You can readily find an 8 oz cream cheese block in the grocery store and use them for recipes. But how many cups is 8 oz of cream cheese? Read on to find out!
Blocks of Cream Cheese
If you ask me, cream cheese is probably one of the most underrated ingredients out there. Its mild, yet slightly tangy flavor and smooth texture make it perfect for a quick party dip, sauces, soups, frosting, spreads, and so much more. It has so many different uses. The list really goes on and on!
Cream cheese is most commonly sold in two main ways. The first way is regular cream cheese or as a package of cream cheese. The standard size for this type of cream cheese is 8-ounce blocks. The most popular brand of this is the package of Philadelphia cream cheese.
The second main way cream cheese is sold is as whipped cream cheese. This type is generally sold in a tub and is more airy.
These two cream cheeses, though they may seem like the same thing, can be very different when it comes to measurements. Since whipped cream cheese is more airy, it is less dense. That means a cup of whipped cream cheese will be slightly lighter than a cup of regular cream cheese.
Keep reading to learn how measurements are impacted depending on what type of cream cheese is being used.
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Is 8 oz of cream cheese a cup?
To determine whether an 8 ounce block of cream cheese equals a cup, we must first determine the type of cream cheese.
An 8 oz block of cream cheese, AKA the kind that comes in the foil-wrapped blocks, falls into the “regular cream cheese category.” an 8-ounce block of regular cream cheese equals one cup cream cheese.
Think of it in terms of a liquid measuring cup (fl oz). 8 ounces of water equals one cup. 8 ounces equals one cup of cream cheese. Just like 16 ounces equals 2 cups of cream cheese.
Whipped cream cheese, on the other hand, is slightly different. Volume measures depend on how much air there is in an ingredient. Since whipped cream cheese has a lot more air, 8 ounces of whipped cream cheese will be closer to 1 ¼ cups.
How many ounces of cream cheese equals a cup?
There is an important distinction to make when it comes to comparing ounces to cups. They are two different measurements. Ounces measure weight, while a cup measures volume. Something that weighs less can still have the same volume as something that weighs more.
When it comes to cream cheese, the number of ounces that equals a cup will depend on density. Regular cream cheese is more dense than whipped cream cheese. For that reason, a cup of cream cheese will be more ounces than a cup of whipped cream cheese.
For regular cream cheese, 8 us fluid ounces equals about 1 cup, which is why cream cheese is so commonly sold in an eight-ounce box. Selling it this way makes measurements easier.
Most times, you don’t even have to measure the cream cheese with measuring cups because, like a butter wrapper, the foil around cream cheese usually has tick marks that tell you where to cut to get a certain measurement.
A cup of whipped cream cheese, however, weighs significantly less. On average, a cup of whipped cream cheese is only about 6.4 ounces. That’s almost 2 ounces lighter than regular cream cheese! This is most important when working with US tablespoons.
Knowing what type of cream cheese a recipe calls for is important because, as you can see, 1 cup of cream cheese can vary significantly in weight. Using the right cream cheese will ensure you don’t over or under measure.
If you are in a pinch, though, and have to use the wrong type of cream cheese, I recommend using a kitchen scale to measure out the correct amount rather than using standard measuring cups. Using a kitchen scale in this situation is the best way to make sure your measurements are accurate.
How many packages of cream cheese is 8 oz?
The original cream cheese block is sold is in 8-ounce bricks. This makes it super easy to cook with because to get 8 ounces, or approximately 1 cup, of cream cheese, all you need to do is toss in a package of cream cheese into the dish.
Eight ounces isn’t the only size cream cheese is sold in, though. Another common way it is sold is in a 3 ounce size.
No matter what, though, it’s always a good idea to double-check the packaging. The amount of ounces that the package is is usually listed in one of the bottom corners of the label.
How many cups is a package of cream cheese?
The amount of cups in a package of cream cheese depends on how many ounces are in it and if you’re using regular or whipped cream cheese.
An 8 ounce block of regular cream cheese typically equals 1 US cup of cream cheese. Though it isn’t an exact conversion, it is reliable enough that you are safe to assume that 8 ounces of any regular cream cheese is equivalent to 1 American cup.
Whipped cream cheese, however, does not come in as standard of sizing, so the number of cups in a package of whipped cream cheese varies depending on the size of the package. The weight is always listed on the packaging, so to find out how many cups of whipped cream cheese are in a package, first look at how many ounces are in it.
Then, take the ounces in the package and divide it by 6.4 since 6.4 ounces equals a cup of whipped cream cheese.
How to use cream cheese?
I love Philadelphia Original cream cheese spread in both savory and sweet dishes.
In savory dishes, cream cheese makes a great thickener and base. I love cream cheese in pasta sauces, hearty soups, and dips.
Cream cheese based dips are especially great for quick party dips that pretty much anyone will enjoy.
On the sweet side of things, cream cheese is great for cream cheese frosting, as a base for ice cream, and of course, cheesecake.
Looking for a healthy alternative? Try Neufchatel cream cheese! It has a lower fat content than a typical box of cream cheese.
Want more information on cream cheese? Check out my Complete Guide to Cream Cheese! It answers all your questions, including:
Then use all your cream cheese knowledge and make the best cream cheese dip! Here are some delicious recipes.
And if you want to make them ahead of time, see if you can freeze cream cheese dips!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
Cream cheese’s light flavor makes it great for a wide variety of dishes. If you’ve never used a lot of cream cheese in your dishes or you’re still a bit skeptical of it, I challenge you to give it another try. But when you do, make sure to follow this guide to make sure you accurately measure the cream cheese. I guarantee you that you will create so many delicious recipes with these tips!
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