How Long Does Cream of Coconut Last? [The Answer You Need]

Curious to know the shelf life of coconut cream? 

Well, you should know if your recipe requires coconut cream. Because using expired cream can surely ruin your recipe and health. 

So, how long does cream of coconut last? 

Well, after opening the coconut cream, it lasts for about 1-3 days. But if you refrigerate the cream, the shelf will surely increase. It’ll last for 5 days in the refrigerator. Then if you freeze it, it’ll be alright for 2 months. Lastly, unopened canned coconut cream has a shelf life of 1-4 weeks.

Now, is this much info enough? We don’t think so. That’s why we’ve described the cream’s shelf life and storing process for you. 

So, do keep reading for the best results with coconut cream. 

How Long Does Coconut Cream Last? 

Now, coconut cream is a great dairy ingredient for your recipes. It’s made with pressed grated coconut paste. The cream contains 24 percent of fat content. 

This makes it easier to get spoiled if not used quickly or stored properly. So, what is the actual shelf life of the cream of coconut?

Well, this depends on a few factors. Homemade and canned coconut cream have a different shelf life. Furthermore, unopened and opened coconut cream also varies in terms of lasting period. In addition to that, the shelf life increases if you freeze or refrigerate the cream. 

Confused a bit? 

Don’t be! Here’s a table to give you a preview-

Coconut Cream Type	Condition	Pantry	Fridge	Freezer
Homemade	Opened	1-2 days	5 days	1-2 months
	Unopened	—	—	—
Canned	Opened	2-3 days	5-7 days	2-4 months
	Unopened	1-4 weeks	1-2 weeks	2-6 months

This sums the shelf life of coconut cream. Now, even after knowing how long it lasts, there’s a possibility that it still can go bad. 

How to Tell If Coconut Cream Is Bad?

Every food item shows some symptoms after they go bad. For example, if soda isn’t kept in the fridge after opening, it loses its fizziness. 

So, what are the signs you have to look out for spoiled coconut cream? 

Well, the first one is obvious. That is the cream going over its best by date. But sometimes that date doesn’t matter. Thus, in that case, there are 3 ways to identify your coconut cream has gone bad- 

Changed Appearance

A bad coconut cream gets a darker (off-white to brown) tone to it. It can even have dark off-white, brown, or black spots. You might also see it has started to curdle up and has become watery. 

Sometimes if you keep it unused for several weeks, mold can grow on it. This definitely isn’t a good sign. 

Rancid Smell 

One really common sign of a bad food item is its change in smell. The smell can differ from one food to another. 

But more or less, all spoiled cream smells the same. The smell is rancid. More specifically, the smell can be described as sour. Even baked potatoes can smell like that if you don’t refrigerate your leftover baked potatoes. 

Off Taste 

Of course, the coconut cream will have a disgusting taste if it has gone bad. Mostly it’ll have a sour taste. 

But sometimes the cream may have a bitter taste. Either way, your mouth will smell and taste awful after consuming the spoiled cream.

Now, these were some ways to identify bad coconut cream.

What To Do with Spoiled Coconut Cream? 

If your coconut cream is actually bad, don’t hesitate to discard it. Because you can’t use the cream in your recipes. 

The spoiled coconut cream has an undesirable smell and taste. Thus, the food you cook by using it also gets that taste and smell. 

Furthermore, spoiled cream can get separated and curdle. This makes it impossible to get the correct consistency for your recipes. You’ll have separated sauce, curdled curry, etc. 

Therefore, don’t use the spoiled coconut cream, my friends! Just skip it or make your own coconut cream if you have the ingredients. 

However, sometimes making the cream can get difficult. So, in that case, we suggest you use heavy cream instead. Because both have a similar consistency. 

How much heavy cream should you use instead of coconut cream? 

Well, just utilize the same amount of coconut cream that was needed for your recipe. And you should be all good! 

Now, are you thinking about eating the spoiled coconut cream? Then you should know what happens if you consume expired coconut cream- 

To be honest, it’s quite simple to answer this. Eating expired or spoiled food always leads to sickness. Consuming spoiled coconut cream has the same consequences as drinking expired milk.

The side effects depend on how spoiled the food is. Furthermore, it can also rely on how much of the food you have taken. 

Now, sometimes you might feel sick right away. But there are times when it takes about 1 hour for you to react to the bad cream. 

Nonetheless, if you feel sick, immediately contact the doctor. Also, if you’ve taken the spoiled cream unintentionally, vomit it out right away. This reduces the chances of you getting sick. 

How to Store Cream of Coconut Properly?

Now, we’re at the most important part. That is how you can store your coconut cream properly. Because only this way you can use the cream for a longer time. Plus it’ll also be safe to eat. 

There are mainly two ways to store coconut cream. One is refrigerating and the other is freezing. Both these options are great on their own. Some positive and negative sides of these are-

Storage Method	Positive Side	Negative Side
Refrigerating	Quick and best if you’re going to use it again soon	Have to be used within a week
Freezing	Best if you aren’t going to use it for a while	The defrosting process can be time-consuming

Storing Coconut Cream in the Fridge 

This is the first option that should come to your mind. Because it’s an easy storage process to keep the cream safe for a short time. So, how to store it? 

Well, just follow these super easy steps-

Step 1: Grab a Container and Fill It up with the Cream

First, you need to take an airtight container. It can be either a glass or plastic container. Just don’t use a metal container or can. Because it can ruin the taste of the cream. By the way, you can use an airtight glass jar too.

Once you have the container, grab the remaining coconut cream and pour it into it. Make sure you’re leaving at least ½ inch of headspace in your container. Don’t fill up the container fully as the cold cream might expand with time.

Step 2: Seal Your Container and Put It in the Fridge 

Done filling up? 

Now, close the lid of the container. Remember it has to be sealed properly so air can’t come in. Lastly, just place it in the fridge. 

To be clear, you can keep it in the fridge for only a week. However, if you’re lucky it can stay good for 2 weeks. 

But make sure to use up the cream within that time period. Also, after taking it out of the fridge, stir the cream a little then use it. Otherwise, it might be hard to dissolve it in hot curry or soup. 

That’s it for the refrigeration part! Let’s take a look at another method.

Storing Coconut Cream in the Freezer

This way you can keep the coconut safe for a longer time. It’s the best storage method if you’re going to use it occasionally. 

So, let’s see how to freeze the coconut cream-

Step 1: Take a Container to Fill Coconut Cream in It

Now, firstly, get an airtight container that’s freezer-safe. Without this type of container, the coconut cream will go bad. Don’t have a freezer-safe container?

No worries! We have got you covered as we’ve mentioned our favorite airtight freezer appropriate containers-

So, just get one and start filling up the cream. In this method, you also have left about a 1.5-inch headspace in the container. Because if you didn’t know, frozen cream can actually expand with time in the freezer.

Step 2: Close the Lid and Place It in the Freezer

It’s time to put the coconut cream in the freezer. But before that, close and seal the lip properly. Then place it in the freezer for up to 2-6 months. 

Now, we wanted to share a secret regarding the thawing/defrosting process. As it can get time-consuming to melt the frozen cream-

We suggest you take it out of the freezer a day before cooking time. Then let it thaw in the fridge for the time being. Once the coconut cream is defrosted, you can use it in your recipe!

There you have it! Everything needed on coconut shelf life has been answered!

FAQs 

Question: How to store creamed coconut block?

Answer: Creamed coconut block is actually frozen coconut cream. You can store it in the fridge before using it. Or you can keep it at room temperature. But if you choose to thaw in your fridge, keep it there for 24 hours. And for normal room temperature, you can only keep the block for 6 hours. Otherwise, there’s a chance that it might go bad.

Question: How long will a can of cream of coconut last?

Answer: Well, canned coconut cream lasts a bit longer than homemade cream. Unopened canned coconut cream has a shelf life of 1-4 weeks. On the other hand, opened canned coconut cream goes bad after 3 days. But you can refrigerate or freeze to increase its shelf life to 7 days to 2 months. 

Question: Is coconut cream shelf stable?

Answer: Well, not really. Unopened coconut cream might be shelf-stable for a week or so. But opened coconut cream can’t survive at room temperature for that long. Hence, keeping them in the fridge and freezer is the right option.

Bottomline

So, that’s everything necessary on how long does cream of coconut last. Hopefully, you have got your most wanted answer. 

By the way, after taking the cream out of your fridge or freezer, always check it. Observe the color and smell it before reusing it. Because sometimes coconut cream can go bad even after storing it properly. 

Well, good luck with your coconut cream! Have a good day!