How long can cream cheese sit out before going bad?

It's hard to say exactly how long cream cheese will last on the shelf before going bad. Since cream cheese is a perishable product, it will eventually go bad, no matter what its storage conditions are. The most accurate way to determine if cream cheese is still edible is to taste it.

If the taste has gone bad, it will definitely be off-smelling and possibly unpleasant. Cream cheese can sit out on the counter for up to four days before it goes bad. If you’re not planning on using it before then, it’s fine to keep it in the fridge.

However, if you’re planning on using it before it goes bad, be careful! First, stir it to make sure it’s not separating. Then, take it out of the fridge an hour before you plan to use it so it can come to room temperature.

How long can cream cheese sit out at room temperature?

Cream cheese can sit out at room temperature for up to two weeks. The cheese gets more sour the longer it sits out, but the flavors do not change drastically until the cheese is quite old. You can also freeze cream cheese for up to three months.

Defrost cream cheese in the refrigerator overnight and it will be good to go. If you’re not planning to use the cream cheese within a few days, it’s fine to store it in the refrigerator. Just make sure to take it out 30 minutes before using it since it will begin to solidify when it cools down.

If you’re planning to use your cream cheese within a few days, put it in the fridge or in the freezer to keep it fresh.

How long does cream cheese keep at room temperature?

As with any dairy product, cream cheese can turn rancid fairly quickly if it’s left out at room temperature. Depending on how long the cream cheese is left out at room temperature, it can lose between 10% and 30% of its fat and an equal amount of water.

The nutritional value of the cheese will also start to drop significantly after about four days. Once cream cheese goes bad, it will take on a foul odor and taste. Unopened cream cheese can sit at room temperature for up to two weeks without going bad. If you don’t use it before that time, the cream cheese will still be safe to eat, but it will have lost some of its consistency and freshness.

After two weeks, cream cheese that’s been left out at room temperature should be thrown away.

How long can cream cheese sit out before getting moldy?

The beauty of cream cheese is that it has a very long shelf life, so it’s unlikely to go bad before its time. Most cream cheese will stay fresh for about 2-3 weeks stored in the refrigerator, depending on how it’s sealed. If you’ve opened your cream cheese and it’s gone moldy within the first two weeks, don’t panic.

Even if it smells or looks bad, it will likely still taste fine. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cream cheese can sit out for up to two weeks before getting moldy. However, this is a generalization and depends on the temperature of storage and the type of cream cheese; low-fat cream cheese will last longer than regular cream cheese.

The dairy-free variety will last even longer, up to three weeks.

How long can cream cheese stay out before going bad?

The refrigerator is one of the best tools for keeping cream cheese fresh for longer. Cream cheese can usually stay out for about two to three weeks in the refrigerator. However, some varieties of cream cheese don’t fare as well. Low fat cream cheese will usually stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to six weeks, while fat-free varieties can last up to eight weeks. Unopened cream cheese that is properly stored in the refrigerator should last for up to two weeks. Typically, cream cheese can stay out at room temperature for about one week before it goes bad. The good news is, it will still be edible after that time. However, the fat content of cream cheese begins to break down after a few days, and while this doesn’t affect the flavor, it does make it a little less firm. If you use cream cheese for baking or other applications, it’s a good idea to use it within a week.