Can You Freeze Heavy Cream? Here’s How to Do This Right
Updated on March 2, 2023
Whatever you’re using heavy cream for, we know that it’s going to be delicious! However, if you have too much, can you freeze heavy cream so it doesn’t go bad in the fridge before you need it next?
We try to waste as little food as possible, so making sure we can store our leftovers is super important. That being said, let’s dive in and see just what we can do with the heavy cream so we don’t throw it out.
Can You Freeze Heavy Cream?
One of our readers was faced with a problem as they had a lot of heavy cream on their hands. Let’s see what they had to write:
I often buy heavy cream when baking, but I don’t use it for anything else. As a result, I always end up with leftover heavy cream that ends up getting thrown out or poured down the drain. I’d like to be able to keep the leftover cream for when I need it again. Can you freeze heavy cream?
Of course, you can freeze heavy cream! Unlike some dairy products, the best part is that heavy cream can easily be brought back to its original texture. Freezing heavy cream is simple, and once you’ve tried freezing it, you’ll never throw the leftovers away again.
How to Freeze Heavy Cream?
Since heavy cream has a high-fat content, the fat will have a tendency to separate during the freezing process.
- To minimize how much separation occurs, give it a good stir or shake before freezing.
- Heavy cream can be frozen in the original container it came in, but since cream has a tendency to take on the flavors of other foods, you may want to consider another method.
- A good way to minimize the risk of changing the flavor of your cream is to freeze it in a freezer bag or to place the original container in a freezer bag for a double layer of protection.
If you only use cream in small amounts in recipes, consider freezing it in small quantities.
- Pour the cream in ½ or 1 cup quantities in silicone muffin tins.
- Once frozen, pop them out and place the individually frozen blocks of cream in a large freezer bag, and then just remove one or two at a time for use in a recipe.
- Freezing cream in smaller quantities also cuts down on the time it takes to thaw the cream for use.
How to Keep Heavy Cream Longer?
One of the things you can do to make sure that your heavy cream is going to last for a long time in the freezer is to use a vacuum sealer. These appliances can take out the air in the bag or container and create a perfect seal.
When it comes to heavy cream, however, you’re going to want to put it in a container and pop it in the freezer for a couple of hours so it goes a bit solid. Then, you can safely use the vacuum sealer on the bag. For the portioned heavy cream, just seal the bags after you have the portions ready.
We have a list of great vacuum sealers you can check out, but our favorite is the one that ended up at the top of the list, namely the FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine. This one works with containers and bags of various sizes, you can save smaller portions or large dishes, depending on your needs.
How to Thaw Heavy Cream?
To thaw frozen heavy cream, follow these steps:
- Remove the package from the freezer and place in the fridge for several hours or overnight, depending on the quantity of cream to defrost.
- Never thaw cream on the counter, as the uneven temperatures can lead to bacteria growth.
- Thawed cream will have a watery texture, as the fat will have separated.
- To return cream to its original texture, shake or stir the cream to re-emulsify the mixture.
- It’s important to mix it thoroughly, or the heavy cream won’t whip.
- The stirred cream may still appear a bit grainy, but when sugar is added to make it whipped cream, the texture will improve and the cream will smooth out.
- Use the heavy cream in recipes or whip it as whipped cream, and enjoy the same flavor and texture as fresh heavy cream.