Can You Freeze Sour Cream?

So many foods have a shorter shelf life than you might expect. When these foods are approaching their expiration date, you have a couple of choices. You can either use everything you have in a recipe, throw out the remaining contents, or freeze your expiring food. 

The choice you make often depends on the type of food you're dealing with. Not everything in your refrigerator is freezer-friendly. When it comes to sour cream, is freezing an option?

Today, let's talk about how you can preserve your sour cream or make the most of it before it expires. We'll explore a few freezer hacks and easy recipes, and then we'll show you how we can make your meals and grocery shopping easier with us at Jow.

What Is Sour Cream?

Before we get into how to keep sour cream, it might help to know where this tangy cream comes from. 

Essentially, sour cream is the substance that results from lactic acid-producing bacteria being added to dairy cream. As it combines, it forms a thick, rich cream that produces a tangy, tart flavor, so many people enjoy. 

Whether you prefer sour cream on your tacos, casseroles, or in your desserts, there are so many reasons to enjoy this heavenly condiment. 

How Long Until Sour Cream Goes Bad?

Sour cream is a dairy product, so it's no surprise that it has a sensitive shelf-life. Whenever you purchase a container of sour cream, you may notice a "sell-by" date on the container. You'll want to use your sour cream within three weeks of the date listed on the lid. 

Alternatively, you might purchase a tub of sour cream that has an explicit printed "use-by" date, which you should follow.

You'll know sour cream is starting to go bad when the texture changes, when there's discoloration, or when you notice a rotten smell. Use your best judgment when using sour cream displaying any of these qualities, even if it's doing so within the "use by" date. 

How To Preserve Sour Cream

Do you ever get frustrated with how quickly the refrigerated food you buy can expire? Perhaps you're tired of throwing out your eggs, lunch meat, spinach, and sour cream. Is there any way to keep this food fresh for longer? 

Let's look at a couple of freezer hacks you can try to keep your sour cream from expiring. Then, we'll talk about a few other freezer-safe foods.

Use Ice Cube Trays

Perhaps early in the month, you bought a large tub of sour cream, thinking that you would use its contents in multiple recipes before reaching the expiration date. If you're nearing the container's "use by" date with a half-full tub, you don't have to prepare to throw it out. 

Instead, you can fill an ice cube tray with sour cream to make frozen cubes. From there, you can remove the frozen sour cream cubes and place them in a zip-close bag in the freezer to keep for a later date.

Use Plastic or Glass Containers

If you don't want to use one of your ice cube trays to keep sour cream frozen, you can also try pouring the tub into a glass or reusable plastic container. Then, you can freeze it and keep it until you're ready to use it in a recipe. 

Later, you can cut into the frozen cream and measure the amount you need. 

Other Freezer-Friendly Ingredients

Now that you know you can freeze aging sour cream for later use, let's talk about a few other foods that spoil quickly. Here is a brief list of freezer-friendly items:

• Cooked pasta 🍝
• Butter 🧈
• Nuts 🥜
• Peeled bananas 🍌
• Milk 🥛
• Whipped cream
• Lunchmeat
• Sausage
• Fish 🐠
• Bacon 🥓

We've also put together a short list of foods that don't tend to freeze as well:

• Cucumber 🥒
• Frosting 🧁
• Hard-boiled eggs 🥚
• Lettuce 🥬
• Mayonnaise

How Long Will Sour Cream Last in the Freezer?

As we mentioned, the typical refrigerator shelf-life of sour cream is around three weeks. 

When you preserve your sour cream in the freezer, you can keep it for longer without worrying that it will expire. In the freezer, sour cream will keep for approximately six months! So go ahead and plan that enchilada casserole next month. Your frozen sour cream cubes will be ready and waiting.

What Happens When You Freeze Sour Cream?

You might be wondering how sour cream reacts to being frozen. Does it turn into an ice cream consistency or something else? 

One thing to keep in mind is that although you can freeze sour cream to keep it from expiring, it will change the texture. Once frozen, this substance loses its creamy consistency, and it develops a more chalky texture as it melts. 

Regardless of this fact, you can still add frozen sour cream to cooked recipes and enjoy the flavor it adds to your other ingredients. You just might not want to use it as a topping any longer.  

What To Do With Frozen Sour Cream

Once you've frozen your sour cream, what can you do with it? When sour cream is fresh, it makes a terrific dip. But when frozen, it understandably loses that appeal. 

Don't worry. Frozen sour cream is still perfect for several delicious uses: in soups & casseroles!

Add It to Your Soup 🍲

Perhaps you're planning on making a cozy taco soup next week. When it's time to prep your ingredients, you won't have to buy an entirely new container of sour cream. 

Instead, you can add your frozen sour cream to your recipe, and it will mix into the soup as you cook it. Once you're done, you can have the satisfaction that you reduced waste and saved money by using your frozen sour cream.

Use It in a Casserole Dish

Who doesn't love a good casserole? Perhaps you're cooking this dish to meal prep for yourself for the week. Or you might be preparing a casserole big enough to serve several loved ones who are joining you for dinner. 

In either scenario, there's no need to rush to the store for new sour cream. Use your frozen sour cream in the dish and enjoy the flavor it adds. 

Sour Cream Meal Ideas

Whether your fresh sour cream is nearing its expiration date or you have frozen cubes you'd like to use in a recipe, having a few good sour cream meal ideas on deck can come in handy. 

Let's look at eleven easy recipes you can make this week. Each one of them includes the tart, creamy flavor of sour cream, making for a delicious meal.

Creamy Baked Eggs With Spinach and Bacon 

Do you ever find yourself wishing to be more creative with your breakfasts? Perhaps you're tired of eating the same scrambled eggs and toast. 

This dish is not only super quick to make, but it's also rich and creamy. It's a perfect breakfast for a lazy Saturday.

Creamy Leek and Smoked Salmon Soup

What's better than a creamy soup? Enjoy this fancy appetizer before your meal with dinner guests, or make it to treat yourself. The sour cream, salmon, and potatoes make this savory soup one you'll remember.

Latkes With Smoked Salmon

Have you ever had potato pancakes? These latkes are simple and easy. Sour cream and smoked salmon top this dish off, making it a simple but delicious meal you can enjoy.

Caramelized Apples With Sour Cream

Sour cream and dessert totally go together. This sweet and tangy dish combines tart apples with creamy sour cream to put a new twist on after-dinner treats. This dessert can be ready in just twenty minutes!

Salmon and Creamed Spinach Pastry

An oven-baked pastry filled with delectable sour cream, salmon, and spinach? This cozy main course is one your dinner guests will rave about for weeks. 

Roasted Butternut Squash and Gorgonzola

This recipe calls for only three ingredients, but we give it five stars. Butternut squash, gorgonzola, and sour cream make a great team. 

Smoked Salmon & Leek Pappardelle

Looking for an easy meal you can put together in minutes? This one is tasty and creamy. 

Cheesy Baked Pasta With Ham

Whether you have children or not, you're probably familiar with mac and cheese as a delicious side dish. This popular dish gets even better with our recipe. Use your leftover sour cream and enjoy an incredible spin on the mac and cheese you know and love.

Baked Sweet Potato With Blue Cheese

This week, try making simple baked sweet potatoes with blue cheese and walnuts. You'll love the tangy addition of sour cream!

Broccoli and Bacon Quiche

A quiche is a terrific option you can make when you want a warm, filling breakfast. The flavors of broccoli, bacon, and sour cream make an excellent combination.

Potatoes Au Gratin

This potato variation may just become your household's new favorite warm dish. Enjoy creamy sliced potatoes with nutmeg, garlic, and sour cream.