How long can cream cheese sit out? According to the FDA, cream cheese can be sit out for up to two hours. However, if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, cream cheese can only be left out for one hour.
Well, this is a question that most people pounder around as many people leave cream cheese out in the room temperature. This is done either to soften it up or to create dishes like appetizers. Also, it is quite simple to allow time to slip away in making you wonder if cream cheese is safe to eat or not.
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How Long Can Cream Cheese Sit Out?
Can cream cheese get spoiled?
Now people really can’t find out whether their cream cheese has become bad or not. Checking the label of the cream cheese you have purchased will provide you with a fair idea, and you can see that the first ingredient is milk. Of course cream cheese is a dairy product and like most of the dairy products containing milk, it will get easily spoiled.
Sometimes a cream cheese which is not opened may last approximately for a month and that too after the ‘sell by’ date present in the package and if opened, it will last for about 12 to 15 days. But keep in mind that the spoilage time simply depends on how the cream cheese is stored especially in a refrigerator at temperature of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below in an air-tight container. Now the cheese might get spoiled if it is exposed to temperature of more than 40 degree Fahrenheit.
Cream Cheese Expiration Date
| (Unopened) | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Past Printed Date | Past Printed Date | |
| Cream Cheese lasts for (Foil Wrapped) | 3-4 Weeks | 2 Months |
| Cream Cheese lasts for (Plastic Container) | 3-4 Weeks | -- |
| Flavored Cream Cheese lasts for | 3-4 Weeks | -- |
| Reduced Fat Cream Cheese lasts for | 2-3 Weeks | -- |
| Neufchatel Cheese lasts for | 2-3 Weeks | -- |
| (Opened) | Refrigerator | Freezer |
| All Cream Cheese lasts for | 1-2 Weeks | -- |
Can Cream Cheese Sit Out For A Longer Time?
Yes! It depends on the amount of time the cream cheese is at room temperature. As per various food experts and food safety authorities, it is recommended to throw away a cheese as soon as it is exposed for two hours at room temperature of more than 40 degree Fahrenheit. If the room temperature is more than 90 degree Fahrenheit, you must discard the cheese within one hour.
Now baking temperatures are fine and during power outage, it is safe to eat the cheese up till four hours, if it is in the fridge and the door is continuously shut. Just keep in mind that you need to follow the same procedure of what you do with yogurt when left at room temperature. There are certain people who follow the four-hour rule and had no issues with it. But some do keep it out overnight and still enjoying consuming it.
Clearly, this shows that no matter how long you are keeping the cheese in the room temperature, you should always consider the factor of the room temperature. Plus you need to make sure that the product is properly sealed and it doesn’t come into contact with other foreign entities.
Easy Tips To Store Cream Cheese To Extend Its Shelf Life
Before you are going to purchase a cream cheese, make sure to leave it in the grocery’s refrigerator and only take it out when you are going to check out. When you reach home, you can keep the reduced fat, regular, whipped and flavoured cream cheese a bit fresher by storing it in the refrigerator at 40 degree Fahrenheit or lesser as soon as you use it.
Now most of the containers will have lid which can help in keeping the moisture and other contaminants at bay. Also keep in mind that once you open a foil wrapped cream cheese, you must ensure that it is put in an air-tight container. This is because sometimes re-sealing the end of the foil will not ensure that it is air-tight.
The chances for the bacteria to grow faster in the moist environment are great and soft cheese will be as fresh as a hard cheese. You need to make sure that the cream cheese is not placed or kept out in the room temperature for more than two to three hours and make sure that it mustn’t be contaminated with utensils that haven’t been touched with meat or anything else.
If you are looking for a long term option, then you can just freeze the cream cheese however, it is not a safe thing and also not a recommended idea as you will end up with a crumb product. The major benefits of using proper storage steps is reducing the cost of the food, consuming a healthy food, and avoiding wastage of the food and preserving the environment.
Signs For Cheese Spoilage
Many people aren’t aware of the signs to look out for cheese spoilage. The first thing you need to look out for is the mold. This can be either in black, green, or somewhat yellow discolouration. And if you see such colours in your cream cheese, discard it as soon as possible. Either you can scoop or cut out the part where the mold has formed.
Keep in mind that you cannot detect the food spoilage by your senses. Make sure to take into account all the required factors to see what is causing the spoilage.
Wrapping Up - How To Make Cream Cheese
As we all know most of the food stuffs are perishable and you need to take into account various factors and steps to preserve it. The same lies with cream cheese. With proper storage methods and preservative steps, you can use cream cheese for a longer time and days.
Check this for an easy home cream cheese recipe.
View Comments (2)
Can you use a lactose free milk?
Hi Jackie.
Thank you so much for your comment. Yes, it is possible to make lactose-free cream cheese. However, I would suggest using a recipe specific to using lactose-free milk like this one: https://www.natrel.ca/en/recipes/breakfast/lactose-free-cream-cheese. Obviously, you do not have to use Natrel brand milk and cream, any lactose-free milk and cream would work. Let us know how it works out!