Freezing cheese

[NDman]

Is that ok to freeze cheese? Like those cheddar, mozella cheese blocks that go on sale. Everytime I see them, I always see some people would buy a few blocks of those. I *usually* can finish mine but sometimes it went bad before I could finish them. Maybe I'll consider freezing it if it's ok. Has anyone tried?

[Keelie]

i've never had much luck at freezing cheese. it breaks down and is all crumbly when you try to cut it. so it depends on what you're going to do with it, if crumbs are ok or not?

sometimes if i have extra that will not get eaten, such as cheddar or mozza, i'll shred it and then freeze. its handy to use in recipes that call for cheese.

[afong56]

i've never had much luck at freezing cheese. it breaks down and is all crumbly when you try to cut it. so it depends on what you're going to do with it, if crumbs are ok or not?

sometimes if i have extra that will not get eaten, such as cheddar or mozza, i'll shred it and then freeze. its handy to use in recipes that call for cheese.


what she said.

this is precisely the experience you will have if you choose to freeze your cheese. i do it all the time, but i do so knowing the shortcomings. the cheese just doesn't bounce back from being frozen. if someone knows a way to stop the ''crumble effect'', i'd love to know it.

[me!]

freezing cheese?

Not good.

as Keelie said, it breaks down and gets crumbly. Not sliceable anymore.

the only thing you can do to make that 2lb block of cheese last is to divide it up into smaller portions, and immediately, without touching the cheese, wrap it up airtight and seal it in a plastic bag, inside a plastic box. Air and contaminants gets cheese moldy faster.

take out the smaller pieces each time you use, and use them up as you go, till you are onto your next piece.

[NDman]

I like the pre-shred idea. I use those cheese mostly shredded anyway. As long as it doesn't affect the "meltability", I'm fine with that. Now I know I won't use it for cheese and crackers of sort if I were to freeze it

[LNahid2000]

vacuum packing it would be the best thing to do. then it lasts till the expiry date which is 6 months or so.

[me!]

vacuum packing it would be the best thing to do. then it lasts till the expiry date which is 6 months or so.
that is of course, if you have a vacuum sealer.

[NDman]

that is of course, if you have a vacuum sealer.
... which I don't have. I like the Food Saver thing, but I already have enough stuff on the counter top AND the cabinets. Don't think I'll invest on one anytime soon

[wanted]

I freeze paneer, nothing really happens, not as good as fresh though.
ALso mozzarella, but it's shredded.

[me!]

... which I don't have. I like the Food Saver thing, but I already have enough stuff on the counter top AND the cabinets. Don't think I'll invest on one anytime soon
If you mean Food Saver the 29.99 vacuum sealer, then that one is a load of crap. I think i have this one and the vacuum looses it seal after a while, and the bags are so flimsly, i think air leaks right through it!

the expensive 100$ + ones are the only good ones i hear.

[NDman]

I've heard about the poor seal with the cheap ones. If I were to go for it one day, it'll be the one in the $100-range, which I've heard a lot of good things from my friends. Just don't have room. Right now, I fall into those "if you don't see it, you won't use it category". I barely crack open my KitchenAid stand mixer now that I have to put it back into the cabinet

[blink]

I always shred my cheese before freezing. If it is for baking, then it should be no problem.

[canuck_fan]

don't do it :P

[mart242]

I've heard about the poor seal with the cheap ones. If I were to go for it one day, it'll be the one in the $100-range, which I've heard a lot of good things from my friends. Just don't have room. Right now, I fall into those "if you don't see it, you won't use it category". I barely crack open my KitchenAid stand mixer now that I have to put it back into the cabinet

Totally agree with that. Got the one from Costco a year ago but barely use it because it's stuck at the back of my cupboards. In my next house, it will be a lot more accessible and I'll use i more because of that.

It works well though, I take it out when I need to preserve expensive stuff, ie: big block of parmesan from costco, ...

[runamuck]

we shred it and freeze it.. when its thawed out in the fridge its good for putting on pizza, and pasta... still not as good as fresh but we're used to it.


if we dont shred it..then it gets crumbly..but thats also good for pizza and pasta.

[trini]

Why would you want to freeze cheese to begin with?
Might as well use cheese whiz, cheese is a delicate thing and should be wrapped in silicon or wax paper and then kept is a sealed container or plastic wrap and kept in a cool place.
It will dry out no matter what, its made for eating buy what you need and enjoy.

[NDman]

I'd love to get top-notch ingredients and whatnot. But prices and other factors govern a lot of people's buying pattern, obviously myself included. If I have the time and money to get fresh cheese whenever I want, I would have.

I hate wasting food and I don't want the cheese to go to waste. I wanted to see if I can buy a little bit more time in case I was slow with that block of cheese