{"id":916234,"date":"2019-03-07T09:58:26","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T15:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=916234"},"modified":"2024-09-20T14:19:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T19:19:45","slug":"can-you-freeze-cheese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/can-you-freeze-cheese\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Freeze Cheese? Yes\u2014Here’s What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"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<\/a>? But alas, cheese doesn't last forever in the refrigerator.\r\n

Can you freeze cheese?<\/h2>\r\nYes! 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<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe don't recommend using the thawed slices on your pretty charcuterie boards<\/a>. And you definitely don't want to freeze the fancy stuff you bought for snacking with homemade crackers<\/a>.\r\n

The Best Cheese to Freeze<\/h2>\r\nHard block cheeses are ideal for freezing\u2014think 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<\/a>.\r\n

The Worst Cheese to Freeze<\/h2>\r\nCheeses with a lot of water content, such as fresh mozzarella or burrata<\/a>, 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.\r\n

How to Freeze Cheese<\/h2>\r\n

Cheese blocks<\/h3>\r\nPrepackaged 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.\r\n

Sliced cheese<\/h3>\r\n\"sliced\r\n\r\nFor 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.\r\n

Shredded cheese<\/h3>\r\nFor 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<\/a> this way helps prevent freezer burn.\r\n

How long does cheese last in the freezer?<\/h2>\r\nFrozen cheese should be used within two to three months. Once you have thawed cheese that has been frozen, do not refreeze it.\r\n

How to Thaw Cheese<\/h2>\r\nThaw 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.\r\n

Will frozen cheese taste different?<\/h2>\r\nFreezing 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.\r\n

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