Have you ever wondered if you can freeze cheese? Maybe you have too much leftover from a party and want to keep it to use later. Can you freeze it?
Cheese is dairy. If you have ever tried to freeze dairy, you know it is hard to freeze. Most times dairy separates when thawed. Some exceptions are as follows, some with better results than others.
Cream cheese can be frozen. Use its original wrapper and then place it in a resealable or airtight container. When you want to use it, thaw first and then use. Mascarpone can also be frozen in this manner. However, when Mascarpone is thawed the liquid will probably separate from the solid. You will either have to drain it before you use it or let it completely thaw and whip it to incorporate the liquid into the solids.
We have frozen hard aged cheeses like Parmesan Reggiano and older cheddars and they have survived well. They were only in our freezer for a short amount of time, probably less than one month. If your cheese is in block form or a large piece, we have discovered it freezes better.
Soft cheeses like goat cheese or Brie do not freeze and thaw as well. We would not suggest freezing these.
We have also grated Gruyere and placed it in a resealable bag or airtight container and it stayed usable for two weeks. When a recipe called for grated Gruyere, we used it from the freezer. Another idea is to create long ribbons by using a vegetable peeler for salads. It works great in salads with pears or apples and spinach.
Another salad idea is using Parmesan Reggiano in your Italian salad. Create these strips with a vegetable peeler also.
To freeze these cheeses, lay them on a sheet of parchment paper and freeze that. You can either place the cheese in a resealable bag to use later or use it tonight.
If you want grated sharp cheddar for a salad, use the large holes on a box grater or a hand grater for longer curls. These look and taste great in your savory salad.
For other cheese ideas, check out some recipes like this Spicy Cheese Pasta on Stovetop.