihood of getting sick is slim to none. It won’t burn a hole in your stomach or put you in the hospital.
Where Mold is Concerned
That said, mold is a real concern. Whenever food items develop bacteria in the form of mold, they should be thrown out immediately. Mold spores can spread in your fridge, contaminating other food items.
Moreover, mold is dangerous to consume. In some cases, spoiled food, like cream cheese, can lead to the symptoms of food poisoning. That means stomach cramping, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. None of those are particularly dangerous over the long run, but they also are not a pleasant thing to have to experience, either. Avoid mold at all costs.
More Related Guides
Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.
More by Ryan Womeldorf
![12 Washing Machine Brands to Avoid [with Recall Data]](https://cdn-fastly.upgradedhome.com/media/2023/07/31/9075781/12-washing-machine-brands-to-avoid-with-recall-data.jpg?size=350x220)
