Homemade Whipped Cream What’s the Shelf Life?
As you work your way through the world of homemade whipped cream with your trusty Galaxy Gas Whipped Cream Chargers and Dispensers, you’ll definitely want to keep your whipped cream around for as long as possible. After getting a taste of homemade whipped cream, any sane person wouldn’t want to go back to the traditional shelved whipped cream!
So with that being said, how long can we store homemade whipped cream?
In comparison to traditional store bought whipped cream that may last around 2 to 3 weeks, homemade whipped cream lasts for around 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator and 2 to 3 months in the freezer! When considering the fact that aerosol, or store bought, whipped cream does last longer in the refrigerator, it may lead you to wonder why not settle for the convenience?
When you make whipped cream at home, you’re making it without preservatives and with ingredients true to your and your guests or family! Not to mention, the reward of being able to serve this topping on your own is unmatched. You probably wouldn’t think twice about running to the store.
In addition to the fresh ingredients and purity of homemade whipped cream, its shelf life is all about care and maintenance of your ingredients!
When handling any dairy products, it's important to store them at or below 40°F. This is due to the high milk fat properties of the cream used to make whipped cream. In comparison to traditional milk, whipping cream contains around 36-48% milk fat.
How Can I Tell if My Whipped Cream is Bad or Sour?
Always trust your senses, not your gut, when it comes to handling and serving any dairy product! One key sense to use to determine whether your whipped cream is good or bad is seeing its consistency change. Once the water begins to separate from the whipped cream and pool at the bottom, it’s best to hurry up and finish the whipped cream as soon as possible. However, when the whipped cream has officially gone bad or sour, the consistency and texture will form into a solid, cracked state.
You can also use your sense of smell to determine whether or not your whipped cream is safe to ingest. Just like curdled or spoiled milk, whipped cream will give off a sour smell that’s definitely not appeasing to the olfactory senses when it has spoiled.
Key reminder - do not taste your whipped cream to determine if it has gone bad! By doing so, you are putting yourself at risk for foodborne illness and potential poisoning. As your parents used to say, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
What Can I Do to Extend the Shelf Life?
One resource you can use to keep your whipped cream safe to ingest for longer periods of time is storing it on top of ice while in your refrigerator. By keeping your whipped cream on top of ice, the cooling of the ice will reduce the reactions that cause your whipped cream to spoil to a slower rate.
If you have a lot of leftover whipped cream, Galaxy Gas suggests storing the leftovers in your freezer! You can do so by laying dollops of whipped cream on top of a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. After that, your whipped cream is good to store in the freezer overnight. The following day, you’ll want to take your dollops and place them in a freezer safe bag or container for proper storage and preservation!
Store and Preserve Like a Pro!
Now that you know the fundamentals of the shelf life of whipped cream and the proper methods to store it, you can handle leftovers like a professional! Remember to trust your senses over your gut when determining if the whipped cream is safe to consume or not, and to practice proper food hygiene to prevent contamination and food borne illness. Happy whipping!
