Can You Freeze Cheddar Cheese?
Cheese is the ultimate comfort food for all the cheese lovers out there, isn’t it? Be it cheddar, mozzarella, or any, cheese is just something that cannot be resisted. Talking about cheddar cheese, it is most commonly available in all fridges.
But sometimes, you just cannot finish the whole of your cheddar cheese while it is still in the refrigerator. So what can you do? Can you freeze cheddar cheese? Yes, you can freeze cheddar cheese. However, there are different methods of freezing the cheese. Read on!
How Can You Freeze Cheddar Cheese?
Well, there are different ways of freezing cheddar cheese. Yes, the process varies from cheese blocks to slices to grates. Do not worry, I have steps for each one of them. The most preferred method of freezing cheddar is grated, but you can do it your way.
Freezing increases the shelf life of your cheese. Check out each of the methods of freezing your cheddar cheese in the following sections.
Freezing Cheddar Cheese Blocks
Freeze your cheese in blocks only when you intend to use the cheddar later in blocks. Check out the following steps to freeze blocks of cheddar cheese effectively:
- Use parchment paper or cling film to wrap your cheddar cheese blocks individually. Do not wrap two or more blocks together.
- You can also wrap the cheese in two or more layers. It would be better if you use more than one layer of parchment paper to wrap your cheddar blocks.
- Transfer the wrapped cheese blocks into good-quality ziplock bags. Make sure the bags are freezer-safe.
- Label the bags properly with the date and contents, and stack them in the freezer. Your cheddar cheese blocks are ready to freeze.
Freezing Grated Cheddar Cheese
Freezing grated cheddar cheese could be the easiest method of freezing cheese. Check out the steps below to freeze grated cheddar:
- If you are not buying grated cheddar from the market, grate it yourself at home. The cheese will be easily grated with a cheese grater.
- Transfer the grated cheese to a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bags tightly.
- Shake the bags gently to separate the cheese from each other. Label the bags and stack them in the freezer for freezing.
Freezing Cheddar Cheese Slices
Slices are perfect for burgers, sandwiches, melting, and more. Preserve your cheddar cheese slices for longer by following the below-mentioned steps:
- If your cheese is not sliced already, first cut your cheddar cheese into slices. Make sure you do not cut very thin or very thick slices.
- Take some parchment paper and size them slightly larger than the cheese slices. Do it carefully, do not end up wasting the parchment.
- Layer your cheese slices by putting parchment paper within each layer. This will prevent the cheddar slices from sticking to each other.
- Then use a tin foil or another larger parchment to wrap the whole cheese. Make sure you cover the cheese from all sides while wrapping.
- Transfer it into a freezer-friendly bag and stack it into the freezer. Your cheddar cheese slices are all set to freeze.
Can You Freeze Cheddar Cheese Sauce?
Yes, you can also freeze cheddar cheese sauce. All you have to do is pour the sauce into freezer-safe containers or ziplock bags and freeze. Make sure you let the cheese sauce cool completely before freezing.
Tips For Freezing Cheddar Cheese!
Now that you know the process for freezing every type of cheddar cheese, take a look at the following tips. I am sure you cannot miss them!
- Do not just freeze the cheddar cheese. Consider how you would like to use your cheddar and freeze it accordingly. It is always better to cut blocks, slice, or grate before freezing.
- If you are specifically freezing grated cheddar cheese, sprinkle some cornflour over it before freezing. This will prevent clumps in the cheese.
- You might not identify different cheese varieties once they are frozen. Therefore make sure you label your cheddar cheese appropriately.
How Long To Freeze Cheddar Cheese?
The freezer is always the best place to store cheese. You can keep cheddar cheese freezing for about two months. And this is the case for all its variations: blocks, slices, or grates. Do not keep the cheese for more than 2 months, or else it will lose flavor.
It is also advised that you use your frozen cheese as soon as possible to retain the best flavor. The longer you keep the cheddar cheese frozen, there are more chances of flavor and texture loss, even if it is minimal. The cheese however will be safe for consumption.
How To Defrost Cheddar Cheese?
While defrosting needs to be particularly done for cheddar cheese blocks and slices, you can directly use grated cheddar cheese from the freezer. You must allow the cheese blocks or slices to thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours before you intend to use it.
Grated cheese tastes best from the freezer, so you do not have to worry about defrosting it. Grated cheese pieces are smaller, and hence you can skip defrosting them. You can use frozen or defrosted cheddar in any of your recipes.
Can You Refreeze Cheddar Cheese?
No, you cannot refreeze cheddar cheese. No matter how you freeze your cheese, refreezing it is a bad idea. This is because the cheese might develop bacterial growth when exposed to air while defrosting, and hence not fit for freezing again.
Also, you know that every time you freeze your cheese, it is likely to lose minimal flavor and texture. Repeated freezing will eventually make the cheddar cheese unfit for consumption. Therefore, do not refreeze your cheddar cheese blocks, slice, or grate.
