Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?

[flobadob]

Been meaning to ask this for ages. Can you freeze cream cheese eg Philadelphia, and does it retain the correct texture when thawed. The reason being sometimes it can be difficult to get nearer to Christmas and I use it to make cheesecake around that time.

[sherrardk]

I've just looked at a packet in the fridge and it doesn't have a 'freeze' symbol on it.

[BlackadderV]

Bought a tub last week. Best before date: 15.02.2015, so obviously keeps a long time in the fridge.

[woofgang]

wel, it won't kill you but it does thaw a bit grainy. What might help would be to beat in some icing sugar before you freeze it....maybe a trial run?
Myself I would do what Blackadder suggests and check the dates on the packs at the back of the shelf in the supermarket.

[ducksie]

Would it be handier to make the cheesecake now and freeze it, then leave out to thaw at Christmas time, it would be one less thing for you to prepare at Christmas

[Sycamore3House]

I make cheesecake with Philly and I freeze it. Never had a problem.

[jourdain2]

I froze clotted cream last year (to use at Christmas, some 2 months ahead) and it was OK - had to leave expansion space and defrosted it slowly in the fridge. Hope this is of some help.

[flobadob]

Thanks for the responses, maybe I'll check the dates, didn't realise it kept so long in the fridge. Freezing entire cheesecake probably not a solution cos I'm making 4 of them for various people and they would take up too much room.