A just opened box cream cheese, isolated on white,
FOOD NEWS
The Amount Of Time Cream Cheese Can Safely Sit At Room Temperature
By Ashlyn Frassinelli
A small white bowl full of cream cheese.
Cream cheese is used in cooking for various dishes, and many recipes ask for the cream cheese to be left out at room temperature to soften. However, don't let it sit out too long.
Cream cheese being spread on a piece of bread with a butter knife.
As a dairy product, cream cheese will go bad if left out for longer than two hours, and in warmer environments, that estimate is even lower.
Cream cheese spread on a bagel.
Dairy products are particularly at risk for foodborne bacteria (such as E. coli and Salmonella) when left out at room temperature, as they serve as a good environment for growth.
An opened fridge full of food.
If you need to keep your cream cheese out longer, keep a tight lid on it and ensure it's being chilled properly on ice or in a cooler (or better yet, just keep it in a fridge).
A large block of cream cheese on a white plate.
Rather than leaving your cream cheese on the countertop to soften it, submerge it in warm water while still in its packaging for five to 10 minutes.
A hand closes the door of a microwave oven for warming food.
You can also massage a sealed cream cheese block to warm and soften it with your palms or unwrap and zap it in the microwave for 10 to 15-second intervals.