09 April 2024

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Cream Cheese

Get answers to all the common questions about cream cheese and Arla cream cheese products specifically. Everything from ingredients to shelf-life, storage, and applications.

1. What is Arla cream cheese made of?

The main ingredients of cream cheese are milk, cream, salt and culture. Some of Arla cream cheeses contain stabilizers or special ingredients, for example flavors. You can find in-formation about ingredients for a specific cream cheese on its packaging or our Arla Pro website.

2. Why are there stabilizers in some Arla Pro cream cheeses?

The addition of stabilizers is done to enhance one or more functional benefits, usually for texture optimization, for the ease of handling of the final product and for increasing robust-ness and stability of a product during shelf life. Most of stabilizers in Arla Pro cream cheeses are from plant based origin. If you would like to learn more about the stabilizers in your product, please contact your local Arla sales representative for more information.

3. How long is the shelf life of cream cheese?

Cream cheese has a fairly long shelf life and most cream cheeses be stored up to 1 year. Due to our hot filling process that we use in the Holstebro Dairy, Arla cream cheeses keep their flavor and functionality for a long time.

4. How long can I keep Arla cream cheese once it has been opened?

Arla Foods Holstebro Dairy produces cream cheese from pasteurized milk and cream and the product is hot filled in order to obtain the best quality and safe products for our cus-tomers and consumers. The cream cheese is marked with a best before date, which will only be accurate if the food is stored according to the instructions on the packaging. If a few rules are followed a cream cheese would also be safe to eat 3-5 days after opening:

The best before date is not exceeded
Always store the product refrigerated below 5°C
Good hygiene – For example only use clean cutlery when using the product
Return to refrigerator immediately after use
Store in closed or sealed original packaging
When evaluating an open product always use your common sense. Does the product have the expected consistency, appearance and smell? Look for mold spots or color variations on the product. Arla Foods encourage to avoid food waste and good products should therefore not be wasted.

5. Why is there sometimes water on top of Arla cream cheese?

The presence of clear liquid on top of cream cheese is natural and does not indicate product damage. It is a result of separation of liquid from the cheese and will not affect the taste of your Arla cream cheese, it can easily be mixed back.

6. Can cream cheese be frozen?

Final application containing cream cheese, for example baked or non-baked cheesecake can be frozen. However, you may experience minor changes in texture after thawing. Cream cheese as such cannot be frozen due to the changes in texture that result in poor product functionality.

7. Can cream cheese substitute mascarpone?

Mascarpone, like cream cheese is a fresh cheese that is not aged before it is consumed. Mascarpone contains higher amount of fat than cream cheese, therefore has intense buttery flavor, which adds richness and creaminess to the final product, while cream cheese brings a creamy consistency and slightly acidic taste to dishes. Yes, it is possible to substitute mascarpone with cream cheese, which can be an advantage if a more balanced taste is desired.

8. Do you have any organic cream cheeses in your offer?

Yes, we have an organic cream cheese with 25% of fat that is available in some markets. Ask your local Arla representative to check availability in your market.

9. Do you have any lactose-free cream cheeses in your offer?

Yes, we have a lactose-free cream cheese with 16% of fat that is available in some markets. Ask your local Arla representative to check availability in your market.

10. Are Arla products suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans?

Cream cheese is suitable for those following vegetarian diet*. However vegans cannot eat cream cheese, as it is made from cow's milk. You can find information about ingredients for a specific cream cheese on its packaging or our Arla Pro website. *Exception - cream cheese with fish gelatin.