Whether you have an excess amount of cheese or simply want to save it for later use, you might consider freezing your cheese. However, several factors come into play when freezing cheese. So, while you can freeze some cheeses, what specific information do you need to know concerning the limits?
Many kinds of cheese can be frozen, but not all of them. Different characteristics constitute varying abilities and restrictions for freezing certain cheeses. Depending on moisture and type, you may or may not want to freeze certain cheese types. Furthermore, different cheeses can last for different amounts of time in the freezer.
Read on to learn more about the aspects surrounding freezing cheese. Many types of cheese can last weeks – and even months – in the freezer, but you do not want to ruin cheese if it cannot be frozen. To ensure you get the best quality out of your cheese, you must know what factors affect the process.
Can You Freeze Cheese?
The short answer is yes. However, as mentioned above, it depends on what type of cheese you are trying to freeze. Without getting too deep into the details yet, some cheeses do just fine in the freezer, while others should not be frozen. Different characteristics that impact whether or not cheese should be frozen include:
- Cheese type
- How the cheese is stored
- How long the cheese can be frozen
- Some important disadvantages
Varying cheese types all contain various components that may or may not affect their shelf-life when frozen. If you want to ensure that you know everything there is to know about freezing cheese, this article is a great place to start.
So, yes, you can freeze cheese – but not all types of cheese. Additionally, there are ways to freeze your cheese properly and make cheese that cannot be frozen last as long as possible. It all depends on what precisely the cheese components consist of and how carefully you prepare them for preservation.
What Types of Cheeses Should Not Be Frozen?
There are a few characteristics that determine whether or not you should freeze your cheese. As you are probably aware, not all cheese is the same. Different textures, contents, and purposes separate cheeses from each other. These differences might also decide if you can freeze cheese or not.
It might seem extremely complex right now, but the intricacies of cheese are simple to understand. Below are some of the main factors that you should consider before freezing your cheese:
Moisture
Certain types of cheese, like cream cheese or cottage cheese, should not be frozen. Cheeses with higher water concentrations will freeze at higher temperatures, which can damage the quality and taste of the cheese. These cheeses are referred to as soft cheeses, while cheeses that can withstand a freezer are hard cheeses.
When cheese freezes, the moisture inside of it freezes as well. When this cheese is later thawed out, the moisture is melted and separated from the cheese. Thus, you risk losing flavor, consistency, and additions that help mature and ripen the cheese. Below is a list of popular cheese types that can and cannot be frozen:
| Freezable | Should Not Be Frozen |
| Mozzarella | Cream cheese |
| Cheddar | Cottage cheese |
| Gouda | Synthetic or heavily processed cheese |
| Shredded cheese | Brie |
| Feta | Low-fat cheese |
As stated before, cheese containing more moisture inside it should not be frozen, as the release of this moisture upon thawing will lessen the quality of your cheese. Luckily, there are ways to keep high-moisture cheese lasting longer, but that will be discussed later.
Amount
The amount of cheese you freeze also plays a part in whether or not you should freeze it. Storing large amounts of cheese at a time may not be the best idea. This will be more deeply touched on shortly, but if you want to freeze a large block of cheese, it is a good idea to cut it into smaller pieces.
Smaller pieces of cheese have less chance of facing deterioration because they contain fewer components that can threaten their shelf-life. Generally, you should not freeze more than one pound of cheese.
Quality
The quality of the cheese you are looking to freeze is another main constituent of how well it will do while stored away. For example, packaged, shredded cheese is okay to freeze for quite some time because it is not necessarily the highest quality in the first place. Not to say that it is not highly enjoyable, but there are undoubtedly other “fancier” cheeses meant as delicacies.
On the other hand, high-quality, hand-crafted cheese is best left unfrozen. Fancier cheeses are best served fresh, and freezing them can deteriorate their quality and texture very quickly. Specialty, hand-crafted cheese generally falls in the soft cheese range. Chances are that if you have higher-quality cheese, you are likely planning on using it in the near future, so this might not be a problem.
So, the quality of your cheese might impact whether or not you should freeze it. Freezing any cheese poses the threat of causing a loss of quality, but with softer, specialty cheeses, the effects will likely be much more apparent.
Purpose
The purpose for which you are going to use the cheese can also affect whether or not you should freeze it.
- Shredded cheese
- Mozzarella
- Pizza cheese
- Cheddar
Are types of cheeses very commonly used to complement the components of another dish.
If you use these cheeses on, suppose, a casserole or dip, freezing them is generally okay because, as they are not the main ingredient of a dish, you will not likely notice changes in quality, texture, or taste. Particularly if you are cooking/melting the cheese, there is not too much to worry about in terms of quality loss.
If the cheese is being used for something like a party spread or charcuterie board, you should consider some things before deciding to freeze it. Since freezing cheese can deteriorate quality and consistency, the effects on the frozen cheese will likely be quite recognizable. Therefore, you should not freeze cheese that acts as a main dish for a spread.
How to Properly Freeze Cheese
If you are going to freeze cheese, you need to make sure that you do so correctly. The cheese-freezing process is simple but essential. To keep your cheese in the best condition, following these steps will prove very beneficial.
It truly is not challenging to take care of cheese, but you will notice the effects if you fail to do so correctly. Take note of the steps that aid in the proper freezing of cheese.
Initial Packaging
If you have not yet opened your cheese and want to freeze it, do not take it out of its original packaging. In some circumstances, adding extra coverage is a good idea, but with something such as shredded cheese, the original packaging is going to be the best air-tight seal you can get.
So, if you want to freeze shredded cheese, simply keep it in its sealed package and place it in your freezer. It does not get much easier than that. Similarly, with sliced cheese, you should keep it in its original packaging. Sliced cheese will likely have wax paper between each slice to further prevent deterioration when frozen.
For larger pieces of cheese, keep the original packaging if you can. Next, put the cheese in an air-tight plastic bag to prevent extra deterioration. If you have a specific freezer-bag, this can also work well.
As said earlier, the larger the piece of cheese, the higher risk it has of dealing with the effects of freezing. You want to make sure your cheese is as protected from the cold, dry air as possible before you put it in your freezer. One of the quickest ways to ruin your cheese’s quality is by allowing air into it and causing it to dry out.
Portion
Freezing large blocks of cheese is a clear-cut path to releasing all of the moisture out of your cheese. If you want to freeze a big block, cut it up into smaller pieces. Anything heavier than a pound will probably deteriorate exceptionally quickly, causing loss of moisture, quality, and flavor.
Shredded cheese is a different story. Although a bag of shredded cheese can weigh more than a pound, all of the individual pieces of cheese are not connected, so the freezing process will work alright. If you freeze an opened bag of shredded cheese, make sure to also cover it with another air-tight bag.
With a block of cheese, failure to properly divide and freeze pieces can ruin all of your cheese. To be safe, cut up blocks of cheese before you freeze them.
Time
You must also consider how long you want your cheese to be frozen. As some cheeses can be frozen and others cannot, some cheeses last longer in the freezer than others.
In the following section, you will learn that different types of cheese can withstand freezing temperatures without deteriorating for different amounts of time. Depending on moisture, size, and type, you will want to keep an eye on how long you freeze your cheese. Continue below to find out more.
How Long Can You Freeze Certain Cheeses?
The main factor here relies heavily on the moisture inside of the cheese. As stated before, cheeses with more moisture are prone to quicker and more severe deterioration. As the water inside them freezes, it traps specific components that add to flavor, quality, and texture, and as it melts after thawing, all of those components are lost.
So, how long can different types of cheese be frozen? Obviously, they cannot last forever; but which ones last longer than others? Read below to find out.
Cheddar, Gouda, and similar cheeses can be frozen for up to six months before losing most of their flavor, texture, and form. Freezing them for longer than that can cause them to become mealy and crumble apart when you thaw them out.
With drier cheeses such as these, you are less likely to face problems with the moisture inside them taking away from the quality of your cheese. Still, you want to make sure that any cheese you freeze is adequately packaged and safe from freezer air.
Feta, Mozzarella, Shredded, and cheeses of the like can last between three and four months frozen. Since they tend to have a bit more water concentration, they cannot last as long as the cheese types above. However, they are much more preservable than high moisture concentrate cheeses.
As a general rule, if you are not sure how long a particular type of cheese can stay frozen, try to use it within two or three months. Besides the cheeses listed above you should definitely not freeze, most other cheese types will last for some time in the freezer. However, you do not want to go overboard. So, when in doubt, use your cheese.
How to Make Unfreezable Cheese Last
If you cannot freeze your cheese, how do you make it last? Unfortunately, cheeses that cannot be frozen simply will not last as long as cheeses that can. However, there are ways to preserve cheese that you cannot or do not want to freeze.
Soft cheese – that is, cheeses containing large amounts of moisture – should not be frozen. Although, they can be preserved if the proper steps are taken. Whether you do not use all of your brie for your charcuterie board or you run out of bagels for your cream cheese, you are not entirely out of luck.
Proper Storage
If you have soft cheese that you wish to keep, you need to make sure that it is stored properly. The best way to do this is to wrap it in something that will aid this process. Aluminum foil and wax paper are common materials used to preserve cheese. They help prevent air from getting into even the smallest openings. It is also not harmful to put the cheese in a bag over the aluminum or wax paper covering.
Of course, if it is still in its unopened, original packaging, you should not open it unless you are using it. The original packaging will always be the best way to keep your cheese safe for as long as possible.
Soft cheese can typically survive in your refrigerator for one to two weeks. This is far from the capability of hard cheeses in the freezer, but it is what it is. If you have soft cheese or hand-crafted cheese, it is best to enjoy it soon after purchasing it to ensure that you get the best quality possible.
Disadvantages of Freezing Cheese
The effects that freezing cheese can cause have been touched upon, but you need to be aware of the specific details that cause deterioration in frozen cheese to make sure you understand them.
You already know about the risk of freezing cheese with high concentrations of water, but how exactly does this deteriorate your cheese?
- Structural damage
- Loss of flavor
- Mealy or crumbly texture
- Uneven freezing
These are the main aspects that make freezing moist cheese a risk. As the cheese freezes, the moisture in it becomes solidified and captures many of the nutrients, flavors, and all-around components that make the cheese what it is.
During the thawing process – that is, after you take your cheese out of the freezer for future consumption – all of the components frozen in the moisture are released as the water melts. This causes an uneven spread of flavor throughout the cheese, total loss of original structure, and texture damage that may make your cheese crumble at the touch.
Luckily, you now know which types of cheese are safe to freeze and which are not, so you will be better prepared when you are looking to freeze your cheese. The main attribute to observe if you are deciding whether to freeze your cheese is how concentrated the cheese’s moisture is.
You must also keep in mind how long you freeze your cheese. Even hard cheese will eventually be damaged from its moisture freezing, so no cheese is invincible for however long you want. Always consider the hardness or softness of your cheese to determine how long you can keep it frozen.
Takeaway
You can freeze cheese – but not all types. Different components add or take away from the effects that freezing can have on cheese. If you do not understand the rules surrounding whether or not you should freeze your cheese, you run the risk of depleting your cheese’s quality to a great extent.
It is not very difficult to properly take care of your cheese. Whether you can freeze it or not, there are ways to keep the shelf-life of your cheese for as long as possible. However, you must always note the characteristics in your cheese that may or may not present disadvantages if you freeze it.