Have you ever made a recipe that requires double cream?
Of course you have!
You’ve probably also wondered “Can you freeze double cream?” right? Well you have come to the right place!
Double cream is a key ingredient in soups, desserts, soups, pasta and more!
This is all great, however, in most recipes, it only calls for a small amount of cream. Thus, leaving you with a container half full of double cream you have no use for.
Normally, you would either throw this cream away or find alternative uses such as a substitute for milk in cereal (we are joking, don’t do this).
But what if there was another solution?
What if you could freeze your double cream and store it in the freezer until the next time you need it to make something?
Well guess what.
You can freeze double cream.
And we are going to tell you exactly how.
Firstly, how much cream are you freezing?
I need to freeze a small amount of cream
If you’ve been left with a small amount of cream and you want to make the most of it, then freeze it!
The best solution to freezing a small amount of cream is to utilise a ice cube tray. Simply pour the double cream into the tray and place the tray, carefully, in the freezer.
If you are short of ice cube trays, once the first lot has frozen you can transfer the cream cubes (ha) to a freezer bag and pour in the next lot of double cream.
It’s worth noting that each cube is usually equal to 2 tablespoons of double cream, obviously if you ice cube tray is the size of a stormtrooper’s helmet then that might not be the case.
Measure your ice cube tray to see how much it holds by using water and a teaspoon for measurement.
If you don’t have a spare ice tray lying around, then you can use a food-grade resealable plastic container to store the cream in before you freezer it. It’s important to not fill the container as otherwise, it may end up bursting in your freezer.
I need to freeze a large amount of cream
When you want to freeze a large amount of cream, then you are best off removing the cream from the original packaging or carton it came in.
You should transer the cream to a plastic secure with an airtight lid.
Make sure to leave enough room at the top of the container for the cream to expand into when it freezes.
If you don’t want to use the container, you could pour your double cream into an airtight container and place that in the freezer.
What Happens when you freeze double cream?
When double cream is frozen, the fat molecules there were once evenly distributed throughout the cream, stick together and become a single unit.
This will ultimately change the consistency and texture of the cream, however, if the cream has been frozen using the instructions outlined above, once thawed, the cream should returns to its original consistency and texture.
How to Use your Frozen Double Cream
The way to use your frozen cream will depend on how much you froze and what recipe you are making.
If you froze the double cream in the container it came in, then you will want to defrost this in the refrigerate before using it. Check out the section below for guidance on how to defrost cream.
Anyway, once your cream is no longer a solid lump, give it a good stir to make sure all of the fats are redistributed amongst the liquid.
If you need only a small amount of cream, then it’s time for your ice cube trays to shine! Simply pop out as many cubes of cream as you need and replace the rest in the freezer for future use.
Making a hot dish? Then there is no need to defrost your cream. You can simply add the frozen double cream cubes to the hot dish and they will act the same way as fresh cream.
If you are making a cold dish, then please follow our guidance on how to defrost cream below.
How to Defrost Cream?
Defrosting cream is about as easy as freezing it
To defrost cream, remove from the freezer and transfer it to the fridge.
Leave the cream in the fridge overnight and allow it to defrost slowly.
Once fully thawed, you might notice some separation. Simply give the defrosted cream a stir and incorporate the ingredients once again.
Once defrosted, your double cream will be almost identical to fresh cream so feel free to whip and pour till your heart’s content.
Can I Re-Freeze Defrosted Cream?
No you should never attempt to freeze double cream once you have defrosted it. If you try to refreeze the thawed double cream, the fat molecules will break down and the cream will lose its consistency, texture and flavour for good.
How long does double cream last?
Fresh double cream will last anywhere between 2 to 3 weeks before it has been opened.
Once opened, fresh double cream will last between 5 & 7 days.
Frozen double cream on the other hand will last between 3 to 4 months once the cream has fully frozen.
Can you freeze double cream in its carton?
No we would not recommend freezing double cream in the carton in which you bought it in. In order to freeze double cream without any mishaps, you need to ensure there is enough room for the cream to expand in to when it freezes.
In most cases, the carton in which double cream is sold in is does not have enough room for the frozen cream to expand in to and the cream will end up bursting in the freezer.
Andy
Ever since I started cooking I’ve been fascinated by how different people’s techniques are and how they best utilise the ingredients around them. Even the person living next door will have their own unique way of frying an egg or cooking a salmon fillet.
This fascination led me on a journey across the globe to discover the countless practices and traditions the world of cooking has to offer. I thought you’d enjoy and find value in sharing that journey with me so I created Cooked Best!