How to Store Cream (Milk Based) keeping its flavor【 2024 】

Milk cream is a product with a wide variety of uses: you can use the cream with less fat in sauces or soups and the thickest and highest fat content to prepare whipped cream or ice cream, but how is milk cream preserved?

You can store the milk cream in the refrigerator, where it will last for 5 to 7 days, or in the freezer, where it will remain frozen for about four months.

To know the proper way to preserve milk cream, just read on.

Store cream in the fridge after opening.

As it is a dairy product, you should keep the milk cream cold, especially if the original container has been opened.

There are two ways to keep milk cream in the fridge.

Alternative 1. Keeping the original packaging.

Step 1: Cover.

Keeping the milk cream in its original packaging is always good, but if the package does not have a lid, you can wrap the product with plastic film.

If the milk cream is canned, it will be enough to cover on top. If it is a cardboard container, in the same way, you try to cover the opening by wrapping plastic.

Step 2: Store in an airtight container.

If you covered the package with film paper, it is advisable to put it inside an airtight container to protect it better.

Step 3: Store in the refrigerator.

Place the container at the bottom of the fridge, which is the coldest area. The milk cream can be refrigerated for 5 or 7 days.

Alternative 2: Use another container.

Step 1: Dry the container.

If you can’t use its original packaging, use a glass container, which should be completely dry and free of fat so that it does not damage the cream.

Step 2: Transfer the contents of the milk cream to the container.

After pouring all the content, you have to cover it very well.

Step 3: Store in the coldest area of the fridge.

Place the container at the bottom of the fridge, which is the coldest area.

The milk cream can also last in the refrigerator for 5 or 7 days.

Keep the milk cream in the freezer.

Can the milk cream be frozen? Of course, but you can only freeze milk creams that contain 40% fat content or more since light ones do not usually freeze well. Then you should follow the freezing guidelines for 1 to 4 months. [1]

Sometimes the fat content is separated from the liquid but can be rejoined just by beating it, but certain creams are not the same and do not get to mount after that, although they serve other types of recipes.

You can freeze milk cream in two ways:

Alternative 1: Store pastry cream in the freezer.

If you have cream with high-fat content, you will mostly use it for home baking, like whipped cream or chantilly cream. If that’s the case, follow the next steps to freeze it.

Step 1: Check the container.

The container should be completely dry and without any grease.

Step 2: Pour the milk cream into the container.

Do not fill the container at maximum capacity, so leave around one finger of space on top since the cream expands when frozen.

Step 3: Tag.

Place the date of storage of the product to have better control of it

Step 4: Save to the freezer.

In this way, the milk cream will be able to remain frozen for four months. [2]

Alternative 2: Freeze soft consistency milk cream.

Not all types of cream are used for home baking. For example, add it to coffee or thicken pastes or soups. For this type of cream, save it as follows:

Step 1: Use a mold to make ice cubes.

It should be clean and dry.

Step 2: Pour the cream into the buckets.

Fill the bucket, thinking each space is a portion. Also, filling all the holes is unnecessary since you will separate the cubes soon.

Step 3: Put the tray in the freezer

You will freeze the cream in the bucket for around 4 hours or until the cream cubes have a stiff consistency. You can leave it overnight too.

Step 4: Store the frozen cream cubes in an airtight bag.

The bag must be suitable for freezing.

Step 5: Tag.

Placing the storage date helps maintain better control of the product.

Step 6: Store in the freezer.

Now you are ready for long-term storage. You may freeze the milk cream in cubes for four months.

How do you know if the milk cream is bad?

If the cream is very lumpy, it is a sign that it is damaged.

If it has a rancid or unpleasant smell, it indicates that the milk cream has already spoiled, so discard it immediately to avoid poisoning.

How long does the milk cream last?

The shelf life depends on the method of conservation we used to store it, so I will leave you a summary in the following table:

Product	Shelf life
Refrigerated unopened milk cream	Until the expiration date
Refrigerated milk cream	5 – 7 days
Frozen milk cream	4 months

What is the best way to preserve milk cream?

With absolute certainty, I can say that the best way to store milk cream is to refrigerate it. Inside the refrigerator, you can preserve the cream for a few days, and its consistency will not change, so there is no risk of separating the fat content from the liquid.

Storing the milk cream in the freezer is an excellent option to keep it in good condition for much longer than the fridge provides.

If you liked this content, you would surely love to read about the conservation of another type of food, and this site has a long list of content about that.