Can you freeze cheese? Absolutely! Here are some tips on how to freeze cheese (the RIGHT way), which cheeses freeze best, and how to serve after freezing.
Can you freeze cheese?
Yes, it can be done. However, before freezing your cheese, there are a few things you may want to consider. First of all, not all cheeses are suited for freezing, in fact, most aren’t. Secondly, for the few cheeses that do freeze well, you will want to make sure you do it the RIGHT way (as discussed below). Lastly, cheese that has been frozen isn’t as versatile as fresh cheese. You will only want to use it in certain ways.
Best cheeses to use
Typically any of the semi-hard cheeses or brick cheeses are ok to freeze. Some examples of these are:
- Cheddar (block, sliced, or shredded)
- Colby Jack (block, sliced, or shredded)
- Monterey Jack (block, sliced, or shredded)
- Mozzarella (shredded)
- Provolone (block or sliced)
OK (but not great) cheeses to use
These cheeses CAN be frozen but your results may be highly varied. These include:
- Swiss Cheese
- Blue Cheese
- Feta Cheese
- Cream Cheese
Worst cheeses to use
Any curd cheese or soft, ripened cheeses aren’t great for freezing. Also, fancy, hand-crafted cheese doesn’t freeze well. They are known for their texture and taste and are best eaten fresh. Similarly, hard cheeses, such as Parmesan cheese, don’t freeze well. They last a very long time in the refrigerator so there’s no point in freezing them anyway. Here is a list of cheeses that don’t freeze well:
- Cottage Cheese
- Ricotta
- Brie
- Romano
- Parmesan
- Processed Cheese (such as Velveeta)
Shredded cheese (preferred)
If you MUST freeze cheese, getting cheese that is pre-shredded from the grocery store is always doing 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 a block of cheese. I have provided some instructions below on how to do this. You can freeze shredded cheese for up to 2 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
To freeze block (no larger than 1 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 the cheese 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 2 months.
Thawing
If you are thawing your frozen cheese, it is always best to thaw slowly in the refrigerator. This can take up to 48 hours depending on the size of your cheese block.
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 host an online class each month where I show you how to 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.
How To Freeze Shredded Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound Cheddar cheese (store-bought, block)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Shred cheddar cheese and place in plastic freezer bag (such as Ziplock)
- Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch per pound of cheese to bag.
- Seal bag and shake until cornstarch evenly covers all of the cheese shreds.
- Press air our of the bag and re-seal tightly. To reduce freezer burn you may double bag.
- Freeze cheese for up to 2 months without losing quality.
- Cheese that has been frozen is best for melting into soups, casseroles, or pastas.
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