Many types of cheese can be frozen for about 2-6 months with little difficulty. The cheese can be cut into pieces, slices or grated and placed in an airtight container suitable for the freezer. Hard cheeses are best suited to be frozen, while with fresh or soft cheeses it is difficult to get a good result. In general, the texture of the cheese tends to change becoming more grainy, but the flavor remains unchanged. For this reason, it is recommended to use freshly thawed cheese as an ingredient to melt or break up into a dish instead of eating it directly as a snack.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Prepare the Cheese
Step 1. Cut the cheese into pieces
Do not put a whole wheel or slice of cheese in the freezer. Think about the use you intend to make of it once thawed and cut it into pieces weighing about 200 g or even smaller.
If the cheese is cut into small pieces it will freeze and thaw completely more easily
Step 2. Wrap the cheese pieces in cling film to protect them from the air
If you prefer, you can use a food bag or better still a vacuum bag. Wrap the cheese carefully and eliminate as much air as possible to prevent cold burns. If you used cling film, place the piece of cheese in a food bag to give it double protection from the air.
- Make sure the packaging keeps the cheese away from moisture.
- If you bought a piece of cheese that weighs 200g or less, leave it in its original packaging. Simply place it in a food bag for added protection.
Step 3. Label the bag before placing it in the freezer
It is important to know exactly what it contains and how long you have kept it in the freezer. Note the date and contents on the outside of the bag with a permanent marker. Specify the expiration date in addition to the packaging date, then place the bag in a dry place in the freezer.
Keep the freezer door closed to allow the cheese to freeze quickly to the center
Method 2 of 4: Freeze Sliced or Grated Cheese
Step 1. Slice or grate the cheese to melt it more easily just before use
If the cheese is hard and you intend to use it for cooking, cut it into small pieces before freezing it. Use a manual grater or food processor to grate or flake it. Alternatively, you can cut it into thin slices.
If you bought cheese that has already been sliced or grated, make sure there are no traces of mold and that it hasn't expired before freezing it
Step 2. Store the grated cheese in a resealable food bag
If you grated it yourself, transfer it to a zip-lock bag. If you bought it already grated, make a small opening in the package and gently squeeze it to let out as much air as possible, then seal it again.
For added protection from the air, you can place the grated cheese package in a resealable food bag
Step 3. Separate the cheese slices with parchment paper
If you have sliced the cheese or bought it in slices, prepare a rectangular piece of parchment paper for each slice. The pieces of paper need to be a couple of inches larger than the cheese slices to allow you to separate them more easily once frozen. Form a stack of cheese by alternating between slices and parchment paper.
- When the pile is ready, wrap it in cling film as if it were a single piece of cheese.
- In the future, you can only take the slices of cheese you need by simply lifting the baking paper.
Step 4. Label the package before freezing the cheese
Specify the contents and packaging date using a permanent marker. Don't forget to add the expiration date as well so you don't risk letting the cheese go bad or eating it after it's expired. Once the package is labeled, place it in a dry place in the freezer.
Method 3 of 4: Thaw the Cheese
Step 1. Use frozen cheese within 2-6 months
Soft cheeses such as brie should not be stored in the freezer for more than two months. The hard ones, on the other hand, can be kept for up to six months. Refer to the date you put on the package and throw away any cheese you haven't used within six months.
Keep in mind that grated cheese and those with holes (like Emmental) or veins (like Gorgonzola) are more prone to cold burns. Check from time to time that they are in good condition to prevent them from spoiling
Step 2. Let the cheese thaw in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours
Before using or eating it, you must wait for the ice crystals to thaw, restoring the right degree of humidity to the cheese. If the cheese is grated or sliced, let it defrost in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. If you cut it into chunks or very thick slices, it will take two days for it to thaw completely.
- Thaw only the portion of cheese you intend to consume within a couple of days. If it is grated cheese, open the bag and remove only the amount needed. If it's sliced, lift the parchment paper to remove only the ones you need. Reseal the package and immediately return it to the freezer.
- If you have frozen a whole piece of cheese, you will necessarily have to thaw it all.
Step 3. Use or eat thawed cheese within 2-3 days
Even if the expiration date is far away, it is best to consume the thawed cheese as soon as possible. You can put it on pizza, in lasagna, in a hamburger or let it melt on nachos or vegetables. Alternatively, you can crumble it and spread it over the salad. Remember that the cheese will have kept its flavor intact, but it will have lost its original texture so it is best to eat it melted or crumbled. Use it as you like, but within 2-3 days at the latest.
After three days, discard any leftover thawed cheese
Method 4 of 4: Choose the Cheese to Freeze
Step 1. Freeze the stretched curd cheese in slices, pieces or grated
Stretched curd cheeses, such as provolone or caciocavallo, are suitable to be frozen, however even if they are packaged it is better to cut them into pieces, slices or grate them.
Stretched curd cheeses tend to melt easily and it is preferable to use them for cooking once thawed
Step 2. Store hard and aged cheeses in the freezer to use crumbled
Before freezing hard and aged cheeses, think about when and how you intend to use them in the future. Aged cheeses, such as Parmesan and pecorino, can be frozen in small pieces or grated. Once thawed, they will have an even more crumbly texture than normal, so it's best to use them for cooking or add crumbled to the finished dish.
- Since aged cheeses can last for 3-4 months, freezing them can be an unnecessary precaution.
- The spicy gorgonzola can be stored in the freezer for up to six months and lends itself well to being crumbled.
Step 3. You can also freeze soft cheeses if you intend to use them for cooking
Some soft cheeses, such as brie, can be frozen, but once thawed they tend to have a watery, grainy texture. That is why it is best to place them in dishes where they need to blend.
- If you bought a soft cheese and want to eat it spread on warm bread, keep it in the refrigerator and consume it within a few days for maximum satisfaction in terms of texture and taste.
- Soft cheeses are suitable for being frozen even in dishes that will be cooked or reheated at the time of use.
Step 4. Don't freeze fresh cheeses
Varieties such as ricotta, cottage cheese and spreadable cheeses must be kept in the refrigerator and consumed by the expiry date printed on the package. Even cheeses that are stored in water, such as mozzarella and burrata, should be eaten fresh and are not suitable for being frozen.
- The freezing process negatively affects the taste and texture of more delicate cheeses. Depending on the variety, once defrosted fresh cheeses can be very dry and compact or, on the contrary, excessively soft and watery.
- Fresh cheeses, however, are suitable for being frozen in ready meals, for example the ricotta used to prepare ravioli or crepes.
- The cheesecake can be frozen because the recipe calls for the fresh spreadable cheese to be cooked.
