Can whipped cream be refrozen?

The taste of Cool Whip is nostalgic. This creamy, fluffy, easy-to-use whipped cream is all you need in one tub. But some people still have questions about this product.

Can Cool Whip be refrozen? Yes, you can refreeze Cool Whip and most other imitation whipped creams. The key is to simply thaw it carefully before using so that it can be refrozen well. If you intend to refreeze your Cool Whip, it’s best to thaw it in the fridge each time you decide to use it. 

After all, Cool Whip is sold frozen. If you do leave some of the Cool Whip in the tub, you can go ahead and refreeze it. The important thing is to defrost it correctly.

Read on to learn more about Cool Whip and what are some methods you can use to thaw it out.

What is the Cool Whip?

If you don’t know what liquid cream is and you just bought a tub because the recipe calls for it, you may be wondering what’s different about it.

Invented in 1966, Cool Whip can best be described as stabilized whipped cream. Cool Whip is the name of the American brand that produces this whipped cream topping.

As the popularity of this product has spread, some people have begun to use the name of this product to refer to a type of whipped cream. Also called imitation whipped cream.

Cool Whip was a real joy to live in the 20th century (and now too), as whipping cream by hand takes a lot of time and effort.

If you think about it, isn’t it ideal to have a cream that is already assembled? Open the tub, take a spoonful and cover your desserts with a delicious and light whipped cream. Or dip some strawberries in it for the ultimate sweet snack.

What does Cool Whip contain?

You may be surprised to learn that two of the main ingredients in whipped cream are water and air. If you decide to go with Cool Whip instead of whipping yourself, consider both the pros and cons.

Liquid cream is easy and with it you can achieve the appearance of a perfect manual cream tart. But it contains many added ingredients. Among them are vegetable oils, corn syrup, skimmed milk, cream and a whole series of natural and artificial additives.

Cool Whip tastes different from regular whipped cream. This is explained by the fact that it contains less than 2% light cream.

That said, if you’re not picky about the ingredients in the products you use, keeping a can of Cool Whip in your fridge is a good idea.

How do you use liquid cream?

The Cool Whip is frozen when you buy it. If you intend to use it, you must let it thaw first. Once thawed, the imitation whipped cream is creamy and spreadable. And yet it holds its peaks and doesn’t lose shape or melt.

The Cool Whip is used to cover cakes, pastries and other baked goods. You can also make easy no-bake desserts with the help of just a few ingredients, like cookies and fruit.

How long does liquid cream last?

The expiration date indicated on the Cool Whip bottle refers to its conservation in the freezer. Some people think that Cool Whip should be kept in the fridge to keep it soft and fluffy. But since it is sold frozen, it must be stored frozen.

Also, the shelf life of Cool Whip stored in the fridge is much shorter. It will last 7-14 days in the fridge. On the other hand, in the freezer it will keep for up to 4 months, even if the tub has been opened.

Can Cool Whip be refrozen?

When Cool Whip first appeared on the market, it spread easily across the US. The secret to its seamless distribution across the country was that it could be frozen, thawed, and refrozen. And the quality did not suffer.

Luckily nothing has changed. You can still refreeze Cool Whip. If you intend to refreeze Cool Whip after using some of it, it’s important to choose a suitable thawing method.

In this case, defrosting the frozen imitation whipped cream in the refrigerator is the best option. 

If you do a poor job defrosting your Cool Whip and end up with a flat, non-fluffy whipped cream, don’t refreeze it. Refreezing will not improve the situation. The smoothie will be flat when you thaw it next time.

That’s why it’s important to thaw imitation whipped cream well, so you don’t ruin its deliciously fluffy texture.

How to defrost liquid cream

There are four ways to thaw frozen liquid cream. You can thaw it in the fridge, at room temperature, in the microwave, or in cold water.

Choose the method that best suits you based on the time you have and the amount you are going to use.

Method 1: Defrost whipped cream in the fridge

This is the best method for thawing Cool Whip. However, this method only works if you have the time or know ahead of time that you are going to need to defrost your Cool Whip.

1. Transfer the Cool Whip canister from the freezer to the fridge.
2. Let it thaw in the fridge for 4-5 hours or overnight.
3. Use the amount you need and put the rest of the smoothie back in the freezer.

Method 2: Thaw whipped cream at room temperature

One thing you should know about defrosting food at room temperature is don’t do it if you don’t need it. Drastic temperature changes are not recommended for food.

But if you need to thaw your Cool Whip quickly, thawing it on the counter is an option:

1. Take your Cool Whip out of the freezer and bring it to room temperature avoiding direct sunlight and heat.
2. Do not leave the smoothie on the counter for more than 2 hours. Since it contains dairy, it can easily go bad.
3. Keep an eye on the whipped cream. If it’s too hot in the room, don’t leave the imitation whipped cream on the counter for more than 60 minutes max. Even if it doesn’t go bad, Cool Whip thawed at higher temperatures can change its consistency and lose softness. Whipped cream that has sat too long at room temperature can also go bad.

Method 3: Thaw Cool Whip in the Microwave

The microwave will always save you time in your defrosting tasks. Follow these steps to quickly thaw Cool Whip in the microwave:

1. Microwave the Cool Whip uncovered in its original container.
2. Activate the “Defrost” option and leave the Cool Whip in the freezer for 30 seconds.
3. Take it out and stir it well.
4. Microwave the Cool Whip for another 30 seconds.
5. Repeat the stirring and defrosting actions as many times as necessary until the cream has softened. This will take you 2-3 minutes.

The key is not to skip the stirring part. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an unappetizing tub of liquid. Be sure to stir the batter gently, so it doesn’t lose its fluffiness.

Method 4: Defrost liquid cream in cold water

If you don’t want to take any chances, then thawing whipped cream in cold water is the method you need. You just have to follow these steps:

1. Fill a bowl with cold water. Don’t even think about using hot water to speed up the defrosting process.
2. Take the can of frozen Cool Whip out of the freezer and put it in the bowl. You can wrap the tub with food paper to make sure no water gets into it.
3. Leave it in the bowl for up to 40 minutes. Use the Cool Whip as soon as it has softened. You can also run cold water over the bowl to ease the defrosting process.

Can homemade whipped cream be frozen and refrozen?

If Cool Whip isn’t available in supermarkets or you just want to know exactly what’s in your food, you can make an imitation whipped cream at home.

You only need water, unflavored gelatin, powdered sugar, vanilla and, of course, whipped cream. This is the easiest Cool Whip you can make at home.

You can freeze homemade Cool Whip, but don’t try to refreeze it.

The consistency of the shake may undergo changes as a result of freezing and thawing. Therefore, if you plan to use it for decoration, it is better that you make a new batch.

You can also go for complicated homemade Cool Whip recipes. These include powdered milk, corn syrup, the use of a thermometer, and perfect timing.

You can store Cool Whip made this way for 12 weeks in the freezer and use it the same way you bought it.

To increase the stability of homemade Cool Whip, cream of tartar is often added. It is a powder used to stabilize whipped cream and beaten egg whites.

However, if you are freezing your homemade Cool Whip, you should actually avoid using cream of tartar on it. Although the imitation whipped cream with cream of tartar is very stable, it does not hold up well to freezing and thawing.