We love cheese too, and we’re positive that everyone has their own opinion on how to best preserve and store it. One thing’s for sure: nobody likes taking up space in the fridge with a giant block of cheese that they’ll never eat in its original shape. That’s why many people are tempted to freeze some of their favorite cheeses when they have too much on hand. The problem is, which cheeses can you freeze and which should you avoid freezing altogether? Don’t worry, we’ve got all the answers for you!
Here’s a list of cheeses that can be frozen:
- Parmesan
- Mozzarella
- Cheddar
- Gouda
- Edam
- Brie
- Brick cheese (used in Mexican dishes)
So, do you have anything to add to this list? What other cheeses can be frozen?
Regardless of how you choose to store your cheese, we hope that you always follow these two simple rules:
1. Never refreeze cheese
2. If a piece of cheese develops mold, don’t eat it at all!
There’s no doubt that freezing cheese is one of the most popular ways to preserve it and keep it fresh for longer. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind before deploying the cheese-freezing method.
First of all, make sure you use only fresh cheese that has never been opened or processed. If you smell it before buying, you’ll be able to tell whether the piece you’re holding has been previously frozen or not. You don’t want to go through this trouble only to find out that your cheese still isn’t fresh or that it has a funky smell.
WHAT THE HECK IS FREEZING?
Freezing is a great way to preserve fresh, uncooked foods like eggs, meat and fish. Fish, in particular are known to keep their quality and taste very well while frozen. However, frozen food spoils rather quickly and doesn’t really hold up to the same quality standards of fresh food. Freezing can help extend the shelf life of cheeses, but it won’t make it last forever.
Can you freeze parmesan:
Yes – It’s a semi-hard, blue cheese. So you can freeze it!
When should you freeze parmesan:
If you don’t eat it up right away. If the cheese starts to get too hard, throw it in the freezer and thaw when needed. If the cheese gets a little on its edges, just cut off the edges and roll in parchment paper to make a log. This cheese is best when used immediately after being made.
How long can i freeze parmesan:
Freezing can help extend the shelf life of cheeses by at least 3 to 4 times. So if it’s a good cheese, you can freeze it for about a year.
What are some ways to tell if frozen parmesan is bad?
When frozen it isn’t actually spoiled but when thawed and refrozen during multiple cycles, parmesan may develop an off-flavour and an unappetizing texture. So after freezing it once, you don’t want to freeze it again. With this cheese, it’s best to store in the freezer for about a year or so. But if you freeze it and don’t eat it all, then you can refreeze it up to 3-4 times.
How to freeze parmesan:
1. Measure the amount of parmesan cheese you want to freeze.
2. Package it in freezer bags.
3. Make sure to put the cheese in the appropriate size bag so that it fits in your freezer properly, and if you have a small freezer, freeze it in two or three smaller bags or have one big bag full of small bags of parmigiano reggiano. And as always, label the bag with the date you put it in the freezer.
4. Put the bags on a cookie rack in the freezer, at least 3″ apart. The reason for this is to allow air to circulate around each cheese package, so that it freezes faster and keeps its form when thawed.
5. Once frozen, remove from freezer and put into the fridge so that it thaws at room temperature – Never microwave or cook a frozen food! High heat will destroy some of its flavor.
6. When you’re ready for your cheese, just unwrap it and enjoy!
What are some methods to thaw frozen parmesan:
There are a few safe ways to thaw frozen foods, but remember, avoid using the microwave. The slowest and safest method is thawing foods overnight in the refrigerator, where they will remain cold but not frozen. Another way is to leave it at room temperature for several hours and eventually it should defrost itself. A third way is to place the package on a plate and place in the freezer until the cheese has frozen again – This usually only takes a few minutes.
How to keep a parmesan log:
1. Freeze it! You can either cut the log into slices, or slice it from one end to the other. Just put parchment paper between each slice, and when you’re ready for it, just take the parchment paper off and put back in the freezer bag and close.
2. Toss some olive oil or butter on top of each log every couple of months and you’ll be amazed at how long your cheese lasts!
3. Label the date each time you freeze and thaw it!
4. Vegetables like broccoli are great to store alongside the cheese to keep it from drying out.
5. When using frozen parmesan, avoid direct heat methods because it destroys the flavor of the cheese – instead of putting cheese on a pizza directly, use grated parmesan as a top layer and cook on top of oven-safe bakeware.
6. When using frozen parmesan, avoid microwaving because it will cause the cheese to break up.
7. When using frozen parmesan, avoid the extremes of temperature between the freezer and kitchen.
8. When using frozen parmesan, store in an airtight container not more than 1 month old and in the refrigerator for safe keeping
9. Never refreeze cheese unless it is still “alive” (not hard as a rock). You will destroy its flavor by reheating it.
10. If you hear a loud “popping” sound when thawing, throw it out!
Conclusion
“Parmesan” is a cheese that is easy to freeze and has many wonderful uses. The only downside to freezing it is its texture after freezing, but if reproduced within the same cycle, parmesan cheese will stay fresh in your freezer. Enjoy!