When you think about it, it’s strange that we don’t freeze cheese more often. It’s one of the best ways to preserve it and keep it from spoiling, but there are some tricks to getting it right, which varieties freeze best, and how to serve after freezing.
Can You Freeze Cheese?
Freezing cheese can be a great way to save money and make sure you have the right cheese on hand when you need it. But, there are a few things to consider before you start freezing your favorite cheeses. First, not all cheeses freeze well. In fact, most don’t! So before you start storing your favorite parmesan in the freezer, make sure you do your research first. Secondly, even if a particular variety does freeze well, you still need to know how to best store it so that it performs well when it comes time to use it again. There are certain practices that will help keep your frozen cheese at its freshest for as long as possible. Finally, once frozen, many types of cheese lose their versatility. It may become quite difficult (if not impossible) to grate or cut them into small pieces without compromising the texture and taste of what was once a perfectly good block of cheese! In this article, we will talk about what types of cheeses freeze well, how to freeze them properly, and what you can do with the frozen cheese once it’s thawed out. If you enjoy learning about these freezing tips, be sure to check out our other easy tutorials on How To Freeze Bananas, How To Freeze Avocado, and How to Freeze Cookie Dough.
Best Cheeses To Use
Typically, any of the brick or semi-hard cheeses are okay to store inside the freezer. Some examples of these types of cheeses are:
Cheddar (block, sliced, or shredded)Colby Jack (block, sliced, or shredded)Monterey Jack (block, sliced, or shredded)Mozzarella or pizza cheese (shredded)Provolone (freeze in a block on in slices of cheese)
OKAY (But Not Great) Varieties
These cheeses CAN be frozen and stored in an airtight container, but your results may be highly varied. These include:
SwissBlue CheeseFetaCream CheeseGouda
Worst Cheeses To Freeze
Any curd or soft cheese varieties aren’t great for freezing. Also, fancy, hand-crafted cheese doesn’t freeze well either. They are known for their texture and taste and are best eaten fresh. Similarly, hard varieties, such as Parmesan, don’t freeze well. They last a very long time in the refrigerator, so there’s no point in freezing them anyway. Here are the kinds that don’t freeze well:
Cottage CheeseRicottaBrieRomanoParmesanProcessed Cheese (such as Velveeta)
Shredded Cheese (Preferred Method)
Store-bought, pre-shredded is always going to be a good bet. You can keep it in its original packaging and put it straight in the freezer. You can also shred cheese from a block and then freeze it (I prefer this to freezing an entire block. I have provided some instructions below on how to do this. You can freeze shredded cheese for up to two months before losing quality. You can thaw before using, or we have had success melting frozen shredded cheese directly into casseroles and other hot dishes.
Block Or Sliced Cheese
For block (no larger than one pound) or sliced cheese, place in a Ziplock freezer bag (still in its original packaging), press the air out and seal tightly. If the original packaging has been removed, you can wrap it tightly in plastic cling wrap or aluminum foil and then place in a Ziplock freezer bag for freezing. For sliced, make sure each individual slice is separated with parchment paper before wrapping and bagging. You can freeze block or sliced cheese for up to two months.
Serving and Cooking Suggestions
Even if you do everything perfectly, freezing will inevitably affect the texture. It is best to grate, melt, or crumble cheese that has been frozen so the texture differences aren’t as noticeable. It usually isn’t great when sliced or served cubed on a cheese board after it has been frozen. Melting into casseroles, soups, or other hot dishes such as macaroni and cheese are perfectly fine. Melting sliced cheese over burgers or grilled cheese sandwiches will work well also.
What Else Can Be Frozen?
Well, I love this question because you can freeze entire MEALS with ease! Making meals ahead of time and freezing them is a lifesaver. It can save SO much time each month! In fact, I love freezer meals so much, I have created videos where you can make 10 freezer meals in just one hour. It is called Freezer Meals LIVE and it will make your life so much easier! Check out the details HERE.
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