How Do You Crumble Blue Marble Cheese From a Block

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Block of cheddar cheese that has been shredded

Can You Freeze Cheese?

Yes, it can be done. However, there are a few things you may want to consider. First of all, not all cheeses are suited for freezing, in fact, most aren't. Secondly, for the few varieties that do freeze well, you will want to make sure you do it the RIGHT way (as discussed below). Lastly, cheese that has been frozen isn't as versatile as fresh. You will only want to use it in certain ways.

Best Cheeses To Use

Typically any of the brick or semi-hard cheeses are ok to store inside the freezer. Some examples of these types of cheeses are:

Cheddar (block, sliced, or shredded)
Colby Jack (block, sliced, or shredded)
Monterey Jack (block, sliced, or shredded)
Mozzarella or pizza cheese (shredded)
Provolone (freeze in a block on in slices of cheese)

OK (But Not Great) Varieties

These cheeses CAN be frozen and stored in an airtight container, but your results may be highly varied. These include:

Swiss
Blue Cheese
Feta
Cream Cheese
Gouda

Worst Cheeses To Freeze

Any curd or soft cheeses varieties aren't great for freezing. Also, fancy, hand-crafted cheese doesn't freeze well. They are known for their texture and taste and are best eaten fresh. Similarly, hard varieties, such as Parmesan, don't freeze well. They last a very long time in the refrigerator so there's no point in freezing them anyway. Here are the kinds that don't freeze well:

Cottage Cheese
Ricotta
Brie
Romano
Parmesan
Processed Cheese (such as Velveeta)

Shredded Cheese (Preferred Method)

Store-bought, pre-shredded is always going to be a good bet. You can keep it in its original packaging and put it straight in the freezer. You can also shred cheese from a block and then freeze it (I prefer this to freezing an entire block. I have provided some instructions below on how to do this. You can freeze shredded cheese for up to 2 months before losing quality. You can thaw before using or we have had success melting frozen shredded cheese directly into casseroles and other hot dishes.

Bowl of shredded cheddar cheese dusted with cornstarch

Block Or Sliced Cheese

For block (no larger than 1 pound) or sliced cheese, place in a Ziplock freezer bag (still in its original packaging), press the air out and seal tightly. If the original packaging has been removed, you can wrap it tightly in plastic cling wrap or aluminum foil and then place in a Ziplock freezer bag for freezing. For sliced, make sure each individual slice is separated with parchment paper before wrapping and bagging. You can freeze block or sliced cheese for up to 2 months.

Serving and Cooking Suggestions

Even if you do everything perfectly, freezing will inevitably affect the texture. It is best to grate, melt, or crumble cheese that has been frozen so the texture differences aren't as noticeable. It usually isn't great when sliced or served cubed on a cheese board after it has been frozen. Melting into casseroles, soups, or other hot dishes such as macaroni and cheese are perfectly fine. Melting sliced cheese over burgers or grilled cheese sandwiches will work well also.

A small bowl of cheese that has been frozen then thawed.

Tips For Thawing:

If you are thawing your frozen cheese, it is always best to thaw slowly in the refrigerator. This can take up to 48 hours depending on the size of your shreds or block. It's also ok to go from frozen (if using shredded) to melting in soups, casseroles, or in the microwave to melt over your favorite dishes.

What Else Can Be Frozen?

Well, I love this question because you can freeze entire MEALS with ease! Making meals ahead of time and freezing them is a lifesaver. It can save SO much time each month! In fact, I love freezer meals so much, I have created videos where you can make 10 freezer meals in just one hour. It is called Freezer Meals LIVE and it will make your life so much easier! Check out the details HERE.

FAQ:

Does freezing cheese change the flavor?

Freezing cheese doesn't affect the flavor much but it does affect the texture. This is why it is best for melting rather than thawing and trying to use fresh in recipes. See "Serving and Cooking Suggestions" above for more ideas on how to best use frozen cheese in recipes.

How long does cheese last in the fridge?

Store bought cheese can last up to 4-6 weeks in the fridge, unopened. Because it lasts so long in the fridge you may not even need to freeze it.

How long is cheese good once opened?

Cheese is only good for 5-7 days after opening. That's where freezing comes in. If you don't think you can eat all of it in a week or less, freezing is the way to go.

Block cheese that has been shredded

How To Freeze Shredded Cheese

This method will help your cheese last longer! You can shred your cheese and freeze it without it sticking together by using cornstarch.

▢ 1 pound Cheddar cheese (store-bought, block)
▢ 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Shred cheddar cheese and place in plastic freezer bag (such as Ziplock)
Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch per pound of cheese to bag.

Seal bag and shake until cornstarch evenly covers all of the cheese shreds.

Press air our of the bag and re-seal tightly. To reduce freezer burn you may double bag.
Freeze cheese for up to 2 months without losing quality. Cheese that has been frozen is best for melting into soups, casseroles, or pastas.

Calories: 116 kcal Carbohydrates: 1 g Protein: 7 g Fat: 9 g Saturated Fat: 6 g Cholesterol: 30 mg Sodium: 176 mg Potassium: 28 mg Sugar: 1 g Vitamin A: 284 IU Calcium: 204 mg Iron: 1 mg

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her beautiful three girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

More about Erica Walker

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