Everything You Need to Know About Freezing Sour Cream

Most of us buy sour cream with a specific recipe in mind. Unfortunately, the leftover stays in the fridge for a few days until it goes bad. If you’ve ever thrown out a half-full can of sour cream, you probably already know how bad it feels to waste sour cream like that. So, what can you do to make sure you never have to throw out sour cream again?

Well, freezing is often the best way to elongate the shelf life of food items, but can you freeze sour cream? If yes, then how can you freeze it and how long will it last? Will it be as good as fresh sour cream? Scroll down to find answers to these and any other questions that you may have about freezing sour cream.  

Can you Freeze Sour Cream?

A common question that I usually get is, Can you freeze sour cream? Yes.

But should you do it? No – not until you have to!

It may sound confusing at first, but the thing with sour cream is that it loses its texture when frozen. This is why it is never a good idea to buy sour cream only to store it. However, when you have leftover sour cream from a recipe, it is certainly better to freeze it than throwing it out. The texture may change a bit, but it will be good to use. It is best to use frozen sour cream in cooked or baked goods only. Avoid using it in dips and dressing or as a substitute in a creamy fruit salad.    

How to Freeze Sour Cream?

Freezing sour cream is really easy. Plus, it takes less than a few minutes to prep sour cream for freezing. You can use airtight containers, ice tray or muffin tins to store sour cream in the freezer. 

When using an airtight container, simply transfer your sour cream in the container, place it in the freezer, and you are good to go! 

On the other hand, if you want to use an ice tray or muffin tin, leave it in the freezer until the dairy product freezes. This should take about 8 hours. Once it’s frozen solid, remove the frozen blocks from the tray or tin and store it in a freezer bag or container.    

Helpful Cooking Tips:

• Meal Prep 101: How to Freeze Kale in 3 Simple Ways
• How to Freeze Ginger
• Can You Freeze Salami – All Things You Need to Know
• Are You Curious If You Can Freeze Pepperoni?

How to Defrost Sour Cream?

The best way to defrost sour cream is to thaw it in the fridge. Based on the quantity of frozen sour cream, it can take anywhere from two to eight hours to defrost it in the fridge. 

You’ll be glad to know that you can use frozen sour cream in soups, stews, and similar recipes. This means you can skip defrosting entirely. Instead, just throw in the frozen piece in the pot as you cook your dish.

How to Use Frozen Sour Cream?

Frozen sour cream is good to use in cooked dishes and baked goods. There are many recipes that will turn out great even if you use frozen sour cream. Here’s a list of food items that you should try making with frozen sour cream.

• Cakes, especially coffee cake
• Pancakes
• Soups
• Casseroles
• Mashed or baked potatoes
• Slow cooker pies

However, you should avoid using it in dips and sauces. For instance, don’t use it for Creamy Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce.

How Long Does Sour Cream Last After Opening It?

Once opened, sour cream stays good for about 1 – 3 weeks if it is stored in the refrigerator. If it’s been a few days since you opened a pack of sour cream, it is essential to look for signs of spoilage before using it. Some signs of spoilage include discoloration, the appearance of mold, and unusual smells.

How Long Can You Keep Sour Cream in the Freezer?

To elongate the life of sour cream, store it in the freezer. Sour cream can last to up to 6 months in the freezer when stored properly.

Additional Tips and Tricks

1. Use a whisk to whip the sour cream before you freeze it. This will help you achieve an even texture.
2. Portioning is always a good idea. If you won’t be using all of the frozen sour cream in one go, it is best to portion it before freezing.
3. Once sour cream is thawed, you can restore some of its consistency and texture by whipping a teaspoon of cornstarch in it.

So, can you freeze sour cream? Well, now you know that you can! So, if you have a half-full can of sour cream sitting your fridge, then hurry up and freeze it before it goes bad!

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