# Cream containers - no refrigeration?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-containers-no-refrigeration/213949>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 18, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-containers-no-refrigeration/213949 "2003-11-18T18:38:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-containers-no-refrigeration/213949/1 "2003-11-18T18:38:34Z")

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You know those thimble-sized containers of half-and-half or “creamer” - some explicitly say that no refrigeration is needed, and some say to keep refrigerated.

They all seem to be packaged the same way. I could understand the non-dairy stuff not needing to be kept cold, but I’ve seen “no refrigeration” on real half-and-half, and I’ve seen the non-dairy wanting to be cold.

Is there a real difference among makers, or do some hold with tradition and consumer expectation that milk and milk-like fluids need to be kept cold?

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-containers-no-refrigeration/213949/2 "2003-11-18T22:12:49Z")

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The ones that say no refrigeration is required do so because the contents have been sterilised by heating to a high temperature (UHT).

Other products may be Pasteurised (rendered longer-lasting by heating to a lower temperature that UHT, or for less time) - these need refrigeration as they are not completely sterile.