Should cheese be frozen?
I just put a piece of parmesan cheese into the freezer part of a fridge. Is this practice good or bad? I did this because when I bought the cheese, I could not back to home immediately and the cheese stayed in room temperature (30 degree celsius maybe) for a day, I was afraid that the cheese would be soften, so I made a though of putting it into the freezer. Then I did it and haven't taken it out yet. In addition, the package of the cheese is not yet opened.
Also I was afraid the lower part of the fridge would be open frequently and some air will condense within the fridge, so I thought put the cheese into the freezer maybe better, because the cheese was frozen.
Any comment?
Best Answer
I freeze cheese all the time, mostly mozzarella. It keeps longer. (If I keep mozzarella or similar cheeses too long in the fridge it gets moldy, often even before its expiration date.) However, I usually use frozen cheese only for cooking - i.e. if it's going to be melted. Freezing cheese does change the texture. Parmesan, though, being a hard, aged cheese would probably be less affected by freezing. However, on the same token, aged cheeses keep very nicely in the fridge, so I wouldn't see much benefit in freezing it.
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Quick Answer about "Should cheese be frozen?"
Freezing cheese can reduce waste and prolong shelf life. Still, it may cause the product to become drier, more crumbly, and mealy. Higher-fat, industrially produced cheeses like cheddar are better suited for freezing than soft cheeses and delicate, handcrafted varieties.Should cheese be refrigerated or frozen?
Soft cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, shredded cheeses, and goat cheese must be refrigerated for safety. As a general rule, hard cheeses such as cheddar, processed cheeses (American), and both block and grated Parmesan do not require refrigeration for safety, but they will last longer if kept refrigerated.Is cheese still good after being frozen?
While you can freeze just about any type of cheese, the firmer varieties \u2014 such as cheddar, gouda and Swiss \u2014 tend to come through the freezing process with the least damage to texture and flavor. For best results, keep cheese frozen for no more than 6 months.How long can you keep cheese in the fridge?
The bottom line After opening, you can safely store most soft cheeses in the fridge for at least 7 days and most hard cheeses for 3\u20134 weeks. Carefully inspect hard cheeses for mold and cut off any spots, but toss soft cheeses and crumbled, shredded, or sliced cheeses (whether hard or soft) if you see mold.How to Freeze Cheese \u0026 Thaw It Out
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Answer 2
According to this website, freezing cheese is ok, as long as it isn't fine or aged cheese. But there will be a texture change with any cheese once it has been frozen.
Don't freeze fine cheese. Hand-crafted cheeses are delicate, and very simply said, they'll deteriorate in the freezer. In a freezer, ice crystals form within the paste of the cheese, and when cheese defrosts, the molecular structure breaks down, transforming a perfectly fine wedge into a mealy, more crumbly and dry version of its former self. Cheeses with fissures, holes, or cracks are especially susceptible to freezer damage.
On the subject of less delicate cheeses :
The argument for freezing aged cheeses like parm and cheddar might seem logical because they're more durable in the first place, and so could withstand being frozen. But since most aged cheeses can virtually last for ions in your refrigerator when stored properly, why bother with the freezer, which can do more harm than good?
But they do offer this warning, there will be come texture change when these "industrial" cheeses are defrosted
...when defrosted, they'll be best used as melters, which will mask any potential alteration to texture from their frozen stint. Bring on the nachos!
Answer 3
Cheese freezes well, although there is some textural change, especially with hard cheeses which tend to go crumbly. Fine for cooking - I freeze parmesan and gruyere. Much better than leaving them in the fridge to slowly deteriorate. Never grate cheese and then store it - the flavour is lost very quickly!
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