If you enjoy cheese, it is extremely important to make sure that it is stored properly. One of the biggest questions that people have is whether or not they can store cheese in the freezer. While it is possible to freeze cheese, it is important to remember a few essential tips before you do.

Texture changes

If you plan to store cheese in the freezer, you should be prepared for a change in texture when you thaw it out. Once removed from the freezer, you can only really use your cheese for sauces and dishes like lasagne and pizza since the cheese will be melted and texture will no longer be an issue. If you try using it on sandwiches, you will definitely feel it crumble.

Small amounts

If you want to store cheese in your freezer, make sure that you do so in portions. You should consider how much you will use in specific dishes and create portions for easy thawing. It also helps to grate your cheese before freezing. If you freeze while solid, you will have to wait that much longer before you can grate and use the cheese. Grated cheese thaws faster and you don’t even have to wait for it to completely defrost before you sprinkle it on top of your dish.

Time to thaw

When the time comes to use your frozen cheese, make sure that you remove it from the freezer early enough and place in your fridge. Usually this should be done overnight to allow the cheese to defrost slowly. Resist the urge to pop it in your microwave!

Cheese types

Finally, when you store cheese in your freezer, remember that this storage method is not suitable for all types of cheese. Only harder cheeses like cheddar and gouda can be frozen. Mozzarella can too but it needs to be the harder variety.

If you keep these simple guidelines in mind, you can store cheese for months in your freezer and you will always have some available when making your favourite meals. If you want to try freezing a particular type of cheese and you’re not sure how it will turn out, you can always freeze a small portion as a test.