Many people are not aware of the fact that you can actually freeze cream cheese. I think this is such a great tip because there are so many times I see it on sale and want to stock up, but know I won’t be able to use it all before it expires.
How to FREEZE Cream Cheese:
Freezing cream cheese can extend its life by about 6 months. It can be frozen in it’s original packaging without anything additional.
Whenever I freeze anything, I like to write the date on the package that I put it in the freezer so I know when it should be used by. You don’t want to go by the expiration date or “best by” date when you are freezing because it should be able to last a lot longer, but won’t always be a certain amount of time after the expiration date either. So the date it is frozen is important to have.
After frozen, you can just leave it out at room temperature until it has thawed. You may find that the consistency has changed a bit. It could even look “separated” or a little grainy. But overall it has not changed the taste when mixed back together. But because consistency has changed somewhat, and it will not be as creamy as it was before it was frozen, it is best used for cooking and baking.
So take advantage of that next sale and stock up on cream cheese.
There are tons of great recipes out there that call for cream cheese. Start experimenting with some new ones. It’s hard to go wrong with cream cheese in the recipe. :)
I have froze cream cheese before, and it keeps it from molding true. But the texture is no longer smooth for spreading. It usually becomes very crumbly and dry in parts, and liquidy in others, without being able to make smooth again. I suppose you could make it work in a recipe where the cream cheese didn’t need to be smooth. I would like to try the canning method. How does the consistency of that turn out?
I have never canned cream cheese.
u can also can it. Fill jars 1/2 full of cr cheese and place in pot with water 1/2 way up jars. Melt and add more cheese till jar is to first rim on jar. Place lids on and pressure can 10# for 10 minutes.
I have tried to freeze cream cheese before and it turned out horrible. It also states on the package “do not freeze.”