Fridge storage

How long does half and half last in the fridge?

About 3 days for half and half. That’s what Well Stockd plans on; the table below has the sources’ own times.

Times are for a fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below. They’re a guide, not a safety guarantee.

How we checked this: each storage time here is checked against the source named beside it, USDA FoodKeeper, USDA FSIS or another, before the page goes live. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, since FoodKeeper and FSIS give none. Editorial policy

NDSU Extension says to freeze only heavy cream with 40 percent or more butterfat; lighter cream and half and half, it says, do not freeze well. Source: NDSU Extension: freezing dairy products, eggs and other foods (opens in a new tab)

How long it keeps

Unopened
Up to the printed date, typically 3 to 4 days Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Half and half (opens in a new tab)
Opened or cut
3 to 4 days once opened Our estimate: FoodKeeper and FSIS give no time for this.
Freezer
4 months at best quality. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely at 0°F; the time is about texture and flavor. Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Half and half (opens in a new tab)Compare freezer times for other foods on the printable freezer storage chart.
How to store it
On a shelf, not the door. If you freeze it, thaw it in the fridge, shake or blend it, use it soon, and save it for cooking.
Kitchen list sorted by use soon, grouped into fridge and pantry, each item with its amount and buttons to change it
Your kitchen, sorted by what to use first Free

How to tell if half and half has gone bad

Dates are estimates; these are the checks that actually decide it. Don’t taste food to check whether it has gone bad.

Throw it out at once if you see:

  • Sour smell

Warning signs (throw it out if you notice more than one):

  • Curdling in hot coffee
  • Thickened or lumpy pour

Sources and limits

Write the date it went in on the container, and use it within 3 days. If the package has a date, go by whichever comes first. Don't wait for a weekly check.

Well Stockd doesn’t know when this food was harvested, packed, bought, opened or cooked. Write down the date you opened, cooked or refrigerated it, follow the package directions, keep your fridge at 40°F or below, and check the official listing when food safety is in question.

Each time in the table names its source beside it. A time marked “Our estimate” is Well Stockd’s own, because FoodKeeper and FSIS give none for that food in that state, and where our time differs from FoodKeeper’s, the row shows FoodKeeper’s figure too. The number at the top is Well Stockd’s own estimate. It’s a guide, not a safety guarantee: FoodKeeper says storage times are guidelines, and quality varies with how food is grown, handled, shipped and stored. This page was last updated .