How long does cream cheese last?
In the fridge, cream cheese keeps for 2 weeks from the package date.
No guideline
2 weeks
from the package date
No guideline
Does cream cheese go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, cream cheese may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell cream cheese has gone bad
- Cream cheese is a soft cheese, so any mould means the whole tub or block goes out. USDA does not allow trimming here because mould spreads through soft, moist foods.
- An off odour or off flavour, or yeasty growth, is the usual sign a dairy product has spoiled.
- Keep it at 40 F (4 C) or below. USDA gives cream cheese 2 weeks in the fridge from the pack date, and freezing is not recommended.
Sources: Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? (USDA FSIS); Safe Handling of Milk and Dairy Products (Clemson University Extension). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other dairy products & eggs last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.