Does Cream Cheese Icing Need to be Refrigerated?

Cream cheese icing is one of the most popular choices of icing. It is creamy, smooth and has a wonderfully sweet taste that pairs well with many desserts. One may wonder due to the ingredients found in cream cheese: does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?

When you are not serving dessert with cream cheese icing, it should be kept refrigerated. Cream cheese icing can safely be at room temperature for two hours, but after that should be stored in the fridge. The Food and Drug Administration ...

DOES CREAM CHEESE FROSTING NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED? FACT

If left out for more than two hours, cream cheese and cream cheese products become prone to foodborne illnesses, such as E.coli. Leaving cream cheese out for more than two hours in the danger zone, which is 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit, can cause harmful bacteria to grow.

WHY DO CREAM CHEESE FROSTING NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?

Though cream cheese icing will likely be fine out for longer, it is still best to store it in the fridge within two hours, to avoid any harmful bacteria. Cream cheese icing may be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks and in the freezer for up to six months. Leftover frosting should be stored in an airtight container and frosted dessert should be covered.

STORING IN THE FRIDGE

When making cream cheese icing, you will want to make sure to use block cream cheese. Spreadable cream cheese and whipped cream cheese have different textures than block and will change the consistency of the icing.

PREPARING CREAM CHEESE ICING

Due to the cream cheese being perishable, cream cheese icing needs to be stored in the fridge or freezer. Though it may stay fresh for up to eight hours at room temperature, it is best to refrigerate it within two hours to avoid harmful bacteria. Storing cream cheese icing in the fridge will also help it stay fresh and it can be stored for up to two weeks.

Does Cream Cheese Icing Need to be Refrigerated?