For those wondering can you freeze cheese, the answer is yes if you follow these simple guidelines. A general rule is the harder the cheese, the better it will freeze. Freezing cheese will generally change its texture as ice crystals may form inside the cheese, causing it to crumble. Therefore, high-quality artisan cheeses you wish to serve on a cheese plate, for example, should not be frozen. Freezing works best for recipes calling for melted or cooked cheese. Read on to see how to freeze cheese with superior results.
The most important step in how to freeze cheese is to wrap it tightly. Ice crystals may form and freezer burn may occur in loosely wrapped cheese. Vacuum-sealed freezer bags are best but unnecessary if you wrap the cheese tightly in multiple layers of plastic wrap. Poorly wrapped cheese may absorb other odors in the freezer or cause other foods to absorb cheese smells. All cheeses should be defrosted in the refrigerator overnight.
Hard cheeses that come in blocks, such as cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss freeze best and should be kept in their original packaging if possible. Buying these types of cheeses in large quantities when they are on sale can save you money. If you buy hard cheeses in large blocks, it may be beneficial to cut them into smaller pieces before freezing. Again, be sure to wrap up the smaller pieces well before putting them in the freezer. If you wish to have grated cheese, do it beforehand as freezing may make the cheese too crumbly to grate properly. Grated cheese will not last quite as long in the freezer as blocks because ice crystals are likely to form more quickly on the small pieces.
Semi-soft cheese, such as mozzarella, farmer
You Asked Us:
- freezing cheddar cheese block guidelines
