How long cream keeps in the fridge, and which kinds freeze
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 10 days
Keep heavy cream in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below, and count the 10 days from the day you buy it.
Watch out Don't leave cream out of the fridge for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
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Freezer
Keeps for 3-4 months
Heavy cream keeps 3 to 4 months in the freezer, counted from the day you buy it.
Watch out Thawed cream can separate and look curdled, and sour cream isn't recommended for the freezer.
Sour cream isn't recommended for the freezer, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Heavy cream lasts 10 days in the fridge and 3 to 4 months in the freezer, and buttermilk lasts 1 to 2 weeks and 3 months. Frozen cream can separate and look curdled when it thaws.
Buying cream this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
- A note like “fridge, use within a week”
- One list shared with everyone at home
Sour cream isn’t recommended for the freezer, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Heavy cream freezes for 3 to 4 months, and buttermilk for 3 months.
In the fridge, cream lasts from 1 day for sweetened whipped cream to 1 month for ultrapasteurized whipping cream. This guide covers sour cream, heavy cream, whipping cream, light cream, half and half, whipped cream, and buttermilk.
Can you freeze sour cream?
No, USDA FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing sour cream. It gives the same advice for sour cream based dips.
Keep sour cream in the refrigerator instead. FoodKeeper keeps it there until the use-by date on the package.
How long does cream last?
Heavy cream lasts 10 days in the fridge and 3 to 4 months in the freezer, counted from the day you buy it. The other kinds differ, as the table shows.
| Cream | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Sour cream | Until the package use-by date | Not recommended |
| Sour cream based dips | 2 weeks from purchase | Not recommended |
| Heavy cream | 10 days from purchase | 3 to 4 months |
| Whipping cream (ultrapasteurized) | 1 month from purchase, 1 week after opening | Not recommended |
| Light cream | 1 week from purchase | 3 to 4 months |
| Half and half | 3 to 4 days from purchase | 4 months |
| Whipped cream (sweetened) | 1 day | 1 to 2 months |
| Whipped cream (aerosol can) | 3 to 4 weeks from purchase | Not recommended |
| Buttermilk | 1 to 2 weeks from purchase | 3 months |
How long does cream last in the fridge?
Keep cream in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Most FoodKeeper times count from the day you buy it.
How long does sour cream last after opening?
Sour cream lasts until the use-by date on the package, and USDA FoodKeeper gives no separate time for opened sour cream. Sour cream based dips last 2 weeks from the day you buy them.
How long does heavy cream last after opening?
Heavy cream lasts 10 days in the fridge, counted from the day you buy it. FoodKeeper gives no separate time once the container is open.
How long does whipping cream last?
Ultrapasteurized whipping cream lasts 1 month in the fridge from the day you buy it, and 1 week after you open it. Those are the times for the kind FoodKeeper lists.
How long do light cream and half and half last?
Light cream lasts 1 week in the fridge, and half and half lasts 3 to 4 days, both counted from the day you buy them.
How long does coconut cream last in the fridge?
Opened canned coconut cream lasts 4 days in the fridge, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Unopened, it keeps 2 to 5 years in the pantry from the date of purchase, and it keeps 3 months in the freezer.
How long does whipped cream last?
Sweetened whipped cream lasts 1 day in the fridge. Whipped cream from an aerosol can lasts 3 to 4 weeks from the day you buy it.
How to store homemade whipped cream
Keep homemade whipped cream in the fridge and use it within 1 day, or freeze it for 1 to 2 months. Those are the USDA FoodKeeper times for sweetened whipped cream.
Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below, and don’t leave whipped cream out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
How long does buttermilk last?
Buttermilk lasts 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge, counted from the day you buy it.
How long does coffee creamer last?
Refrigerated liquid coffee creamer lasts 3 weeks in the fridge from the date of purchase, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Powdered creamer lasts 2 years in the pantry from the date of purchase, and 2 to 3 months after you open it.
Store powdered creamer in a dry, cool place. Refrigerated liquid creamer can sit out for no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C), the USDA’s limit for perishable food.
Yes, coffee creamer goes bad. Throw it out if it develops an off odor, flavor, or texture, the signs of spoilage the USDA names for food in general.
Can you freeze cream?
Heavy cream, light cream, half and half, sweetened whipped cream, and buttermilk can go in the freezer, but ultrapasteurized whipping cream and aerosol whipped cream aren’t recommended.
Food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, so freezer times are about quality. During thawing, large ice crystals from slow freezing make emulsions such as cream separate and look curdled.
Can you freeze heavy cream?
Yes, heavy cream keeps 3 to 4 months in the freezer, counted from the day you buy it. It can separate and look curdled after thawing.
Can you freeze heavy whipping cream?
Heavy cream freezes for 3 to 4 months, but ultrapasteurized whipping cream isn’t recommended for the freezer. FoodKeeper lists the two separately, so check the label to see which one you have.
Can you freeze whipping cream?
No, USDA FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing ultrapasteurized whipping cream, the kind it lists.
Can you freeze half and half?
Yes, half and half keeps 4 months in the freezer, counted from the day you buy it. Light cream freezes for 3 to 4 months, and FoodKeeper’s tip for it is to use it for cooking.
Can you freeze whipped cream?
Sweetened whipped cream keeps 1 to 2 months in the freezer. Whipped cream from an aerosol can isn’t recommended for the freezer.
Can you freeze buttermilk?
Yes, buttermilk keeps 3 months in the freezer, counted from the day you buy it.
How long can sour cream and other cream sit out?
Cream, including sour cream, can sit out for no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Cream is a refrigerated food, so the USDA’s rule for perishable food applies to it.
Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes.
How to tell if sour cream or buttermilk is bad
Sour cream or buttermilk is bad when it develops an off odor, flavor, or texture, and food with those signs shouldn’t be eaten. Sour cream with mold is bad too and should be thrown out, according to the USDA’s guidance on molds on food.
The off odor, flavor, and texture are the signs of spoilage the USDA names for food in general, so they apply to buttermilk and sour cream alike. They come from spoilage bacteria, as the USDA’s guidance on food product dating explains. The USDA also names mold for sour cream.
Spoilage can happen much faster when food isn’t stored properly, so keep both in the fridge at or below 40°F (4°C).
What if sour cream has mold?
Throw it out. Sour cream with mold should be thrown out, because foods with high moisture content can be contaminated below the surface, and moldy foods may also have bacteria growing along with the mold.
Molds can grow at refrigerator temperatures too.
Frequently asked questions
Does sour cream go bad?
Yes. USDA FoodKeeper keeps sour cream in the fridge until the package use-by date, and sour cream with mold should be thrown out.
Does buttermilk go bad?
Yes. Buttermilk lasts 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge, counted from the day you buy it, and 3 months in the freezer.
Can you freeze sour cream based dips?
No. USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing sour cream based dips, and they last 2 weeks in the fridge from the day you buy them.
Is frozen cream still safe after 4 months?
Yes, food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe. The freezer times are a guide for quality.
Why does thawed cream look curdled?
Large ice crystals from slow freezing make emulsions such as cream separate and look curdled during thawing.
What temperature should cream be kept at?
At or below 40°F (4°C), which is the USDA's temperature for cold food.
