Expiration & Storage Tips
When does garden vegetable cream cheese expire?
Unopened garden vegetable cream cheese should be good until the sell-by date printed on the packaging. Once opened, it will typically stay good for another 1-2 weeks when kept refrigerated. If frozen, it can extend the life for up to 2 months but it may alter the texture and taste slightly.
How do you tell if garden vegetable cream cheese is bad?
There are several key indicators to know if your garden vegetable cream cheese has gone bad. A funky or sour smell is the first giveaway that it’s gone off. Next, visually inspect it. If it’s developed a mold, usually showing up in blue, green, or even black spots, it's time to toss it. Another sign can be a change in texture, where the cream cheese becomes excessively hard or slimy.
Tips for storing garden vegetable cream cheese to extend shelf life
• Always store the cream cheese in the fridge, ideally at 40°F or below.
• Keep the cream cheese in its original packaging until you're ready to use it.
• If you've opened your cream cheese, consider transferring any unused portion to an airtight container.
• Avoid returning unused cream cheese to its original container if it's been out for a while to limit bacterial growth.
• Remember that freezing can prolong life but may alter texture and taste.
• Use a fresh knife or spoon each time you take some cream cheese to avoid introduction of bacteria from used utensils.