Can sour cream be frozen? - Is it safe?

Are you the type of person who likes a dressing for everything? Or maybe you struggle to find versatility in everyday dishes by making sauces or adding dressings and changing things up. Sour cream is one of those dressings that are extremely versatile.

You can do a lot with sour cream. In some homes, it seems that it can hardly be kept in the fridge because it is used so often. Or maybe your family always has leftover sour cream and you need some ideas so you don’t have to throw it away.

Sour cream is a dairy product and therefore has an expiration date. But can you freeze sour cream so it lasts longer? Yes, you can freeze sour cream for up to 6 months. However, you will need to use it for cooking or baking because the consistency will change after thawing. This means that it will no longer be suitable as a hedge.

In this guide, we’ll talk about methods of freezing sour cream and what you can expect when doing so. There are certainly a few things to keep in mind regarding your sour cream when freezing it. We’ll also share some great ideas for using your sour cream that you may not have thought of yet.

Read on to learn how to freeze sour cream and much more.

Your guide to freezing sour cream

Sour cream is a dairy product that provides you with a smooth and creamy option that you can use in many ways. It’s not your typical dairy product and its sour cream name is quite natural.

If you are not familiar with sour cream, it is dairy cream that has been fermented.  It has a specific lactic acid and bacterial culture forms. These elements may be natural or may be specifically added to the cream for fermentation purposes.

The result is a cream that thickens and takes on a subtle sour taste.  It is truly delicious and is a popular staple in many homes. Sour cream can be used for a ton of different things.

You can cook sour cream in casseroles and various hot dishes. You can use the sour cream to make sauces, or the sour cream can often be used as a dressing. It is very popular as a seasoning for Mexican dishes and many other things.

How sour cream is made

We have slightly covered the process that sour cream goes through to become sour cream. You can actually make your own sour cream if you want to give it a try. Of course, you can also buy it in many different forms in the store.

You can get anything from light sour cream to fat-free to full-fat sour cream.  Not to mention, it also comes in a variety of sizes. Now, you can even buy sour cream in squeeze bags so it’s easy to top whatever you want.

To give you a proper idea of what we’re working with as we go through freezing sour cream, we thought it might be helpful to share a basic recipe for making sour cream. This will give you a clear idea of what is used and the process that the sour cream has gone through.

Some homemade sour cream recipes call for cooking measurements, while others go the other way. They are all effective and have their own twist on making sour cream.  In this recipe, there is no cooking required. 

There are several ways to make your own sour cream, but this recipe will give you a general idea. Remember that the purpose of these steps is just to give you an idea of the process and what is in the product in general.

Store-bought sour cream is processed differently as it is made in bulk at a factory, but the general concept is the same and the storage processes will work the same as well.

This is one way to make homemade sour cream. 

1. You will need a jar, milk, heavy cream (use high quality) and fresh lemon juice. This requires a rest period and you will need a breathable fabric. Bast works quite well or even a light paper towel.
2. Combine all the ingredients directly in the jar. Mix well.
3. Cover with the cloth.
4. You can attach the fabric to the lid of the jar with a rubber band. Make sure that what you use is breathable. Lids, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil are useless for this particular process.
5. Leave the covered jar on the counter overnight.
6. In the morning, stir the mixture and you will have sour cream. Lemon juice works much like the elements in buttermilk and gives your sour cream a thick texture. It is rich and tangy and very similar to store-bought sour cream.

You can use this sour cream in the same ways as store-bought. The consistency may be slightly thinner than what you see in the plastic plate from the supermarket, but the taste is the same and it is really sour cream.

This particular sour cream recipe will keep for about 2 weeks when stored covered in the fridge. 

How to use sour cream

If you’re not sure you want to freeze your sour cream but know you need some options soon, there are many ways to use sour cream. It doesn’t have to be just a dressing for a taco salad or a baked potato , you can use sour cream in many ways.

Sour cream can be used in baking, cooking, dressing, and just about anything imaginable. You can use sour cream in hot or cold dishes and you really can’t go wrong. Even if you don’t like the taste of sour cream as a dressing, you’d be surprised how much it can positively influence the flavor of some dishes or even sauces.

Here are some great ideas for using sour cream. 

• Add to cookie mix
• buns
• Bread (makes it nice and moist)
• sandwich topping
• soups
• hot sauces
• cold sauces
• Scrambled eggs
• Roast potatos
• Cheesecake
• stews
• coverages

Sour cream can add just the right amount of creaminess to your soups and stews. You can make moist and flaky pie crusts. Your cakes and breads will never be fluffier and moister than with sour cream.

Those pancakes will be super fluffy and delicious. Those baked potatoes will be extra creamy and delicious. The cookies, the Mexican dishes, the breakfast casserole, the deviled eggs, you just can’t go wrong. 

You’ll really be surprised what sour cream can do to almost any dish. Don’t let that sour cream go to waste!

And if you’re still not sure what to do with your sour cream, freezing it is always a viable option.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to get sick eating sour cream with every meal. You can freeze it and it will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Freeze sour cream

At first glance, you might think that sour cream is a substance that doesn’t freeze very well. You are half right about that. You can effectively freeze your sour cream and it will freeze very well. You just have to know that after freezing it, the consistency will not be the same.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t freeze it. If you need a solution to preserve your sour cream for longer, freezing it is absolutely a great idea.  It will work perfectly. You just have to be prepared that when you take it out of the freezer, it won’t look the same.

However, this is the concept that needs to be understood. Your sour cream will still be as fresh as the day you put it in the freezer. Obviously, it won’t get any fresher, but it shouldn’t go bad in the freezer either.

When you take the sour cream out of the freezer, you most likely won’t want to use it as a topping.  It just won’t look as creamy as it did before freezing. However, it will still work amazingly well to put into dishes: baked goods, stews, soups, sauces, etc.

We recommend that if you freeze sour cream, be aware that its uses may be somewhat more limited when you remove it from the freezer. 

Keep in mind, however, that freezing sour cream is an efficient process and is a great way to preserve sour cream when you’re facing the threat of having to throw it away because of its expiration date.

Here are the recommended steps for freezing sour cream. 

1. Pour the sour cream into a reliable airtight container that won’t crack or break in the freezer. You can also use a heavy-duty freezer bag to store the sour cream in the freezer.
2. Be sure to stir the sour cream before freezing it.
3. Seal it well.
4. Label and date the container of sour cream.
5. Put the sour cream in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Freezing sour cream is a breeze and you can’t go wrong. Of course, you must make sure that the storage method used is airtight. If the sour cream isn’t airtight, you run the risk of it hardening and clumping.

Remember that once you freeze sour cream, you should plan to use it as part of a dish or cooked in something, rather than as a garnish.  You can use it as a topping, but it won’t be as pretty or creamy because the texture changes when you freeze the sour cream.

Storing sour cream out of the freezer

If you plan to use the sour cream in a couple of weeks, you can simply store it in the fridge as an alternative.  You should not store it at room temperature for more than 1 or 2 hours at a time . Remember that it has gone sour and that being outside too long would be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Storing sour cream in the fridge is easy and is a reasonable solution for a short period of time. You just have to make sure to cover it and store it tightly closed. You can store it anywhere in your fridge and it will keep without problems.

Homemade sour cream usually keeps for about 2 weeks in the fridge . Store-bought sour cream comes with an expiration date printed on the container. This date is usually also 2-3 weeks away.

Your sour cream can last longer. Only the best dates to use it before are considered. However, there’s also a chance that your sour cream won’t last the full 2 weeks before you need to throw it away.

Be sure to use good judgment and know the signs that your sour cream is bad. If you see that there is mold or something growing, it is time to throw it away. There are several obvious signs to look for if your sour cream has gone bad.

If the sour cream has a layer of liquid, you can usually correct it by stirring it very well. Usually this is a separation of liquid (like lemon juice from our fresh sour cream). Stirring in the sour cream should fix the problem.

Advantages and disadvantages of freezing sour cream

As you’ve probably seen in this article, freezing sour cream has some advantages and disadvantages.

Although it freezes very well, there are some potential consequences that you won’t like when you take the sour cream out of the freezer. 

Let’s summarize the pros and cons of freezing sour cream.

Advantages of freezing sour cream

• Freezes pretty well for later use
• You can freeze it up to 6 months
• It’s easy to freeze
• It has no special requirements, you just have to seal it well
• You can easily use it after freezing it
• Great option for preserving sour cream

Cons of freezing sour cream

• You have not been able to enjoy it fresh
• You may not be able to use it as a hedge
• The texture is slightly affected
• It’s best when cooked on a plate

Without a doubt, the pros far outweigh the cons. Just be aware of how your sour cream may be affected.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide on freezing sour cream a valid and informative resource. Freezing sour cream is pretty straightforward, as long as you know that it changes slightly in the process.

We invite you to take a look at the following question and answer section for additional information that you may find useful.

What is the best way to tell if sour cream is bad?

There are several ways to tell if your sour cream is bad. If it smells like spoiled milk, it’s time to throw it away. If you see mold growth, throw it away. If there are random bright spots, they are bacterial marks and you should throw it away. If the taste is unpleasant or bitter, it’s also time to throw it away.

Can I eat sour cream after the expiration date?

The date stamped on sour cream is usually the expiration date. It does not necessarily mean that it has expired. Use this date as a key to monitoring your sour cream, but it will often be good for up to 2 weeks after that date if stored in the fridge.

Remember that storing the sour cream in the freezer can extend its life beyond this date. This is why you should label and date its packaging, as it should be good for about 6 months in the freezer.