Sour Cream

By Alison Soltau

Jul 21, 2009

Contrary to myth, sour cream isn’t regular cream that has spoiled. Sour cream is a blend of pasteurized cream and lactic-acid-producing bacteria. The term sour refers to the bacteria’s tangy, acidic flavor. So how do you keep sour cream fresh, and what are the telltale signs that it’s gone “off”? Here’s some advice from the experts.

Sour Cream Shelf Life
Refrigerator
Sour Cream1-2 weeks
Deans Sour Cream, unopened*7-10 -
Deans (full-fat) Sour Cream, opened*7-10 days
Deans (low-fat or fat-free) Sour Cream, opened*By "Use By" Date -
Breakstone Sour Cream, unopenedBy "Sell By" or "Use By" Date -
Breakstone Sour Cream, openedBy "Use By" Date -
Land O' Lakes Sour Cream, unopened*2-3 weeks
Daisy Sour Cream, opened2 weeks
Handling Tips: 
*Products with an * means that the time period given is after the "Sell By" or "Use By" date
Keep covered.
Stir opened product well before returning to refrigerator.
Discard if moldy, has a pinkish tint, or smells bad.
Sour cream can be frozen, but the texture will change when defrosted. Thawed sour cream has an unpleasant grainy or chunky texture and loses some flavor. It's okay for cooking but less satisfying if served cold (on fruit, baked potato, etc.).
Source(s): 
Boyer, Renee, and Julie McKinney. "Food Storage Guidelines for Consumers." Virginia Cooperative Extension (2009): n. pag. Web. 7 Dec 2009.
"Cupboard Storage Chart." K-State Research and Extension n. pag. Web. 23 Dec 2009.
Food Marketing Institute: “Food Storage Information”
Horizon Organic: “Product FAQs” http://www.fmi.org/consumer/foodkeeper/index.cfm?fuseaction=item&id=95
Daisy Brand: Sour Cream FAQs http://www.daisybrand.com/products/faq.aspx
Ochef.com “More on the Shelf-Life and Storage of Sour Cream” http://www.ochef.com/905.htm
Deans Consumer Response phone consultant
Breakstone Customer Service phone consultant
 
 

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