Can you Freeze Sour Cream? So you love sour cream and already used the amount you wanted for your recipe, but now you don’t know what to do with the leftover? Sour cream isn’t consumed regularly, and unfortunately, more often than not, the leftover stays in the fridge until it goes bad. To avoid this, you need to know how to store it properly and how you can store sour cream, so if you’ve ever wondered about how you can freeze sour cream, we’ll tell you all about it.
We’ve all been guilty of throwing away sour cream that has been forgotten in the fridge after it was opened, but instead of allowing it to go bad in your fridge, you can expand its shelf life by storing it in the freezer. By freezing your sour cream, you avoid food waste, and you also get to use sour cream for later recipes.
Now that you know that freezing your sour cream is totally possible, it is time to learn about the actual process. Learning how to freeze sour cream isn’t complicated at all; though the process is quite simple, you need to keep in mind a few tips and tricks for freezing sour cream. Without further ado, find out how you can freeze sour cream.
Table of Contents
Method 1: Airtight container method
The best way to freeze sour cream is to store it in an airtight container. When using an airtight container, please give it a whip and transfer your sour cream in the container, place it in the freezer, and you are good to go.
- Start by whipping the sour cream using a whisk or a spatula. You want to make sure that the ingredients are mixed evenly with the moisture. This way, sour cream won’t turn watery or chunky once it’s thawed.
- Once you’re done whipping the sour cream, it’s time to transfer it to a freezer-safe, airtight container.
- Just spoon the sour cream directly into the container.
- If you’re using a rigid plastic container, leave an inch of space for the sour cream to expand as it freezes.
- After transferring the sour cream, get a marker and write the date of freezing on the container.
- Place the sour cream in the freezer, and you are done.
Rubbermaid Food Storage Containers
Features:
- Freezer-safe
- Top-rack dishwasher-safe
- BPA-free
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Method 2: Ice tray or muffin tin method
- Transfer sour cream to your ice tray or muffin tin
- Please leave it in the freezer until the sour cream freezes. This should take about 8 hours.
- Once it’s frozen solid, remove the frozen blocks from the tray or tin and store them in a freezer bag or container.
Joho Baking Nonstick Muffin Pan
Features:
- Durable
- Non-stick
- Versatile muffin pans
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Method 3: Plastic bag method
You can also use a plastic zip-lock bag to store the cream.
- Just spoon the sour cream directly into the bag.
- If you’re using Ziploc plastic bags, squeeze as much air as you could before sealing the bag.
- Label with the date and place in the freezer.
Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Bags
Features:
- Non-slip grip
- Easy to seal
- Microwave safe
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Ziploc brand Storage Bags are perfect for food storage, including meat, fish, and chicken in the refrigerator. Safe for use in microwaves. When defrosting and reheating food, open the storage bag zipper one inch to vent.
Common Questions Can you Freeze Sour Cream
Can you freeze sour cream?
Fresh sour cream can be safely kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Like with most dairy products, you can freeze sour cream. Sour cream can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.
What occurs to sour cream when it is frozen?
Fresh sour cream has a soft, creamy texture and tangy taste. This silky texture makes it the perfect choice for folding into soups, dips, and salads and bringing richness to cakes and bread.
Even though it’s safe to freeze sour cream, freezing the product will change its texture, which most people find undesirable.
After defrosting frozen sour cream, it’ll have a lumpy or grainy texture, unlike the smooth texture of fresh sour cream. This is because the sour cream separates during the freezing and thawing process, meaning the fat separates from the liquid part of the cream. This leads to a coagulated texture, which may not be very enjoyable.
How do you revive frozen sour cream?
To thaw, transfer the amount of sour cream you need to the fridge and allow it to thaw for several hours. You’ll notice the texture will be a bit watery and separated.
Feel free to give it a good whip with a whisk to reach a smooth consistency if that is what you’re going for.
Can you use sour cream that has been frozen?
Typically sour cream is most utilized in cooking or baking. However, experts say that frozen cream that has been frozen should not be used as a topping or to whip up your favorite salad dressing.
Using sour cream that has been frozen and thawed in a recipe that calls for fresh sour cream might result in an undesirable texture, a reason why it is not recommended.
That said, frozen sour cream can be used in multiple ways; check out some ideas:
- Adding frozen or frozen and thawed sour cream to soups and stews for a creamy texture
- Incorporating frozen and thawed sour cream into pancakes, cake, or muffin batter
- Adding a bit of frozen sour cream to casseroles before baking
- Tossing frozen sour cream into smoothies for a boost of satiating protein and fat
Should you freeze sour cream after being thawed?
After defrosting frozen sour cream, refreezing is not recommended. Thawing and refreezing can lead to bacterial contamination, making the sour cream unfit to be consumed.
Can you freeze Daisy sour cream?
According to the Daisy brand website, they advised not to go ahead and freeze sour cream. They warn that it can adversely affect the creamy texture and all-natural flavor of the product.
Again, this is a matter of preference; while freezing changes the texture of sour cream, the difference is undetectable in cooked dishes.
What can I do with extra sour cream?
In the unfortunate case that you have a lot of leftover sour cream on your hands, do not shove it to the back of the fridge; instead, use it in everything you can so you won’t forget about it and ends up in the trash. Check out a few ideas on what to do with your extra sour cream:
- Add it to baked goods: Incorporate sour cream into cake and muffin recipes, and they’ll turn out more tender and flavorful.
- Prepare devil eggs: Twist the recipe by using sour cream to replace mayo. It’ll give the eggs a richer, tangier taste.
- Make a healthy dip: Combine your leftover sour cream with a pouch of ranch or French onion dressing mix to make a quick dip.
- Pasta and Potato Salads: Swap in sour cream for some mayonnaise in pasta and potato salad recipes.
- Sandwich spread: Try sour cream instead of mayo on sandwiches.
- Make your soup richer: Sour cream is always a gorgeous garnish for creamy vegetable soups and can be used to dial down too-spicy chilis.
- Freeze for later: If you’re too busy to make anything with your sour cream now, freeze it until you have more time.
What can you use to store sour cream in the freezer?
You can use airtight containers, ice trays, or muffin tins to store sour cream in the freezer.
Can you Freeze Sour Cream Additional Tips
- Make sure it’s fresh when you put it in the freezer. Avoid putting sour cream in the freezer that’s been open for more than three weeks.
- Use it sooner rather than later. Sour cream continues to deteriorate over time, even while frozen.
- Try to store it in smaller portions, so you don’t have to divide what you need from one huge frozen chunk.
- Don’t put sour cream back in the freezer after thawing to prevent bacteria growth.
- Since the texture changes with freezing, it’s best to use frozen sour cream in cooking or baking rather than dip or baked potato topping, like cottage cheese perhaps!
