Among hard cheeses, Cheddar is a popular choice for freezing. However, other types of hard cheeses may also be frozen. Learn more about the shelf life of cheese and when to defrost it after freezing. Then you’ll be able to plan your next cheese-making session. It’s never too late to enjoy your favorite cheese! Whether you’re a cheese lover or just looking for a new way to enjoy it, there’s a cheese that’s perfect for freezing.
How Long can You Freeze Cheese?
Cheddar cheese in shreds freezes well as well. It will last for three months or more if properly stored in an airtight container or freezer bag. If the product’s original packaging is still available, use it instead.
The advantage of using frozen cheddar cheese is that it will melt during cooking, allowing you to use it right away in your favorite recipes.
However, due to their low moisture content, hard and semi-hard varieties of cheese are the best to store in the freezer. Swiss, cheddar, blue, and brick cheeses are a few examples. It is advised to use these for cooking. To add richness and thickness to your hot foods, grate and combine them.
Does Cheese that has been Frozen Go Bad?
Cheese is frequently the secret ingredient for chefs. But not all cheeses are made equal. Around 1,800 different varieties of cheese can be found worldwide. They can be divided into eight categories: processed, blue, hard, semi-hard, soft and fresh, soft and semi-ripened, and pasta filata.
The kind of cheese you use greatly affects how well it freezes. Because they contain a lot of moisture, soft, matured, and hand-crafted cheeses generally don’t freeze well. These consist of Romano, ricotta, brie, Camembert, cottage cheese, and brie. To prevent spoiling, it is recommended to consume them fresh and purchase them in small quantities. Cream cheese and soft goat cheese are two examples of exceptions. They can be frozen, but when they defrost, the texture will alter.
However, due to their low moisture content, hard and semi-hard varieties of cheese are the best to store in the freezer. Swiss, cheddar, blue, and brick cheeses are a few examples. It is advised to use these for cooking. To add richness and thickness to your hot foods, grate and combine them.
The FDA states that food can be kept safe indefinitely by freezing it. However, they also serve as a reminder to eat frozen foods, like cheese, as soon as possible to take advantage of their best quality. To enjoy the outstanding flavor and texture of your frozen hard and semi-hard cheeses, it is advised to eat them within 6 to 9 months.
How Long After the Expiration Date does Frozen Cheese Remain Edible?
When properly stored in the freezer, hard and semi-hard cheeses will remain edible for 6 to 8 months after their written expiration date, whether they have been opened or not, sliced, or shredded. They ought to be stored in an airtight container or completely covered in foil before being placed in a freezer bag.
The printed expiration dates on the box aren’t truly trusted by experts. They claim that these are typically just ballpark projections of when the products will be at their best. Even the presence of mold on hard cheeses doesn’t worry them. According to them, you only need to remove the moldy bit; the rest is still fine to consume.
To determine whether the cheese has already gone bad, experts advise us to smell and taste it. You should be able to determine if your cheese is spoilt and if it has a sour smell or taste.
Does Unopened Cheese Expire?
Any type of cheese’s shelf life depends on the technique of manufacturing, the amount of moisture, heat exposure, and storage conditions. Since they are merely estimations, according to experts, they do not rely on the best by date. Many claims that it’s okay to consume some types of cheese even after they’ve passed their expiration date.
Yes, all forms of cheese ultimately go bad, even if they are unopened, is the answer to this inquiry. In essence, the shelf life will change based on how something is stored.
Soft cheeses like brie, feta, and cottage cheese don’t freeze well and have a very short shelf life. Due to their high moisture content, they will quickly go bad even if you don’t open them.
Swiss, blue cheese, and cheddar are among the hard cheeses that freeze well and keep their excellent quality for 6 to 9 months. After that time, they would still be safe to consume, but their texture and flavor might alter. Hard cheeses that have not been opened can be kept for about six months in the refrigerator. To ensure that your cheese has the longest possible shelf life, wait to open it until you’re ready to use it.
How to Store Hard and Semi-Hard Cheeses in the Freezer?
These kinds of cheese can be preserved longer by freezing. But to maintain its quality, there is a right technique to do it. This is how you do it:
- The cheese should be divided into blocks that weigh no more than half a pound each.
- Wrap in freezer wrap or aluminum foil securely.
- Put the cheese in a freezer bag or vacuum seal it.
- Labeling and freezing.
To use, simply take the amount you require and put it in the refrigerator, where it will begin to defrost in a few hours. Additionally, you may grate it right out of the freezer and use it in recipes.
Can Two-Year-Old Frozen Cheese be Consumed?
According to experts, food may be stored in the freezer indefinitely and is still safe to consume. This is because hazardous germs in our food cannot grow in a chilly environment.
Hard and semi-hard cheeses, as was previously said, freeze well. Although they are kept in cold storage, their quality will eventually decrease like that of any food. Once the cheese has been thawed, textural changes are to be expected, which may make it unpleasant to eat.
Generally speaking, if your hard cheese has a sour smell or taste, it has already gone bad. Better to throw it away to avoid an upset stomach. You may just cut out the moldy portion of firm cheese if it has mold, and the other cheese is still perfectly fine to consume. Since this particular cheese is not porous, the spores won’t spread throughout the whole thing.
What are the Types of Cheese that can be frozen and that can’t be frozen?
Cheeses that can Freezing
Cheese made in factories can withstand freezing with the least loss of quality. Large blocks of store-brand cheddar, for instance, are uniformly smooth and freeze with less textural damage than cheeses that have a more erratic texture.
Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano (parmesan), two well-aged, hard grating kinds of cheese, frequently emerge from the freezer in acceptable form. However, during freezer storage, some kinds of cheeses can acquire a faintly metallic, “burnt” flavor. It makes more sense to put them in the refrigerator because they stay virtually indefinitely there (without flavor loss).
The freezer is a fantastic place to store packaged shredded cheeses like mozzarella intended for melting on pizza and slices intended for grilled cheese sandwiches. Freezing allows you to easily maintain their availability.
Cheeses that cannot be Freeze-Dried
The texture of fresh cheeses, including queso fresco, paneer, and soft cheeses like brie, is most negatively impacted by freezing time. Similarly, gourmet cheeses that are made by hand and have delicately balanced flavors emerge from the freezer considerably worse for wear.
Cheeses that naturally have fine pockets or holes shouldn’t be kept in the freezer. The harm brought on by the freeze-and-thaw cycle is exacerbated by those minuscule air pockets.
What are the Possible Health Advantages of Cheese?
Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K-2, a component our systems use to clot blood, are found in cheese manufactured from the milk of animals that are grown entirely on grass, according to the USDA. Even dairy products like cheese, according to research, can help prevent cavities in our teeth.
Cheese has additional health advantages, such as:
Reference: Probiotic cheese: Health benefits, technological and stability aspects
- Muscle and bone health. Cheese is a fantastic food for developing healthy bones and muscles since it is high in calcium and protein. Cheese is a great source of whey protein, which is also found in many powdered supplements for muscle growth.
- Cheese is loaded with calcium because it is made from milk. Calcium can both prevent osteoporosis as we age and help growing bones become stronger. Cheese’s vitamin A, D, K, and zinc content is also known to support bone health.
- Decreased inflammation Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a dairy lipid found in cheese, may help reduce inflammation and potentially help fight obesity and heart disease. According to studies, if consumed in moderation, some full-fat dairy products can be beneficial to health.
- Reduced blood pressure Cheese and other dairy products with high calcium content can lower blood pressure. Low-fat, low-sodium cheeses can help decrease blood pressure when consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet. Try ricotta, feta, goat, parmesan, cottage, or ricotta cheese.
- Blood vascular defense. According to research, cheese may be an excellent source of glutathione, an antioxidant that supports brain health.
- This antioxidant’s potential to improve blood vessel health. According to a 2016 study, participants who consumed cheese had healthier blood arteries than those who consumed pretzels or soy cheese.
- Gut wellness Probiotic bacteria are present in fermented foods like cheese and yogurt. Healthy gut flora has been linked to healthy cholesterol levels, according to a few modest studies.
What are the Risks Associated with Cheese?
Casein, a cheese protein, causes allergic reactions in certain people. An allergic reaction to this chemical might result in rashes, acne, headaches, and nasal congestion in addition to generalized body inflammation.
The sugar lactose, which is present naturally in cheese, might potentially cause an adverse reaction if you are sensitive to it. Bloating, gas, and diarrhea might be signs of lactose intolerance. Speak to your doctor or a dietitian about these sensitivities if you haven’t had any testing done for them.
Finally, even though cheese contains saturated fats, which may be advantageous in moderation, diets rich in sodium and saturated fats have been related to heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Cheese should only be consumed in moderation because it contains greater levels of salt and saturated fat.
Conclusion
Depending on the type of cheese, the shelf life of hard cheeses can range from 30 days to one year. Cheese heads should be kept at a temperature of -4 to 0 degrees Celsius, with 85% air humidity. Pickled cheeses should be kept at a temperature of no more than +8 degrees Celsius, in a salt solution. The shelf life of pickled cheeses can be up to 74 days, and sausage cheese can be kept for three months. In addition to the above, cheese can be stored for as long as 10 days in a refrigerator.
