Yes, you can freeze sour cream for up to 2-3 months. Fresh sour cream can be safely kept in the refrigerator at or below 40℉ (4.4℃) for up to 2 weeks.
Sour cream is like most dairy products which you can freeze. But immediate consumption of sour cream is recommended because freezing it might compromise its quality.
There have been reports of sour cream having unpleasant transformation in its texture after freezing. Even the manufacturers themselves put in a warning to discourage the freezing of sour cream because it has negative effects on the product’s texture.
But to answer the question, yes, sour cream can be freezed.
When sour cream has been frozen, what can you use it for?
When sour cream has been frozen, it won’t be able to have the same texture as compared to fresh sour cream. After it has been defrosted, it will have a grainy and lumpy texture which is not like the smooth texture of fresh sour cream. This is because the fat is separated from the liquid portion of the cream. It transforms into a coagulated texture which looks unappetizing.
But don’t despair because sour cream that has experienced freezing still has many uses in the kitchen. These includes:
- Adding both thawed and frozen sour cream into cake, pancakes or muffin batter.
- Putting in frozen or thawed sour cream into stews and soups to make the texture creamy.
- Adding in a little frozen sour cream to casseroles before you begin baking.
- Tossing in frozen sour cream into your smoothies to get a boost of protein and fat.
What can’t you use sour cream for after it has been frozen?
Frozen sour cream can’t be used anymore as a topping for your favorite salad dressing. It can’t also whip up your salad dressing.
This is because frozen sour cream loses the soft and creamy texture and tangy taste of fresh sour cream which is perfect for salads.
How do you freeze sour cream, and for how long?
If you have leftover sour cream, it is not advisable to freeze it because it deteriorates in quality. But for purposes of not wasting any food, you may freeze it.
Portion out the sour cream into plastic or glass containers and put them into the freezer. Other people use silicone ice cube trays to freeze them. They then transfer the sour cream cubes to another container for longer term storage.
These conveniently portioned cubes can then be added easily to soup, smoothies, baking batters and more.
If you’re freezing sour cream in the company of other food, the freezer temperature should be around 0F or – 18C to keep all frozen foods safe.
There aren’t any distinct guidelines for sour cream, but the FDA recommends that yogurt (which is similar to sour cream) can be stored in the freezer for a period of up to 2 months.
After defrosting frozen sour cream, and there’s still some left, can you still freeze it again?
Definitely, freezing again is not recommended. This can already lead to bacterial contamination which makes the sour cream already unsafe to eat.
How will frozen sour cream look after it has been thawed?
It will not look pleasant and will take on the consistency of cottage cheese. But looks will confuse you because you can still use the coagulated sour cream for your soups and smoothies.
Can you be sick from expired sour cream?
Yes, eating bad sour cream will put you at risk for food poisoning. This could be mild or severe depending on how much you have already consumed. You can also experience nausea, stomach pain, fever and diarrhea. These symptoms could happen within a few hours or a few days.
Can you eat warm sour cream?
According to the USDA safe handling procedures, sour cream is considered perishable food that should not have extended stay at room temperature for more than 4 hours. If the sour cream is left out in conditions warmer than 90F, harmful pathogens will multiply quickly and the sour cream will spoil.
Can you put into the microwave something with sour cream?
Usually, the originally container with a product inside containing sour cream is not microwaveable. So, it’s advised to transfer it to another container that’s safe in the microwave.
How do you reheat soups and sauces containing sour cream?
Don’t reheat soups and sauces with sour cream in the microwave because they will curdle. Instead, do a slow and gentle reheating process on your stove top to guarantee that your soup or sauce with sour cream stays creamy.
How do you ensure that you can bake the best cheesecake with sour cream as one of its ingredients?
One rule is to make sure that all ingredients should be on room temperature for a smooth and creamy texture for your cheesecake. So, take out the cream cheese, eggs and sour cream out of the refrigerator at least 2 hours ahead of time before you do the baking process.
You accidentally left out a full container of frozen sour cream at the back section of your freezer which made you forget about it for at least a week. Can you still have some use of it when you finally saw it again?
Yes of course. After you have thawed it, it will have some uneven texture. So just pour it into a blender to smooth it out. Then quickly think of a recipe that needs sour cream like a coffee cake or a chocolate cake. The freezing will not affect the sour cream’s acidity which is just perfect for baking purposes.
Or you could use the thawed sour cream in your mashed potatoes. Mix it in with grated cheese and milk to create a potato or a vegetable gratin. Or mix with brown sugar to make a fruit gratin. It will taste great.
Or you could use the thawed sour cream for your pancakes. There are recipes for sour cream pancakes which involves adding milk to thin out the batter. But if you added the sour cream, you could skip some of the milk.
Find other ingredients you can freeze at https://youcanfreezethis.com/
Leave a Reply