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Cheese is such a versatile and fantastic food. It can be used in so many different dishes and adds flavor and a creamy texture to any meal.
While it will keep fresh for a reasonable amount of time in the refrigerator, it will eventually turn moldy and unsafe to eat. This can be a problem if you have bought a good amount of cheese but are unable to eat it before it goes bad.
You may be wondering if there is an alternative way to store cheese to make it last longer, and the answer is yes.
If you have not considered it already, you may want to decide to freeze cheese. This is a great way of preserving any leftover cheese for a later date, without worrying about it turning bad.
In this article, we will be talking you through how to freeze and defrost cheese to achieve the best results.
In addition to this, we will be discussing some factors you will need to take into consideration before freezing the cheese, such as the type of cheese you are freezing.
We hope that you will find this article brie-lliantly useful!
How To Freeze Cheese
Before you freeze the cheese you will want to decide how you want to freeze it. Cheese can be frozen in chunks, slices, or after it has been granted. We would recommend freezing the cheese in the way that you will require it to be once defrosted.
It is worth noting that you should not freeze a block of cheese bigger than 1 pound as it may not freeze correctly. We would recommend cutting it in half and freezing it separately instead.
When you are freezing the cheese, you can do so in a few different ways. If the packet is unopened and under 1 pound, you can freeze it in its original packaging. However, you will need to ensure that it is airtight to help prevent any freezer burn from occurring.
If the packaging has already been opened, we would recommend freezing the cheese in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Before you do this, you will need to wrap the cheese in cheese paper or aluminum foil, this will help to keep it tasting fresh. If you are freezing slices of the cheese, separate them with parchment or cheese paper to help prevent them from freezing together.
After you have done this, place the cheese into the bag or container. You will need to ensure that you remove as much air as possible before freezing. This will allow the cheese to freeze better and the airtight packing will slow down the freezer burn process.
How To Defrost Cheese
Defrosting cheese is a fairly simple process. We would always recommend that you defrost the cheese thoroughly in the refrigerator before using it.
As the cheese can take a good few hours to freeze, it is best to do this the night before you are planning to use it. This will help to ensure that it has frozen correctly.
We would not recommend defrosting cheese at room temperature as this can lead to harmful bacteria multiplying in the cheese. This can potentially cause food poisoning and as a result, you should avoid this.
While you can use grated cheese straight from the freezer, if you are using it in a pasta or pizza dish that is going to be cooked, the texture of the cheese may not be correct.
As the texture may have changed slightly after freezing, we would recommend that you only used defrosted cheese in dishes you are planning to cook thoroughly.
While some foods that have been defrosted need to be eaten quickly, you do not necessarily have to rush to eat the cheese. It is safe to consume a good few days after it has defrosted. In some instances, the cheese settling in the fridge will improve its taste.
You must not refreeze cheese once it has been defrosted, however.
Factors To Consider Before Freezing Cheese
Before you freeze cheese, there are some factors that you should take into consideration.
The type of cheese
One of the most important things to consider is the type of cheese you are freezing. Not every cheese will freeze well and freezing some cheese can cause the texture to change significantly.
Cheeses that are particularly watery or soft can not taste very good when thawed. The higher the moisture content of the cheese, the less likely it will be to freeze well.
For example, while you can freeze cream cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese, or quark, it is not recommended. When it thaws it will likely taste mushy and grainy.
In addition to this, some types of cheese do not need freezing. Cheese such as parmesan, can last for a year in the refrigerator. Given this, there is no urgent need to freeze it.
Hard cheese tends to be the best to freeze, such as cheddar, Edam, gouda, Monterrey jack. They have a lower water content and do not change in texture a lot when they are defrosted.
How Long Cheese Can Be Frozen For
On average, cheese should be frozen for around 6 to 9 months. After this, it should be thrown away and discarded as it will be no longer safe to consume.
Before you freeze the cheese, we would recommend that you write the date you froze it on the packaging. This will help you to keep track of when the cheese will need to be defrosted and eaten.
You might also be wondering how long can you freeze salmon?
Summary
We hope that you found this article helpful. As you can see, it is entirely possible to freeze cheese and it is particularly easy to do so.
The most important thing to remember is that harder cheeses are best to freeze as watery cheeses will change significantly in their texture and do not defrost well.
Always defrost your cheese in the refrigerator overnight, unless you are adding it straight to a meal that you are going to cook thoroughly.