How long does whipped cream last?

There’s nothing worse than serving up your dessert for a dinner party or a household full of guests, only to find that the whipped cream you’d planned to use as a topping for your final course has spoiled. That’s why it’s always important to make sure you’re aware how long whipped cream lasts for and tailor your plans accordingly.

The short answer to this question is that whipped cream will last anywhere between a couple of hours and four months, depending on the type of cream in question, the container in which it is placed and the environment you choose to store it in. For example, homemade whipped cream that is left at room temperature won’t survive the first few hours, but the same batch can last several months if it is frozen immediately. Here’s a quick cheat sheet guide to keep you up to speed, with the sell-by date used as a starting point for the time involved in each scenario:

As you can see, whipped cream in an aerosol can cannot be frozen for any length of period. You should be aware that even other types of whipped cream are not likely to be as easy to work with once they have been frozen and subsequently thawed, with the ingredients beginning to separate and the texture becoming grainy and far from ideal. However, it should still be serviceable for most baking and cooking purposes.