Can you freeze cheese? Which kinds work and how

Yes, you can freeze cheese, and hard and shredded cheeses freeze best. Cheddar, mozzarella for cooking, Parmesan and other firm cheeses keep their quality for about 6 months frozen. Freezing makes cheese more crumbly, so frozen cheese is best melted or cooked rather than sliced for a cheese board. Soft, fresh cheeses such as brie, ricotta and cream cheese lose their texture.

Which cheeses freeze well?

• Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby and similar firm cheeses.
• Shredded or grated cheese, including bags of pizza and Mexican blends.
• Mozzarella for pizza and bakes (low-moisture blocks freeze better than fresh balls).
• Parmesan and other hard grating cheeses.

Which cheeses do not freeze well?

• Brie, camembert and other soft-ripened cheeses: they turn watery.
• Fresh cheeses such as ricotta, mascarpone and fresh mozzarella: they separate.
• Cream cheese: grainy when thawed, though fine in baking.
• Cottage cheese: grainy on its own, but fine cooked into egg bites or pancakes; see cottage cheese meal prep ideas.

How do you freeze cheese?

• Grate or shred blocks first; grated cheese is easier to use from frozen.
• Toss shredded cheese with a teaspoon of cornstarch to stop it clumping.
• Portion it into freezer bags, press out the air, seal and label with the date.
• For blocks, cut into pieces of 8 oz (about 225 g) or less and wrap tightly before bagging.

How do you use frozen cheese?

Sprinkle grated cheese straight from frozen onto bakes, burritos, pasta and soups; it melts as normal. For blocks, thaw in the fridge overnight. Frozen cheese works well in freezer breakfast burritos, chicken enchilada bake and egg and veggie muffin cups.

How long does cheese last in the fridge?

Opened hard cheese keeps 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge, wrapped; soft cheese about a week. Cut away mould on hard cheese with at least an inch around it; throw soft cheese away if it grows mould. Times are from the US government's storage chart.

Is it cheaper to freeze cheese?

Often. Large blocks cost less per ounce than small packs, and freezing part of one means none goes to waste. See a budget meal prep pantry and, for other foods, which meal prep foods freeze well.

Sources

• FoodSafety.gov: cold food storage chart
• USDA: freezing and food safety