Today’s article comes to you fresh off a very aggravating experience! Maybe you can relate: I just toasted a cinnamon raisin bagel for breakfast, went to the fridge for the cream cheese, and dang it! (#x+>x%o3x!! to be more precise!) it’s moldy! Grrrrrrrrr.

What I keep learning the hard way (in other words, this experience has happened more than once, I’m embarrassed to admit), is that when it comes to cream cheese (or any dairy product, for that matter), it needs to be stored properly. Duh.

The deal is, cream cheese that comes in those flimsy containers and foil wrapped, or in bulk from Costco, isn’t going to keep that well for that long. The good news is, there’s a solution to prolonging its freshness and quality.

The solution? Transfer it from that afore-mentioned flimsy container to a container that’s airtight and meant for longer storage. The kitchen testers at www.allrecipes.com recently shared their research on the best containers for this job. What I like is that all of the containers on their list (below) are versatile enough to use for storing regular cheese, butter, and even leftovers.

OXO Good Grips Wide Butter & Cream Cheese Dish (www.amazon.com, $20): It’ll hold an 8-ounce block of cream cheese or two 4-ounce blocks of butter. “This keeper seals the freshness so after more than a few days, the cream cheese remains as fresh and soft as the day the package was opened,” said one shopper. [ME: Note that there’s not an “Airtight Seal” claim to this dish.]

Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Container (also on amazon, $16 for a 2-pack): The crystal-clear lids and airtight seal make this an especially good cream cheese-keeper. The All Recipes testers said it was their favorite container for this job.

Hekeieon Glass Dish with Bamboo Lid (amazon, again, $13): To keep plastic out of the equation entirely, opt for this glass butter and cream cheese container with a bamboo lid. You can also use the lid as a tray and take advantage of the convenient measurement markings to cut the perfect portion.

Kitchendao Airtight Dish (amazon, amazon, $12): Like a typical butter dish (and similar to the the OXO dish above), you remove the lid and the entire chunk of cream cheese (or butter) is exposed for easy access. Unlike most butter dishes, though, it’s airtight, making it perfect for keeping cream cheese fresh and mold-free.

I think it’s time I dealt with this moldy cream cheese issue today and I’ll probably go with the Kitchendao Airtight Dish—the price is right and I like the small footprint—it won’t take up a lot of space in my small fridge. And hat’s off to the folks who see needs and come up with solutions, right?