cream cheese spoilage?

[1Steve]

I bought 2 boxes of cream cheese saturday afternoon. By mistake I put them in the cupboard with my canned goods instead of the fridge. I didn't realize this until monday morning at which time I put them in the fridge. So they were out for 2 days. I want to bake with them. If they are not moldy when I open them are they safe to cook with. Hate to throw money away.

[SilentCricket]

1Steve wrote:
I bought 2 boxes of cream cheese saturday afternoon. By mistake I put them in the cupboard with my canned goods instead of the fridge. I didn't realize this until monday morning at which time I put them in the fridge. So they were out for 2 days. I want to bake with them. If they are not moldy when I open them are they safe to cook with. Hate to throw money away.

Hi Steve! I'd say that if they aren't moldy and don't smell sour, you would probably be safe to use them...Cheese often "ages" at room temperature anyway! But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that there could be bacteria lurking in the packages, especially if the cupboards have been warm...Baking may kill it off, but you may want to be on the safe side and start over...I'd just do what common sense tells you to do...Hope it all works out! (What were planning to make with it anyway? ) ----Martha

p.s. One time, when I had moldy cream cheese, even after being in the 'frig., I just scraped off the mold and used the cheese anyway!

[1Steve]

OzMartha wrote:

1Steve wrote:
I bought 2 boxes of cream cheese saturday afternoon. By mistake I put them in the cupboard with my canned goods instead of the fridge. I didn't realize this until monday morning at which time I put them in the fridge. So they were out for 2 days. I want to bake with them. If they are not moldy when I open them are they safe to cook with. Hate to throw money away.

Hi Steve! I'd say that if they aren't moldy and don't smell sour, you would probably be safe to use them...Cheese often "ages" at room temperature anyway! But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that there could be bacteria lurking in the packages, especially if the cupboards have been warm...Baking may kill it off, but you may want to be on the safe side and start over...I'd just do what common sense tells you to do...Hope it all works out! (What were planning to make with it anyway? ) ----Martha

p.s. One time, when I had moldy cream cheese, even after being in the 'frig., I just scraped off the mold and used the cheese anyway!

Thanks Martha was planing on making a cheese cake with it. My thought too was that the heat from baking should kill the bacteria if present.

[Bergy]

I agree with Martha. Cream cheese goes moldy usually when it has turned so no mold I would use it and as Martha said use the old sniffer too.

If we don't hear from you we'll send flowers just say which hospital!

[Grace Fung]

I have a little question about cream cheese as well: it is stated on my tube of cream cheese spread that "use within 10 days of opening for best quality", but often I can't finish it within 10 days. So will there be any problem if I just go on to keep it in the fridge?

[Muffin Goddess]

Grace Fung wrote:
I have a little question about cream cheese as well: it is stated on my tube of cream cheese spread that "use within 10 days of opening for best quality", but often I can't finish it within 10 days. So will there be any problem if I just go on to keep it in the fridge?

I wouldn't worry too much, just make sure you sniff it before you go putting it on a bagel or something, and watch out for the pink spots (whenever my cream cheese goes bad, it develops little salmon-pink colonies on it ). I would keep an eye on it if it's soft cream cheese; that seems to turn faster than the regular brick-style. Either way, you'll know if you should eat it or toss it.

[AuntWoofieWoof]

1Steve wrote:
I bought 2 boxes of cream cheese saturday afternoon. By mistake I put them in the cupboard with my canned goods instead of the fridge. I didn't realize this until monday morning at which time I put them in the fridge. So they were out for 2 days. I want to bake with them. If they are not moldy when I open them are they safe to cook with. Hate to throw money away.

Steve, before you do anything with it, if I were you I would call Kraft and ask them. Here is their contact info http://www.kraftapps.com/contact_us/faqs.asp?cat_id1=92&referrer=KRAFT#32

A while back I had bought a LARGE jar of Claussen Pickles. The ones you buy in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. I had forgotten about buying them and left them in the trunk of my car. A few days later, I remembered them. I called Claussen and asked them if I could still use them and the lady said NO!! She said something about spoilage if they are not kept refrierated and would not be good to eat. She said as sad as it was to tell me I had to throw them out!! I was so upset and angry with myself.

Cream cheese has milk in it and the milk might go rancid and have no bad smell.Some foods can go bad and not smell bad. You can't always tell by the smell.

Hope that helps

[Sackville]

AuntWoofieWoof wrote:
A while back I had bought a LARGE jar of Claussen Pickles. The ones you buy in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. I had forgotten about buying them and left them in the truck of my car. A few days later, I remembered them. I called Claussen and asked them if I could still use them and the lady said NO!!

Of course she would say that though... the company will always tell you to throw it away because they don't want any lawsuits on their hands. If you want to be extra safe, throw it out. But I would guess that since you're baking with it, it should be okay. The worst I can see happening is that -- if it is soured -- it ruins the cake.

[peppermintkitty]

Sackville Girl wrote:

AuntWoofieWoof wrote:
A while back I had bought a LARGE jar of Claussen Pickles. The ones you buy in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. I had forgotten about buying them and left them in the truck of my car. A few days later, I remembered them. I called Claussen and asked them if I could still use them and the lady said NO!!

Of course she would say that though... the company will always tell you to throw it away because they don't want any lawsuits on their hands. If you want to be extra safe, throw it out. But I would guess that since you're baking with it, it should be okay. The worst I can see happening is that -- if it is soured -- it ruins the cake.

Sackville Girl----I just have to take this opportunity to razz you Aunt Woofie was talking about pickles she left in the car and Kraft told her to throw them out----"you said since your're baking with it, it should be ok" Gotta ask, what do you bake with pickles I think you were still thinking of cream cheese, but that gave me a laugh Please take this lite-hearted, just poking a little fun

[Sackville]

peppermintkitty wrote:

Sackville Girl wrote:

AuntWoofieWoof wrote:
A while back I had bought a LARGE jar of Claussen Pickles. The ones you buy in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. I had forgotten about buying them and left them in the truck of my car. A few days later, I remembered them. I called Claussen and asked them if I could still use them and the lady said NO!!

Of course she would say that though... the company will always tell you to throw it away because they don't want any lawsuits on their hands. If you want to be extra safe, throw it out. But I would guess that since you're baking with it, it should be okay. The worst I can see happening is that -- if it is soured -- it ruins the cake.

Sackville Girl----I just have to take this opportunity to razz you Aunt Woofie was talking about pickles she left in the car and Kraft told her to throw them out----"you said since your're baking with it, it should be ok" Gotta ask, what do you bake with pickles I think you were still thinking of cream cheese, but that gave me a laugh Please take this lite-hearted, just poking a little fun

I'm glad you had a giggle but I think you misunderstood.

I know she was talking about pickles. My point was simply that there wasn't really a reason to call Kraft about the cream cheese (or whoever manufactured it) because they will always be extra careful and tell you to throw it out -- even if chances are it will be okay.

BTW, I don't know what you bake with pickles. But I do have a recipe for a sauerkraut salad!!

[AuntWoofieWoof]

Sackville Girl wrote:
I know she was talking about pickles. My point was simply that there wasn't really a reason to call Kraft about the cream cheese (or whoever manufactured it) because they will always be extra careful and tell you to throw it out -- even if chances are it will be okay.

BTW, I don't know what you bake with pickles. But I do have a recipe for a sauerkraut salad!!

That sounds good! Is the recipe for it in your recipes on 'Zaar?

[Sackville]

AuntWoofieWoof wrote:
That sounds good! Is the recipe for it in your recipes on 'Zaar?

It actually belongs to another chef, Julesong.

pistachio sauerkraut salad

and you could also try:

sauerkraut surprise cake

Have fun!