If, like us, cheese features heavily in your cooking and snacking, you may be tempted to stash your freezer to ensure you’re never short. Or, maybe you actually don’t use cheese often, but have bought some for a particular recipe and are now wondering what to do with leftovers.
Here we lay out the dos and don’ts of freezing cheese.
Can you freeze cheese?
Yes, you can freeze cheese but not all types of cheese freeze well. The best cheeses to freeze are hard and semi-hard cheeses.To freeze, store it in a freezer bag, expel air and label. If you plan on using it grated, it’s best to grate before freezing. Lay a bag of grated cheese out flat and don’t pack it too tightly.
The cheese will keep in the freezer for up to three months. To thaw, place it in the fridge for 24 hours. Grated cheese can be added to dishes to cook straight from frozen.
Which cheeses can be frozen?
Hard and semi-hard cheeses such as cheddar, tasty, parmesan, provolone and mozzarella are best to freeze. However, once defrosted, cheese is best used for cooking rather than eating raw as, in most cases, the texture will change.
We do not recommend freezing soft cheeses such as brie, camembert or blue cheese (and to be fair, we polish off those ones in one go most of the time anyway. Hello, air fryer brie).
Cottage cheese is also not suitable for freezing because of its high water content.
Can you freeze cream cheese?
You can freeze cream cheese, however, you need to be aware that texture will change and become grainy. It will still be fine to use in cooking, but not in recipes like cheesecake where a smooth, creamy texture is desired.
To freeze unopened cream cheese, leave it in the original foil packaging. If you’ve already opened it, place into a freezer bag and expel air.
You can leave cream cheese in the freezer for up to two months. Defrost in the fridge overnight once you’re ready to use.
Can you freeze feta cheese?
You can freeze feta cheese but once thawed it will become drier and crumblier, so it’s best to use it in cooking.
To freeze, leave it whole or cut into desired shape and sizes. Place into a freezer bag and expel air. You can leave it in the freezer for up to two months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
More tips on freezing food
- The ultimate guide to freezing almost anything
- Freeze-ahead mince mix
- How to freeze leftovers
- How to freeze cakes.
- How to freeze and store rice
- How to freeze dairy
