Fridge storage

How long does heavy cream last in the fridge?

About 7 days for heavy cream. 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: the storage times here come from USDA FoodKeeper and USDA FSIS, plus any other source named on the page, and each one is checked against its source before the page goes live. Editorial policy

Read the full guide: Can you freeze heavy cream?

How long it keeps

Unopened
Up to the printed date; ultra-pasteurized cream keeps about 1 month Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Whipping cream, ultrapasteurized (opens in a new tab)
Opened or cut
7 to 10 days once opened Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Heavy cream (opens in a new tab)
Freezer
About 4 months (120 days) at best quality. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely at 0°F; the time is about texture and flavor. Source: USDA FoodKeeper: Heavy cream (opens in a new tab)Compare freezer times for other foods on the printable freezer storage chart.
How to store it
On a shelf, tightly capped. Freezes well for cooking but will not whip afterwards.
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 heavy cream 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):

  • Lumps or curdling
  • Yellowing

Sources and limits

Write the date it went in on the container, and use it within 7 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.

The times in the table come from USDA FoodKeeper, USDA FSIS guidance on refrigerated storage, and any source named beside a row. 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 .

Out of heavy cream? What to use instead of heavy cream