You've got a short window to soften your cream cheese safely. Cream cheese should not sit out at room temperature for more than two hours due to the risk of bacterial growth and food poisoning.

If you're making a meal in the slow cooker that calls for softened cream cheese, don't panic: Use the slow cooker itself to ...

Cheryl Slocum is a James Beard Award-winning food writer, editor, and recipe developer. She has spent over 16 years creating food and entertaining content that resonates with the home cook. She ran ...

Cream cheese can be frozen indefinitely, but use it within two months for best culinary results. Defrosted cream cheese may be crumbly, but stirring vigorously should restore its smooth texture. Thaw ...

Pamela is a freelance food and travel writer based in Astoria, Queens. While she writes about most things edible and potable (and accessories dedicated to those topics,) her real areas of expertise ...