Can you Freeze Cream Cheese?

Cream cheese is one of the most commonly consumed soft cheese, which is used in many cheese recipes like cheesecake, frosting, dips, bread, bagels, crackers, etc. It is introduced way back in 1872 in New York State and today commonly sold under one of the most recognized brand name 'Philadelphia'. It is a sweet, creamy white cheese which contains minimum 33% milk fat with a moisture content or water not more than 55%. Unlike other cheeses which undergo an aging process, cream cheese is prepared by combining cream and cow's milk, and is also not matured or hardened. In fact, it is unripened and usually contains emulsifiers which provide firmness and longer shelf live.

A typical cream cheese has a mild, fresh tasting, sweet and slightly tangy flavor, however, many flavored versions are now available, containing flavors of fruits, herbs, etc. This was a brief insight about cream cheese, now let us move to the answer for can you freeze cream cheese dips, icing or frosting.

Is it Possible to Freeze Cream Cheese?

Cream cheese is unaged and has an extremely soft texture and has a tendency to resort back to its former state when frozen. As a result, the milk solids turn crumbly and the moisture content or water separates from the milk. Hence, it is generally believed that freezing cream cheese can actually change the texture of the cheese, making it more grainy, crumbly and depriving it of its creamy and smooth texture. Though the cheese to some extent loses its soft creamy texture, it can still be used in different recipes if defrosted completely.

It might be difficult to use thawed cream cheese as a spreading on a bagel or bread, but it can be used in recipes like cheesecake where texture does not matter much. In fact, once it is thawed and mixed with other ingredients of a particular recipe, it will bring out the same soft, creamy flavor and texture with no ill effects. Hence, if frozen properly and for a right period of time, there is hardly any change in the texture as well as the taste of the final dish it is used in. An unopened package of cream cheese can be refrigerated at temperature between 35 and 40° F for one hour or so while an opened package of cream cheese should be refrigerated at temperature between 35 and 40° F for not more than 10 days.

How to Freeze Cream Cheese?

The best way to restore the original soft and creamy texture of cream cheese is to freeze it in its original packaging. Or you can cover the box with a freezer paper and place it in an air tight plastic bag, squeezing out most of the air before sealing. Keep the cream cheese and dips made from it on the middle shelf of the freezer with the temperature somewhere between 35 and 40° F. As said before, for an unopened packet of cream cheese you can freeze it for a month or so and for an opened packet avoid keeping it in the freezer for more than 10 days and so, use it before the recommended time. Another important point to be considered is to preferably purchase cream cheese which is high in fat content as low fat cream cheese tend to fare badly when thawed.

To maintain the same creamy texture even after freezing or to use your frozen cream cheese for spreading, combine whipping cream with cream cheese before freezing and then whip it with a mixer after thawing to get it back to a creamy state. Basically, the fat in the whipping cream works as a bonding agent during the freezing period which helps in restoring the creamy texture. Well, I hope through this article I have been able to answer, can you freeze cream cheese or not.