A dollop of double cream on your favourite dessert is pure bliss – put if you’ve thought ahead and bought in bulk, you might be wondering… “can you freeze double cream?”
Well, let’s find out if you can, if you should and, if you decide to do it, exactly how you should go about it.
Products you need for freezing double cream
There are a few key items you’ll need to freeze double cream:
- Airtight containers – an essential piece of equipment for every bulk buyer out there. Make sure you get a quality set of containers that are properly airtight
- Freezer bags – an alternative to airtight containers, a freezer bag work well if you want to freeze smaller portions
- Freezer labels – have you ever opened your freezer only to wonder what on Earth you actually froze several months ago? You need some freezer labels!
- Sharpie pen – you’ll need a handy black marker for writing the contents and freezing date of your frozen goods
- Ice cube trays – a nifty little trick when it comes to freezing small portions is to use an ice cube tray, so you can have frozen cubes of cream to add to sauces and casseroles for example
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Can you freeze double cream?
The good news is that, yes, you can freeze double cream. So, if you’ve found several cartons of double cream on offer in the supermarket, freezing them for later use is a good idea.
However, you should be aware that frozen cream, once thawed, is better when used in certain circumstances than others.
What is double cream?
What we in the UK call double cream and is known as ‘whipping cream’ or ‘heavy cream’ in the US, is an extremely dense, rich cream that is heavenly when served with a variety of desserts.
Consisting of around 48% fat, fresh double cream is an ideal pouring cream and can be served with fresh fruit or a hot dish like a fruit pie. It’s very versatile – it can also be used in savoury dishes to add some creaminess.
Does double cream freeze well?
It freezes fairly well. Whether or not you freeze double cream depends on what you intend to use it for afterwards.
Obviously, thawed double cream is not going to compare well with fresh cream in an out-and-out taste test. So, if you’re looking for something delicious to pour on your bowl of fresh strawberries, you’re going to be somewhat disappointed by the slight loss of taste and texture that comes with defrosted cream.
This happens because ice crystals can form within the cream. Also, the fat molecules within the cream, which are normally evenly distributed, clump together during the freezing process. This affects the texture – basically the ‘creaminess’ – of the double cream.
How do I repair a grainy texture with thawed cream?
Don’t worry! The fat molecules in thawed double cream might have clumped together to cause a slight graininess, but give it a good stir and you should be able to restore some of that smooth consistency.
How long does double cream last?
As long as you keep it in an airtight container, double cream will last up to a year before going bad.
Still, it will start to lose its quality within half that amount of time. So, for best results, freeze for no longer than 6 months.
How long can you freeze double cream?
When stored properly, frozen double cream will last 3–4 months.
Can you refreeze double cream?
It’s not a good idea to refreeze double cream once you’ve thawed it. It would affect the rich taste and creamy texture far too much.
Instead, it’s better to only thaw the precise amount that’s needed.
How do you defrost double cream?
It’s easy! Just like any other dairy or high-fat product, you just have to move the double cream from the freezer to the fridge and let it thaw overnight.
Never defrost double cream or any other dairy product at room temperature. There’s a danger that this will change its flavour and texture or, worse, go rancid.
How do you know when double cream has gone off?
After you’ve defrosted double cream, it’ll last around three or four days in the fridge.
Any longer than this and double cream will begin to dry out and take on a yellowish colour. It will also start to smell acidic.
Can I freeze double cream in small portions?
Absolutely! This is a great way to freeze small amounts that you can use when needed. An ice cube tray is the trick – then simply pop a cube of cream in a sauce or a smoothie and stir in!
How to use your frozen double cream
Need some inspiration on how to use thawed double cream? Try these recipes:
📖 Recipe
How To Freeze Double Cream?
Can you freeze double cream? Yes, you can. Learn how to freeze double cream, in numerous scenarios, in a few easy steps.
Materials
- Ice cube tray
- Plastic wrap
- Freezer bags
- Freezer safe airtight container
Tools
- Stirring spoon
- Marker pen
Instructions
How to freeze double cream in its original packaging
- If the double cream is in a carton, simply place the unopened double cream in the freezer.
- If the double cream is in a tin, transfer it over to an airtight container.
- Leave a small gap at the top of the container.
- Label the container with the contents and the date of freezing.
How to freeze leftover double cream
- Transfer the leftover double cream to an airtight container.
- Leave a small gap at the top of the container.
- Label the container with the contents and the date of freezing.
How to freeze double cream in small portions
- Spoon the double cream into small freezer bags.
- Squeeze the air out of each bag before sealing.
- Label each bag with the contents and the date of freezing, then place them in the freezer.
How to freeze double cream in ice cube trays
- Pour the double cream into each section of the ice cube tray.
- Be sure to leave a small gap at the top, as the cream will expand when frozen.
- Put the tray in the freezer, keeping it flat, and flash freeze for 2 hours.
- Transfer the ice cube tray into a freezer bag and label with the contents and the date of freezing.
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