Sour cream keeps about Until the package use-by date in the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below, counting from the day you bought it.
No measured window to draw — Sour cream is published as “Until the package use-by date”, not as a number of days.
| Situation | Keeps for |
|---|---|
| Unopened · fridge | Until the package use-by date |
| Freezer | Not recommended |
Air and warmth are what shorten an opened item's life — the right container buys back the days the packaging gives up once the seal's broken.
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About Until the package use-by date at 40°F (4°C) or below, according to USDA FoodKeeper v128. That window runs from the day you bought it — FoodKeeper publishes no separate after-opening figure for this one.
Yes — keep Sour cream at 40°F (4°C) or below. Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Look for: Sour or off smell; Mould or fuzzy spots; Curdled, slimy, lumpy, or separated texture; Yellowing or other discoloration. Those are the general signs for dairy & eggs — USDA FoodKeeper v128 publishes no spoilage note for Sour cream specifically. Never taste something to test it — when in doubt, throw it out.
USDA FoodKeeper v128 does not recommend freezing Sour cream — it survives but the texture or quality suffers badly.