Have you ever wondered if you can freeze cream cheese? The answer is yes, you can! Use the directiosn below on how to freeze cream cheese and tips for thawing frozen cream cheese when you are ready to use it.
Can you Freeze Cream Cheese?
Cream cheese is something that every so often you can find a great deal on. You may be afraid to stock up on it since it is a dairy product, and you wonder can cream cheese be frozen? Don’t be scared to take advantage of a great deal on it when you find one! You can freeze cream cheese! In fact, cream cheese is easy to freeze and it can be used in lots of recipes when it thaws out. Here are some tips on How to Freeze Cream Cheese in case you find one of those great deals you can’t pass up.
How to Freeze Cream Cheese
To freeze cream cheese, follow these simple instructions:
Put an unopened package of cream cheese in a freezer bag. You will want to squeeze all of the air out. Make sure that you date the bag! Did you know that you can extend the life of your cream cheese by 6 months just by freezing it?
How to Thaw Frozen Cream Cheese
To thaw frozen cream cheese, follow these instructions:
Simply take the frozen cream cheese out of the freezer and place it in your refrigerator overnight. It will be thawed within 24 hours and ready to use.
The consistency of the cream cheese will slightly change during the freezing and thawing process. After you thaw it will be a little crumbly so it doesn’t work as well as a spread, however, you do have a few options.
How to Use Thawed Cream Cheese
- Use it for cooking certain recipes just as it is. When you use it for cooking (casseroles, dips, baking, etc) it will taste just the same!
- Put it in the mixer (or whip it by hand) for a few minutes. This method will work to sort of help it becomes spreadable but keep in mind that it will not quite restore it to the original consistency.
- Warm it up in the microwave. Stir it smooth. When it cools it will go back almost to the same consistency that it was before being frozen!
The method that I use depends on what I am going to use the cream cheese for. If we are baking with the cream cheese then option 1 is my go-to method. However, for everyday use and most of the time, I use method 3. It’s easy and just takes a few seconds to heat up!
Cream cheese is actually quite versatile, so don’t worry about freezing it. It is perfect for freezing so the next time you see a great deal on cream cheese don’t be afraid to pick up one or two extra cartons and pop them into your freezer!
More Freezing Tips:
Tips on how Dice and Freeze Bell Peppers
How to Freeze Lemon and Lime Juice with Zest
And don’t forget to use these tips for saving money on dairy products!
Thanks to Amanda Faulkner for sharing her tips!
Erlene Johnson says
What is the method to freeze when you use only half of the package of cream cheese?
Alea Milham says
If I have recipes that I plan to make that use only half a package of cream cheese, I cut the block in half before freezing, wrap the two halves in plastic wrap, then put them inside a freezer bag. This allows me to just pull out what I need.