Cream Cheese Storage
Fresh cheeses are highly perishable, and cream cheese is no exception. It should always be kept refrigerated. This is one cheese that you do not want aged. Check the expiration date and buy the freshest you can find. The fresher the cheese, the better the flavor.Having said this, current pasteurization and packaging techniques are allowing cream cheese manufacturers to produce cream cheese with a refrigerated shelf-life of up to 6 months.
Cream cheese should be opened within the package dating code period and used within 1 week after opening. Be sure to keep it tightly wrapped or sealed in the container until gone.
If mold forms on the cheese, do not scrape it off and consume the rest. Unlike some cheeses, any mold on cream cheese makes it unsafe to eat, and it should be discarded.
Freezing of cream cheese is not recommended. The cheese suffers a drastic change in texture when thawed.
More about Cream Cheese and Cream Cheese Recipes:
• What is cream cheese? FAQ• Cream Cheese Cooking Tips
• Cream Cheese Storage
• Cream Cheese Recipes
Cream Cheese Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
