How long is Cool Whip good in the fridge after opening

Q: How long is whipped topping good in the fridge?

Homemade whipped cream lasts about a day if its unstabilized and up to 4 days if you stabilize it. Aerosol whipped cream keeps for a couple of weeks past the date stamped on the canister. Whipped topping products sold frozen in tubs keep for months and up to two weeks after thawing them in the fridge.

How Long does Cool Whip last in the Fridge? Cool Whip can be kept in your fridge for between one and two weeks. You will know when it’s gone off because it will start to turn moldy.

It is one of those decadent, naughty but nice food products that turn ordinary desserts into something special. Its silky, fluffy, whipped cream texture is gorgeousness in a tub. But there will always be doubters about anything, and some people wait to be convinced. I’m hoping that this article will answer any questions you might have about this scrummy food substance.

Jump to:

What is Cool Whip?
How long does cool Whip last in the fridge?
Can you freeze it?
Can you refreeze it?
How to quickly thaw cool Whip
How do you make Cool Whip?
How to freeze leftover whipped cream
Interesting recipes
Recipe

What is Cool Whip?

Cool Whip is made by Kraft Heinz. Described as a whipped topping, it is their company’s homage to whipped cream. People in North America mostly use it to top-off their desserts.

Some also use it in making delicious “no-bake” pies and other recipes because you can use it straight from the tub, without the hassle of whipping it. It holds its texture brilliantly and won’t melt down into a watery mess.

I say you can use it straight from the tub, but that is not strictly true. It is sold frozen, and before you can start spreading it, you first need to defrost it in your fridge.

Then, you can dish it out directly from the carton. It’s better than frozen cream in as much as it has a longer shelf life. However, in taste and texture, it is not exactly the same, and unfortunately, it does tend to cost more – by about 50% more per ounce.

When it first came on the market back in 1966, it was sold as a “non-dairy” product, although it contained milk protein. Nowadays, it contains skimmed milk.

Generally speaking, Cool Whip can be kept in your fridge for between one and two weeks. You will know when it’s gone off because it will start to turn moldy.

However, the good thing is that it can be refrozen, so you don’t necessarily have to throw away any leftovers – refreeze it for next time.

Can you freeze it?

If you’ve never tried freezing it, take it from me, you can. Most of the recipes I use it with only require a spoonful or so, so I have gotten into the habit of putting any remaining Cool Whip into the freezer, and it works well.

As a kid, I remember being delighted when I opened the fridge door to be greeted by the sight of a tub of Cool Whip sitting there. It inevitably meant that a tasty treat would be on the way.

One of my all-time favorite memories from childhood is the strawberry shortcake that my mom used to make. They were delicious little spongy delights of strawberries and Cool Whip. My brother’s favorite was chocolate peanut butter pie, which I have to admit, I too, also adored.

We also remember what we used to call ice cream sandwich casserole, a concoction of – ice cream, frozen candy bars, and layers of Cool Whip.

Now, if you’re considering whether or not you can freeze fresh whipped cream, the answer is yes. However, it won’t turn out the same as Cool Whip. It’s one of the reasons that Cool Whip is so popular.

Can you refreeze it?

There is no problem with refreezing Cool Whip, or indeed any other pretend whipped creams. All you have to do is make sure to thaw it completely before using it so that it can be refrozen once again.

If that is your likely intention, you need to make sure to fridge-thaw it before use. Don’t let it thaw outside of the fridge.

Whereas whipped fresh cream will not hold its shape for long, Cool Whip will, even in reasonably adverse scenarios.

If you’re looking for that classic scallop-shaped dollop of cream to serve on top of your fruit pie, Cool Whip is just the thing.

Credit:Meghan G

How to quickly thaw cool Whip

When searching for Cool Whip in your local store, you’ll find it in the freezer section. On arrival at home, providing it’s not hours later, you can put it straight into your home freezer, ready to defrost at a later date.

Bearing in mind what I said about defrosting frozen Cool Whip in your refrigerator before using it, it means that you need to be able to plan ahead.

It takes about four or five hours to defrost, although many people prefer to thaw it in the fridge overnight. When you come to use it after defrosting it properly in your refrigerator, its consistency, taste, and texture will be spot on.

But what happens if you haven’t thought ahead and you don’t have four or five hours to spare? Luckily, there are a few ways of defrosting it quickly that I am about to explain.

The one thing I would warn you about is following my instructions as closely as possible because if you don’t, your Cool Whip can easily get ruined.

1 – Refrigerator

Let’s just quickly recap the best way of defrosting frozen Cool Whip, which is putting it in your refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours or overnight. It’s a foolproof way of getting the right result.

2 – Countertop

Although I don’t recommend defrosting your Cool Whip by letting it sit outside of the fridge, I will nonetheless tell you how to go about it. Just bear in mind that if you leave it out for too long, it could prove dangerous.

Why?

It’s because Cool Whip is made with both skimmed milk and cream, both of which spoil easily and quickly in temperatures of more than 40°F.

If you have no choice other than to go down the countertop defrost route, it’s important to follow the tips shown below.

Never leave your Cool Whip or any other dairy product to come to that, sitting outside of your refrigerator for more than two hours maximum.

Room temperature is generally considered to be between 68°F degrees Fahrenheit and 72°F. If the temperature in the kitchen rises above 90°F, the maximum time you can leave your Cool Whip out in it is one hour and no more

The one thing I would warn you about is that people using this countertop method to thaw their Cool Whip sometimes report that the consistency and texture degrades.

3 – Microwave

If you’re really short on time, you might need to revert to your microwave. It can work, but you will have to take great care, observing the following advice.

Remove the lid, and place the carton of frozen Cool Whip into your microwave.
Choose the defrost setting and warm gently for 30 seconds. When the microwave pings, remove the carton, give the contents a gentle stir, and pop it back in for 30 more seconds.
Depending on how frozen the Cool Whip is, repeat the steps above until the product is totally defrosted. With most microwaves, this will take between 2½ and 3 minutes.
Texture-wise, microwave-thawing will not give you the same texture that fridge-thawing does, but if you’ve backed yourself into a corner, it is a workable solution.

Note:

To keep the texture degradation to a minimum, the 30-second stir between warming sessions is key. If you don’t, you could end up with a yellow goo that you won’t be able to use.

It’s also important to remember that you won’t be able to refreeze your Cool Whip after defrosting it in a microwave.

If you do get it wrong and you end up with that horrible yellow do we talked about, freezing it won’t help. You’ll just end up with a solid yellow, frozen goo block.

4 – Cold Water

If you don’t have the time to fridge-thaw your Cool Whip, this cold water trick is your next best bet.

Select a bowl big enough to accommodate your tub of Cool Whip, immersed in water. Fill it so that when you insert the carton, it doesn’t quite overflow.
Place the tub into the water and allow it to float and bob around for between 30 and 40 minutes. When the time is up, your Cool Whip will be ready for use.

I know people who have used lukewarm instead of cold water. I should warn you, though, that this is a little risky. The cold water route is the best to go down.

What happens if you thaw Cool Whip incorrectly?

Several things can happen if you defrost your Cool Whip incorrectly.

Firstly, if you leave it out at room temperature for too long, it will degrade. Don’t forget that it contains dairy products that will spoil if left out for more than a couple of hours – less if the temperature is too high.
Not following the instructions correctly when defrosting Cool Whip at room temperature will likely result in the product liquefying.
Another thing to watch is that should not you beat or whip it too zealously, or you will cause it to lose much of its fullness and fluffiness.

This also counts for stirring it between microwave cycles. Do it too vigorously, and you’ll damage the consistency and texture.

Remember to take care when microwaving. Don’t overheat or you will ruin it.

Best way to thaw Cool Whip?

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. For best results, defrost your Cool Whip in your refrigerator for four to five hours, or overnight.

Is there a dairy-Free cool whip?

All the different varieties of Cool Whip have sodium caseinate in them. It is a milk protein, which means it should be avoided by anyone with an allergy to casein, or those aspiring to live dairy-free.

But in the early days of Cool Whip, some varieties were lactose-free and could therefore be consumed by people who had an intolerance towards lactose.

After a while, however, Kraft Heinz changed the Cool Whip recipe, announcing that henceforth, it would be made with extra milk ingredients, of which cream was one. Unfortunately, this made it out of bounds to lactose-intolerant individuals.

But for these guys, all is not lost. They can use Truwhip – a product that vegans can eat, which is lactose-free, although one of its ingredients is casein.

As with all foods, people are advised to read the labels carefully to make sure they don’t contain anything that might prove to be harmful to them in some way.

Is Cool Whip dairy-free?

In order to be classified as dairy-free, food products mustn’t have any milk in them. That clearly means Cool Whip cannot be considered to be dairy-free. However, only one of the six Cold Whip options – the extra creamy one – has milk listed as the main ingredient.

According to FDA doctrine (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), ingredients are listed by how much of them a product contains weight-wise. The number one ingredient, therefore, is usually water.

What is a good substitute for Cool Whip?

If you are looking for an alternative to Cool Whip, take a look at the recipe shown below. It contains cream cheese, plus confectioner’s sugar as a thickening or stabilizing agent. It’s something you make a home and use as a passable substitute.

It only has four ingredients in it, which the majority of people will have in their larders. To be fair, this homemade Cool Whip alternative doesn’t taste the same. If anything, it tastes rather like whipped cream, but a little bit sweeter. It does, however, have the right consistency.

One word of warning – refrain from overbeating it. If you do, it will get too gooey. Watch for peaks forming. When they do, it’s ready.

If you will not be using it straight away, cover it and store it in your fridge, as you would Cool Whip.

In a few days’ time, I will be publishing a recipe that uses Cool Whip, plus some sweetened, condensed milk I recently made. Keep your eyes open – it’s coming soon.

How do you make Cool Whip?

Here are the ingredients:

4 ozs of soft cream cheese (allow it to soften at room temperature)
⅓ cup of powdered sugar
One and a half teaspoons of vanilla
1 cup of heavy whipping cream

Directions:

Put the pre-softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a large size mixing bowl and mix gently until it becomes light and creamy.
Pour the heavy cream into the bowl and whisk until the mixture forms soft peaks.
If not using it immediately, cover and store it in your refrigerator.

Can you freeze leftover homemade whipped cream?

If you are left with any surplus whipped cream, you can freeze it. It will come in handy for spooning on top of hot cocoa or turning a tasty midweek dessert into something a little bit special.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Who has leftover whipped cream?

But let’s just suppose that by some freak of nature, after your family has gorged themselves to death stuffing a pie with a gorgeous whipped cream topping down their necks, you’ve got a significant amount of whipped cream leftover. Not likely, I know but just pretend.

Do you bin it, or do you risk saving it, fully aware that its billowy loveliness will disappear if left for too long?

That leads me nicely into option three. Freeze it! You may not know this, but trust me – whipped cream can be frozen and defrosted very easily and with great results.

To my mind, as I mentioned earlier, a healthy dollop of whipped cream is heaven on top of a mug of drinking chocolate. As it slowly melts, it gradually releases its beautiful creaminess into the cocoa without losing too much of the beverage’s steamy heat.

Of course, it doesn’t take too much of a stretch of the imagination to dollop some leftover frozen whipped cream on a slice of pie or some other dessert. Just let it sit there at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes while it defrosts, and you’ve got yourself a scrummy pud.

When you top a dessert with frozen whipped cream, it will keep its shape and won’t separate or get too grainy. It will lose a little bit of its consistency. The froze edges have a way of crumbling a little too. But what’s a little bit of crumble between friends? No worries.

Okay, if you are hosting a party and you want to show off, it wouldn’t be ideal. If that is the case, you’ll be better off making a new batch from scratch.

How to freeze leftover whipped cream

Freezing whipped cream, whether it is sweetened or not, no matter if it’s just plain, naked cream or cream plus some other ingredients is no problem. It’s worth keeping in mind that if you add some cornstarch or cream cheese to it, it will help it to maintain its shape when it defrosts.

What you don’t want to do is leave the frozen whipped cream exposed for too long. After a couple of days, it will begin to absorb the flavors of other open food around it. Be sure to put it into a covered container.

The Star Ingredient – Leftover Whipped Cream

Directions:

Spoon little dollops of leftover whipped cream onto a parchment-lined baking tray or Silpat. If you want to show off, you can use a piping bag to form some lovely little swirls. Keep them individually portion sized.
Freeze overnight until solid.
Gently scrape the little beauties off the parchment or Silpat, and place them into a freezer bag or similar. The edges might crumble a little as you handle them, but that is par for the course. They will be best if you use them within a month, but will still be okay for up to three months if needs must. Keep them covered, so they don’t pick up any other food flavors.
Use, as suggested earlier, on top of a hot beverage or dessert.

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Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer

▢ 4 oz cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
▢ ⅓ cup powdered sugar
▢ 1 cup heavy cream
▢ 1½ tsp vanilla extract

Put the pre-softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a large size mixing bowl.
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat gently until it becomes light and creamy.
Pour the heavy cream into the bowl and whisk until the mixture forms soft peaks.
If not using it immediately, cover and store it in your refrigerator.

Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

I would love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram @theforkbitedotcom or leave me a comment or rating below.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keywords: homemade cool whip

How long does Cool Whip last in the fridge opened?

Unopened Cool Whip can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two weeks. After opening the Cool Whip, it can be stored for around seven to ten days. If there are leftovers, don't worry about refreezing them. That's completely fine as long as you properly thaw it before putting it back in the freezer.

How can you tell if Cool Whip has gone bad?

You can tell if your whipped cream has gone bad if the consistency changes. Once the water begins to separate and pool you should finish up your cream before further changes occur. when whipped cream has gone bad, it is in a cracked solid state.

How long is whipped topping good in the fridge?

Homemade whipped cream lasts about a day if it's unstabilized and up to 4 days if you stabilize it. Aerosol whipped cream keeps for a couple of weeks past the date stamped on the canister. Whipped topping products sold frozen in tubs keep for months and up to two weeks after thawing them in the fridge.

Can you eat expired Cool Whip?

Yes, if properly stored - commercially frozen whipped dessert topping will typically carry a “Best By," "Best if Used By," “Best Before”, or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the frozen whipped dessert topping will remain at peak quality.