Can You Freeze Cheese? Yes—Here's How

Dairy products are notoriously fussy when it comes to freezing. But if there’s a sale at the grocery store, it’s hard to resist the siren call of 2 for $4 cheese. Who doesn’t love melty, gooey, cheese recipes? But alas, cheese doesn’t last forever in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze cheese?

Yes! The general rule of thumb is that freezing cheese will likely change its texture. If you do opt to freeze cheese, cook with it after thawing because the texture change becomes a moot point once it’s all melted. Test it out in cheesy casserole recipes.

We don’t recommend using the thawed slices on your pretty charcuterie boards. And you definitely don’t want to freeze the fancy stuff you bought for snacking with homemade crackers.

The Best Cheese to Freeze

Hard block cheeses are ideal for freezing—think Parmesan, cheddar and Monterey Jack. Because of their low moisture content, these cheeses can better withstand the freezing process. Cottage cheese and ricotta can be frozen. However, upon thawing, both cheeses are likely to have a grainier texture. As with most frozen cheeses, these cheeses are best used in baked or cooked recipes, such as lasagna.

The Worst Cheese to Freeze

Cheeses with a lot of water content, such as fresh mozzarella or burrata, are not good candidates for freezing because they are more likely to form ice crystals as they freeze. Soft cheeses, especially those with natural rinds, should not be frozen as their flavor may be compromised by the freezing process.

How to Freeze Cheese

Cheese blocks

Prepackaged cheese blocks can be frozen directly in their package. If you’ve already opened the package, place it in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. Double bag to help prevent freezer burn.

Sliced cheese

sliced cheese being prepared for proper freezing Taste Recipes

For prepackaged sliced cheese, pop the package into a freezer bag and place it in the freezer. For deli-sliced cheese, place a piece of parchment paper in between each slice of cheese. Then wrap the cheese in freezer paper, tape it shut and place the whole package in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.

Shredded cheese

For prepackaged shredded cheese, place the package in a freezer bag before putting it in the freezer. For cheese you shred or grate yourself, place it in a freezer bag and carefully remove as much air as possible from the bag. Freezing food this way helps prevent freezer burn.

How long does cheese last in the freezer?

Frozen cheese should be used within two to three months. Once you have thawed cheese that has been frozen, do not refreeze it.

How to Thaw Cheese

Thaw frozen cheese in the refrigerator. Depending on the type and size of the cheese, it will take anywhere from a few hours to overnight to thaw completely.

Will frozen cheese taste different?

Freezing cheese should not result in much change to its flavor. It’s really just the texture that’s likely to change. The caveat is that if you place poorly packaged cheese in a smelly freezer, the funky smells could permeate the blocks or slices.

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The Ultimate Grilled Cheese These gooey grilled cheese sandwiches taste great for lunch with sliced apples. And they're really fast to whip up, too. Here's how to make grilled cheese the right way. —Kathy Norris, Streator, Illinois Go to Recipe

Skillet Mac and Cheese Recipe photo by Taste Recipes

Skillet Mac and CheeseThis skillet mac and cheese takes a few more minutes than the boxed stuff, but we promise the final result is worth it. A thick and creamy cheese sauce is stirred together with perfectly cooked pasta, then topped with whatever you like.

Can You Freeze Cheese? Yes—Here’s What You Need to Know

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