So you want to store whipping cream properly? Knowing the actual shelf life of whipping cream and not what your neighbor or friend or family member tells you is a good idea. Because there’s a lot left to the imagination when we talk about whipping cream and keeping it fresh.
Whipping cream is heavy cream with a twist. And different companies of whipping cream offer different shelf lives. But the most important thing to remember about whipping cream is the quantity that you get.
I’ll talk more about the little details below so hold on to your seats because this is about to get very interesting!
What to Look for When Buying Cream for the First Time
Make sure the following criteria are met when you first purchase a can of whipped cream from the grocery store. It’s not a lot but it’s crucial that you keep these points in mind because it plays a key role in determining the shelf life of the whipped cream you’re planning to buy.
1. Packaging
If the whipped cream is available to you in a sealed, airtight bag, you may have to empty it out in a container once you bring it home.
I would recommend buying whipped cream in a can because it’s safer, easier to store, and usually comes with a lid for proper refrigeration.
In the first case, you can store whipped cream in a container at the back of the refrigerator. I’ll get into the specifics of temperature to preserve the freshness of whipped cream in a bit. But it’s necessary to point it out here since you’re planning to store whipped in a container.
2. Exposure to Heat
Some grocery markets keep some of their goods outside or near the entry. So the temperature changes from cool to dry to humid very often. This is not the ideal habitat for a delicate ingredient like whipped cream.
Whipped creams need a consistent and cool temperature. Any sudden temperature change from cold to warm or even relatively warmer will spoil whipped cream’s texture and taste.
So if you see the whipped cream containers in your supermarket stored just close to sunlight or outdoor space, I recommend you to not buy packaged whipped cream unless it’s kept in a commercial refrigerator inside the market.
3. Manufacturing/Expiry Date
The average expiry date of whipping cream is 10 days after manufacturing. Honestly, though, most people, myself included, use up a majority of the whipped cream during the first 2-3 days.
After being kept in the fridge, and especially after being opened, the whipped cream will start to lose the smooth texture and fresh flavor. It doesn’t necessarily spoil once you open it and store it but it just won’t taste as good after the fourth-day mark.
Can Whipping Cream Last for 3 Weeks?
As I said, there are many factors that influence the shelf life of a can of whipped cream. Some types of heavy cream can last for 21 days, even beyond their expiry date. Since whipped cream consists of creamier butterfat that is taken from skimmed milk, it is likely to last longer.
Now there are different varieties of whipped cream based on fat content. Light cream lasts for 7 to 10 days while double and heavy cream lasts for 2 to 3 weeks.
There are ways you can increase the shelf life of whipped cream. It’s by keeping it in the freezer. That way, whipped cream can be stored and used for up to 3 months. But, having said that, you can’t keep taking it out and putting it back in the freezer again. You’ll have to separate the whipping cream into smaller portions and use those individually!
In rare cases, or if you don’t pay attention to storage as needed, the whipped cream will become bad, rotten, and spoiled. So this begs the next question:
How to Check for Rotten, Spoiled, and Smelly Whipping Cream?
Once you know what to look for, storing and maintaining the freshness of whipping cream is easier and faster.
You might not feel the need to keep checking the condition of the whipping cream all the time. Nor would you need to taste the whipping cream to know if it’s spoiled. Spoiled whipping cream gives you a foul odor with a greenish, rotten layer on top.
So you’ll know as soon as you open the can. Whipped cream also curdles very quickly that when the top layer of the cream starts developing lumps and has a foul odor.
Another way to tell if the whipping cream is spoiled is when you add it to your coffee or any other liquid ingredient. The rotten whipped cream will turn into small balls that’ll float on top of the liquid instead of blending. These lump-type formations prove that the whipped cream has spoiled beyond repair.
How Long Does Cooked Whipping Cream Last?
This is an easy question. It lasts for as long as freshly-brewed coffee lasts or hot tea. Whipped cream, as I’ve already said, is a delicate ingredient. So it’s best to consume whipping cream as soon as possible – even more so after it’s cooked.
How Can You Use Whipping Cream Faster?
Worried that the whipped cream in your fridge is about to spoil? Well, there is one thing you can do to avoid wasting it.
Make alfredo sauce with it! 1 to 1-1/2 cups of whipping cream go into 1-2 servings of pasta. Add some fresh herbs, salt, pepper, garlic, and parmesan cheese, and you’ve got yourself the best homemade Alfredo sauce with leftover whipped cream!
Final Thoughts
If you love having a variety of ingredients in your refrigerator, don’t be afraid of buying whipped cream! You can try out as many interesting homemade recipes with whipped cream. Such as pie, cake, cheesecake, alfredo white sauce, cupcakes, and truffles. There’s no limit to what you can do with whipped cream – some even like a dollop of whipping cream in their coffee!