Freezing Cream Cheese

 

Did you know you can freeze cream cheese?  This is an important thing to know because it only goes on sale a couple of times a year.

I purchase a ton of it when it is on sale. For a long time, we just ate dishes that needed cream cheese until we had used it up. Then one day while I was looking in the freezer for a block of cheddar cheese, I noticed a tub and a block of cream cheese had been frozen by mistake.

Since that day, I have been freezing cream cheese for up to four months at a time.

Disclosure here…. It does change consistency when it is frozen for a while. Just like other cheeses, the taste becomes a little sharper and the consistency a little drier.

So how do you cope with the changes from freezing cream cheese? Well, if you are using it to cook with you will not notice any difference in your final dish. Using it in dishes for example like Skyline Chili Dip, Spicy Chicken Dip, Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie, or slow cooker buffalo chicken dip will not change the taste at all.

If you are using it in a dish like a cheese ball or as a Jello Pretzel Salad or veggie dip, you will notice that the cream cheese needs a little massaging before it returns to the original consistency. For dishes like these, just thaw the cream cheese in the fridge until ready to use it. As you open the package, work the cream cheese with your hands or with the back of a mixing spoon to mix and smooth the cream cheese back to the normal appearance. From then you can proceed as usual with your recipe.

To make a spread for bagels or toast, I will pulse the cream cheese in the food processor a couple of times to combine before I add the fruit or spices.

Make sure to write the date of purchase on your tub or block before tossing in the freezer. Four months is the longest I have ever had it frozen and felt ok using it.

So grab extra cream cheese the next time you see it on sale. Freeze it and save a ton!