Key Takeaways
- Heavy cream lasts for up to a month in the fridge after opening it.
- You can know when Heavy Cream has gone bad by smelling it, looking for molds and if it has lumps or a cottage cheese like texture.
- Heavy cream can last up to three months in the freezer. It lasts better if you keep in the back of your fridge instead of the door side as well.
Have You Wondered How Long Does Heavy Cream Last After Opening?
Imagine you’re making Sunday Night dinner, you’re feeling good about the recipes and you run to your pantry and fridge to gather all your ingredients. Just when you reach out for the heavy cream sitting open in your fridge, all your plans go down the drain because the heavy has gone bad.
Make sure this is not what happens to your Sunday Night dinner by reading this article right now. Learn exactly how long the heavy cream lasts after opening.
How Long Does Heavy Cream Last In Your Fridge After Opening It?
Long Story short, your heavy cream can last up to a month in the fridge after opening. Way too many people seem to throw out their carton of heavy cream after one or two uses. Firstly, heavy cream has a lot of use to it apart from making whipping cream. So you don’t need to throw your heavy cream after one or two uses or keep it in the fridge.
Heavy Cream adds depth and texture in sauces, savory dishes and pastas as well. The high fat content in heavy cream keeps it from spoiling too soon.
How Long Does Heavy Cream Last: Popular Opinion
The Vox populi on Reddit also seem to have a take on the shelf life of heavy cream. In the subreddit of r/cooking. Most of the participants state that you should trust your cooking gut when using heavy cream.
One says that it stays good until it starts to smell bad, which is a clear sign of food going bad. So use your judgment and make a good call. If there is no mold growing in the container, if the contents have not clumped together looking like cottage cheese, and if the taste is not sour, then your heavy cream is good to go.
Can You Use Heavy Cream Past The Expiration Date?
One of the redditors in the subreddit said that sometimes they use heavy cream that is two weeks past the printed date. And they are right! An unopened container of heavy cream is safe for use several weeks past its expiration date. The date printed on the bottle is a “best-if-used-by date” which means that it is best practice to use the contents of the package by then. However if you don’t, you just need to make sure that you are keeping your heavy cream in a cold place, following the storage instructions.
Heavy Creams that have the label “ultra-pasteurized” may have a longer shelf life. The ultra-pasteurized version is treated to a higher temperature in the heat. This kills off any bacteria and spores present, increasing the shelf-life.
Tips To Increase The Shelf Life Of Heavy Cream
One great tip to increase the shelf life of your heavy cream is to not keep it in the door shelves of your refrigerator. Instead try and store your heavy cream at the back of your fridge. This area has a colder temperature and keeps your heavy cream better for a longer period.
Additionally, you could actually also freeze your heavy cream. Freezing your heavy cream makes it last for at least three-four months in the freezer before it goes bad.
3 Alternatives To Heavy Cream
In case your heavy cream indeed has gone bad and you can longer use it, still don’t worry. There are a lot of good alternatives to heavy cream that enhance the flavor and add the same rich and creamy texture to baked goods and savory items.
1. Milk + Butter
If you add some extra fat into regular full fat milk, it can make a great substitute for heavy cream. All you need to do is melt unsalted butter and whisk it into milk. The ratio should be 1 part of melted butter to 3 parts milk in volume. You can use this method in baking or cooking where you need heavy cream. However this mixture won’t get you stiff peaks or whipping cream.
2. Half-and-Half
Half and Half has part whole milk and part light cream. You can use it as a substitute to bring that rich, creamy texture to flavor your sauces, soups and stews. Add it to mashed potatoes, quiches and even casseroles. If you’re really in a pinch it could also make great buildable whipping cream. You will have a light whipped cream, without any stiff peaks.
3. Full Fat Greek Yogurt + Milk
Notice that the key here are two words – Full Fat and Greek. (Yes, that is how we like it in this house) Look for plain full fat greek yogurt that has a neutral base and is high in protein. This does wonders in baked goods when blended with milk in equal parts to make a mixture.
If you mix in some vanilla and powdered sugar, it can also work as a substitute to whipped cream. However, keep a check on the taste, since there will be a tang from the yogurt.
In conclusion, cooking is all about gut instincts, knowing your flavors and experimenting. Trust your gut when checking in to know how long will heavy cream last. In our expertise, it really does last longer than we give it credit for. On the rare occasion that it doesn’t live up to your expectations, you do have some great alternatives for it now!
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