How Long After Opening Is it Safe to Eat Cream Cheese?

Peggy Woodward, RDN has insight for a reader who asks, "How long does cream cheese last?"

PEGGY: How long after opening is it safe to consume (reduced-fat) cream cheese? —J.F., Erie, Pennsylvania

It’s often tough to know how long cream cheese will last because the “expiration” dates on the packaging can be confusing.

According to Philadelphia Cream Cheese, under normal refrigerator conditions of 40° at all times, an unopened package of cream cheese is good 1 month past the “Best When Purchased By” date on the carton. Once opened, cream cheese should be used within 10 days.

To learn more about cream cheese, including how it’s made and where it’s from, check out this cream cheese FAQ.

How to Use Up Leftover Cream Cheese
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Peggy Woodward, RDN
Peggy is a Senior Food Editor for Taste of Home. In addition to curating recipes, she writes articles, develops recipes and is our in-house nutrition expert. She studied dietetics at the University of Illinois and completed post-graduate studies at the Medical University of South Carolina to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Peggy has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. She’s a mom, a foodie and enjoys being active in her rural Wisconsin community.