Cashew cream is a super versatile product. It can be used in soups, sauces, cheesecakes, desserts, and so much more. It is super simple to make at home and requires very little effort to produce.
But can you freeze cashew cream? Whether you choose to make cashew cream or purchase it at the store, freezing your cashew cream can be a great way to extend its shelf life.
Cashew cream has a high fat content, similar to that of cows’ cream and a mild flavor when compared to other nuts. It is a great replacement for cows’ cream because of its mild flavor, high fat content and similar texture.
Cashew cream has the benefit over cows’ cream that it is much higher in (healthy) unsaturated fats compared with cows’ cream which is full of (unhealthy) saturated fats. However, cashew cream is going to spoil a little faster than cows’ cream when stored in the fridge.
Cashew cream will generally last up to 6 days in the fridge and it can be difficult to make/purchase the perfect amount of cashew cream without having leftovers. This is where freezing your cashew cream can come in super handy. Extending the shelf life from a couple of days to a couple of months.
‘Can i freeze cashew cream?’ Yes, you can and in this article I will take you through all you need to know about freezing cashew cream including how to do it, how to defrost your frozen cashew cream for use and what effects it has on the taste and texture.
What Is Cashew Cream?
Cashew cream is simply a mix of cashews and water. Making cashew cream from home is super easy and more cost effective than purchasing it. Cashew cream can be particularly tricky to find in store if you can find it at all.
Cashew cream is a great alternative to cows’ cream, and is a great option for those with dairy intolerance or those on plant based diets. Cashew cream has a high fat content similar to cows’ milk, mild flavor and creamy texture. It is a great substitute for cows’ cream in soups, sauces, desserts and more.
Cashew cream is usually blended at a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 cashews to water, but it all depends on how creamy and thick you want the cashew cream to be. Sometimes oils, salt and flavors are added. Again, it all depends on how you are using your cashew cream.
Cashew cream can be used as heavy cream, cream cheese and made into sour cream and cashew cheese. It is a super versatile product.
Cashew cream is loaded with healthy unsaturated fats, several vitamins and minerals, protein and more. The nutrients found in cashew cream are great for your heart health, cholesterol, hair, skin, bones and more.
Can You Freeze Cashew Cream?
Yes, you can freeze cashew cream and it is a fairly simple process. Freezing cashew cream will take you from a refrigerator shelf life of 4-6 days to a shelf life in the freezer of up to 6 months. But how do you freeze it and how does it affect the taste and texture of the cashew cream?
I will take you through the whole freezing process below!
Read more about how long cashew cream lasts here.
How To Freeze Cashew Cream
Freezing cashew cream is quite a simple process. You can use any container/zip lock bag you’d like to freeze your cashew cream. Cashew cream can be prone to freezer burn, so ensure you are properly storing the cream. An airtight container will work better for longer term storage.
If you want to store your cashew cream in smaller lots, you can use multiple small containers for this. Ice cube trays are a great option too. However, they may affect the taste and texture of your cashew cream due to the risk of freezer burn.
Step 1: Pour Your Cashew Cream Into Your Container
You can use any container you wish for this. Ensure your cashew cream is still fresh if it has been sitting in the fridge for a number of days before pouring it into the container. If you wish to separate your cashew cream into smaller containers for multiple uses like in ice cube trays, you can do that too.
Step 2: Put It In The Freezer
Your cashew cream is now ready to freeze. Cashew cream can take up to 2+ hours to fully freeze.
Step 3: Store It For Up To 6 Months
Your cashew cream can be stored anywhere up to 6 months. Just be sure to keep an eye on it in the freezer for any signs of freezer burn.
How To Defrost Cashew Cream
Defrosting your cashew cream is super simple and there are a number of ways you can defrost it as seen below…
- Leave your cashew cream in the refrigerator to defrost– Put the container of cashew cream into the refrigerator to defrost. This will take at least 8-12 hours.
- Put the container in a pot of cold water to defrost– This will take a couple of hours.
- Put your container in the microwave– Granted your container is microwave safe, it will not take long to defrost in the microwave, the fastest option for defrosting.
- Use the cashew cream frozen– If you are using the cashew cream in a recipe like soup or sauce, you could throw it in frozen as it will defrost quickly anyway.
After defrosting the cashew cream, it’s a good idea to give it a good mix as the water, solids and oils can separate.
How Does Freezing Cashew Cream Impact Its Taste And Texture?
Cashew cream fresh versus cashew cream frozen and defrosted in my experience have little difference. The frozen cashew cream will become slightly thicker than the fresh cashew cream and cashew creams color slightly darkens.
When tasting fresh cashew cream compared with frozen (now defrosted) cashew cream, the taste is very comparable. The defrosted cashew cream needs to be mixed as the water, solids and oils can separate after defrosting.
Frozen cashew cream is slightly thicker and with more of a nutty taste than fresh cashew cream. It can still be used in the same ways you’d use your fresh cashew cream as freezing does not have a huge effect on it. I would however recommend adding more water to your cashew cream after defrosting if it is too thick.
Conclusion
Cashew cream is a super versatile product that can be used as a dairy free cows’ cream alternative in many recipes. It is creamy, mild and super easy to make at home.
Cashews are expensive and making the perfect amount of cashew cream for a recipe isn’t always possible. If you find yourself with leftover cashew cream, I hope you try freezing it and are as pleased with the results as I was.
If you’d like to read more about cashew cream and how to properly store it you can read my article here. You can also find out how to freeze cashew milk here or find all our cashew-based product guides here.
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