Freezing Cheese

[daughter of pearl]

Found a great deal on cheese...can it be frozen? If I freeze it and then use it later, how does it change the taste/texture of the cheese?

Anyone?

[2ndGenGranola]

Yes, you can freeze cheese. IMO it works better if the cheese is shredded. "Raw" texture will be slightly different -more so in softer cheeses - nothing terribly offending though.

[Nada.Leona]

We always wait to buy cheese on sale and then freeze it. Shredded is best but it works fine

[porembam]

I freeze shredded cheese all the time - it lasts a long time

[Neeley]

We freeze block cheese and shredded all of the time with no problems whatsoever.

[Libby]

I suggest freezing it the way you intend to use it afterwards.
ie cubes/slices for eating & snacking, shredded etc

I find that it crumbles & falls apart when you try to slice it after its defrosted.

[Grainlady]

Here are some good guidelines for freezing cheese you may find helpful...

Freezing Cheese

[frugalfriend]

I find that it crumbles & falls apart when you try to slice it after its defrosted.

Or when you try to grate it, it falls apart too. Better to grate beforehand.

[nuisance26]

I suggest freezing it the way you intend to use it afterwards.
ie cubes/slices for eating & snacking, shredded etc

I find that it crumbles & falls apart when you try to slice it after its defrosted.

~Yep, my experience and advice as well! I always end up shredding my cheese with my Kitchen Aid shredder attachment after I've defrosted it so I don't care about the crumble factor. I just like to keep the blocks in their original packaging for storage in my freezer because they resist freezer burn better that way and take up less space.~

[Trishagirl]

The Amish here buy whole horns of cheese to freeze when on sale then thaw and use. I have never done that thou.

[AnW819]

What about deli cheese?

[Barefoot Gal]

AnW819, I've frozen cheese sliced at the deli and had no problem. It was used to top tuna melt sandwiches.

Whenever I freeze a hard cheese (like cheddar), I grate it first. In the past, freezing the block of cheese resulted in a very, very crumbling texture. The cheese tasted great, just not quite "sliceable" for crackers.



Jean

[Neeley]

Maybe it's the type of cheese we eat. But it all gets frozen and thawed before eaten. I have not found it not to be very "crumbly" at all when sliced or shredded.

[frugalfranny]

Thanks for the post grainlady.

I, too, freeze cheese but think the texture changes a bit. I freeze cream cheese all the time but cook/bake with it after. It keeps for a long time in the refer. so try not to freeze the 'regular' kind.

[mauimagic]

I am always thrilled to find cheese on sale - hate to pay full price. Freezing it is the only way for me to go. I do make packages of smaller chunks - only to keep my consumption of cheese in line!!