How Long Does Sour Cream Last? Does Sour Cream Go Bad?


All of us need various kinds of ingredients and materials to cook different types of recipes using them. But some of these ingredients are essential and without which you may not be able to complete the recipe you just saw in the cooking book.

One of those crucial ingredients that each one of us has to keep in our stock is Sour Cream. Yes! Sour cream is an essential substance that has a plethora of usage and very fresh and beneficial.

But you must also keep in mind that a pure and tasty material like a sour cream can even get spoiled and unusable. Therefore you must pay particular attention to it.

In this article, we will talk about how you can store sour cream correctly and how long will it last in stock.

What is Sour Cream anyway?


Sour cream is a viral dairy product which is obtained by fermentation of regular dairy cream with the influence of certain fermenting or lactic acid bacteria. The bacteria that is introduced into the dairy cream is either natural or deliberate.

The bacteria turn the cream sour and thick. You must be wondering that why is it named sour cream? This is because the process by which lactic acid is produced due to the influence of the certain bacteria is called as souring. Thus the name sour cream is given to this substance.

Nowadays there are various kinds of sour cream available in the market, and each one of them has their different usage.

Different manufacturers have their standards of fermentation, process and pasteurisation methods, which does not produce the same sour milk with same density or taste and even texture. Therefore you can choose from a plethora of sharp milk types for your preference.

Sour cream has a lot of nutritional content which makes it very much favourable as an ingredient in different kinds of recipes. It has a good content of essential minerals like carbohydrates, fats and proteins in good numbers, which makes it a perfect ingredient to accompany with different cuisines.

How to Store Sour Cream Properly?


Yes, we know that it is sad that sour cream turns terrible and unusable after specific periods of time even though it may cost you a right amount of money fetching for it.

But there are specific storing techniques which you must follow to increase the lifespan of the sour cream which you are going to use. Similarly, like other dairy products, sour cream can also be stored in a refrigerator when not in use.

The container in which the acid cream you're using must be an airtight one. It should be kept away from light, heat and oxygen which may make it go wrong even faster than average usage date.

Inside the fridge, you must store the sour cream to the top corner you can find because keeping it here the door will stay fluctuating the temperature at which it has been held.

Many people also prefer to hold the container upright which they think helps the sour cream to last long. Always use a clean utensil to scoop out sour cream, because any dirt or other substance can contaminate the sour cream and make it go wrong.

So these are the various ways by which you can make sure that the sour cream you're using lasts for a more extended period and does not gets contaminated, thus wasted very quickly.

The techniques which we have talked about have been proven and are also very much useful in storing sour cream the right way.

Does Sour Cream Go bad? How Long Does Sour Cream Last?


If you are wondering in your head that does sour cream go bad? Then we have the answer to your question. Just like other dairy products that are available in the market and used by you, the sour cream also has its lifespan.

Sour cream does kind dangerous if not used for an extended period and kept in the shelf or the fridge. There is a specific expiry date within which you have to use the sour cream or else it will turn into a useful substance.

Due to the influence of excessive bacteria or fungi, sour cream can go wrong and quickly contaminate when coming into contact with these.

Sour cream lasts for about one to two weeks after the expiry date has passed away and provided that the container in which it is kept in has not been opened. However, the life of the sour cream depends upon a lot of different factors that influence its longevity.

Some of the most critical factors which affect the date by which sour cream golly are- its processing method, pasteurisation process, the container it is kept in and even the place where it has been stored.

How Long Does Sour Cream Last in the Fridge?


If you are thinking that you are going to store the sour cream in a fridge, then you must know the answer to the question of how long does a sour cream last in the refrigerator. The longevity of the sour cream which you will store in the fridge depends upon various factors.

However, food scientists have found out that sour cream can be saved and preserved inside the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 weeks. It is usable for this period even though the expiry date has passed away only if you have kept the sour cream and fridge for this while.

At an optimal temperature of 40-degree Fahrenheit, sour cream can easily last up to 21 days even if the container which it has been kept in is opened. Then you must make sure that you keep the sour cream in an airtight container and store it in the fridge if you want it to use it even after the expiry date has gone by.

However, do not expect it to be of the same and original quality which it was beforehand. Undoubtedly it will lose its tactile nature and fresh flavour viewing which you brought it home.

How to Tell if the Sour Cream is Bad? Sour Cream Shelf Life!


Luckily there are different kinds of symptoms which can be identified easily when the sour cream will turn dangerous and unusable. As we have discussed that since sour cream goes wrong due to various external factors, you will need to judge its quality before using.

If you do not know what those symptoms are then you must read the following section so that you can be careful the next time you're using the sour cream to check whether it is safe to use or not.

The first and most easily identifiable symptom of your sour cream turning bad is its smell. If the substance smells stinky or gives out a rancid smell then understand immediately that it has become terrible.

Another prominent symptom is observed for moulds. If you see that mould has started to grow in different areas of the sour cream, then throw it away instantly because it is not safe to use it now.

It is recommended that you do not remove the mould and consume the other questions because there might be spreading which the naked eye cannot see.

Lastly, this is a prevalent symptom related to every dairy product is that if the substance turns yellow or greenish, you must understand that it has expired. This happens due to significant growth of bacteria and fungi over the content.

So here are the essential symptoms which you must keep a look out for a while using sour cream for an extended period.

Why Choose Sour Cream?

Sour cream is one of those dairy products which are very much diverse in composition and any various essential minerals which are essential for our body.

Each scoop of sour cream contains an ample amount of essential minerals like fats carbohydrates and vitamins which helps to promote different health benefits in our body.

Compared to other dairy products sour cream always have a better composition of essential Minerals and proteins.

However, the mineral consistency may depend upon the process and methods by which the sour cream has been fermented and made available to you.


If you have read our article till this point, you now know the various aspects of keeping a sour cream in good condition. Like other dairy products if not held on the right terms sour cream can also turn bad and contaminate easily.

It is a very essential and healthy daily substance which you must always have in stock. At the same time, you must also be aware and knowledgeable about the correct methods to store it so that you can use sour cream for lasting periods of time.

If you want to know more about sour cream and its benefits you can always read it up on the internet.