How Long does Cheese Last in the Freezer?

The answer to the question of how long does cheese last in the freezer depends on a few different factors. The main element is the type of cheese you’re storing and how well you store it. If you don’t freeze your cheese correctly, it may become moldy. On the other hand, if you keep it in a cool place like the garage, it may stay fresh for a long time.

How Long Does Cheese Last in the Freezer

How Long does Cheese Last in the Freezer?

American and European cuisines both heavily rely on cheese. We freeze the cheese because it is difficult to store a lot of it without it degrading. It’s a simple fix for preserving food you don’t want to devour immediately. Knowing how long it can last there is the difficult part. Let’s find out what other people have to say to find out how long you have before the cheese in the freezer is no longer edible.

The time a cheese can be stored in the freezer depends on various factors, including the type of cheese and how it is frozen. Hard cheeses with minimal moisture/fat content can often be frozen for up to 8 months. Soft cheeses, on the other hand, can be stored for up to six months. However, keeping them for that long is not advised because they will alter in texture. The choice will then be based on your preferences.

Different Varieties of Cheese and their Shelf Life

Gouda

If you have some extra Gouda cheese lying around, you may wonder how long it’s safe to keep it in the freezer. This type of cheese keeps well in both the fridge and the freezer.

When stored properly, it will last for several months. Although the storage time will vary from brand to brand, most commercially produced cheeses will have an expiration date printed on their label.

The shelf life of any dairy product will depend on the temperature and humidity. Cheeses that are made in a cooler climate are more likely to stay fresh for a longer period.

Keeping a piece of cheese in the freezer will preserve the flavor and texture of the cheese. However, it may lose some of its flavors as it thaws.

Hard and semi-soft cheeses can hold up to several weeks in the refrigerator. A softer cheese, such as mozzarella, can hold up to a month in the fridge.

Cream Cheese

A variety of factors determine the shelf life of cream cheese. It depends on how it is stored and how it is processed. For example, softer cheeses go bad faster than harder ones. But there are ways to extend the shelf life of cream cheese.

One is to freeze it. Frozen cream cheese can last for weeks, even months. You can freeze it in blocks or a zip lock bag. If you want to freeze cream cheese in a small amount, make sure that it is wrapped in foil so that you do not introduce any bacteria to the package.

Another way to preserve cream cheese is to keep it in the fridge. It’s best to store it in a clean, dry container. This will slow down the oxidation process and preserve the cheese.

Lastly, the most efficient method for preserving cream cheese is to freeze it. When frozen, it will expand to a large size and lose some of its creamy texture.

Shredded Cheese

The shelf life of shredded cheese can be quite long. A pound of shredded cheddar cheese is generally safe for about eight months in the freezer. However, it is best to use it within a few days.

Fortunately, there are several ways to make sure that shredded cheese stays fresh. For example, you can store it in a freezer-safe zip bag. This method will ensure that the flavor is preserved.

Another way to preserve the quality of shredded cheese is to freeze it in blocks. These blocks are usually made of American cheddar, gruyere, pepper jack, and other similar cheeses.

You’ll need a heavy-duty freezer bag to freeze a block of cheese. Place the cheese in the bag and seal it tightly. Also, label the freezer bag with the type of cheese you’re freezing. If you do not, the bag will not be properly sealed, which could cause the cheese to spoil.

Moldy Cheeses

Moldy cheeses can be dangerous for those who suffer from allergies or are immunocompromised. If your cheese has been affected by mold, you can take a few steps to get it back in good condition.

First, you should remove any mold spores from the cheese. In most cases, this is a simple process that involves cutting away an inch or so of the cheese.

When you do this, the moisture in the cheese will be reduced, preventing mold growth. You can also limit the air in the cheese by resealing it as tightly as you can. This will also eliminate the mold problem.

Another way to help prevent mold growth is to store your cheese at 41 degrees Fahrenheit. The spores of mold grow more quickly at high temperatures.

Alternatively, you can place your cheese in a salad crisper. Salad crispers have the right humidity for the cheese to retain its texture.

How do you Store Cheese in the Freezer?

The cheese cannot just be placed in the freezer and left there. It would help if you first made some preparations to freeze cheese properly. For instance, if you purchased cheese in bulk, split it according to how you will likely use it at any given time rather than freezing the entire amount. For convenience’s sake, experts advise freezing 500g of cheese for each serving.

Second, freezing cheese in blocks is not required. Both grated and sliced cheese can be frozen. To avoid the cheese from adhering together during freezing, place parchment paper between each piece of cheese.

Put the cheese chunks in an airtight container after wrapping them in cheese paper or foil. The cheese won’t freeze because of the airtight container.

Once the cheese is inside the container, it must be frozen at a minimum of -9 degrees Fahrenheit as soon as possible. Large and disruptive ice crystals are avoided by rapid freezing.

How to Know When Cheese is Safe to Eat?

The majority of packaged items, including cheese, include a best-by date. Although frequently mistaken for an expiration date, it refers to the period during which food is at its finest.

Except for infant formula, this indicates that after this date has passed, a food product might still be safe to eat. It might merely not have the ideal flavor or texture.

However, if there are problems with quality control during production or improper storage at the store or in your home, cheese may expire before this date.

Because of this, regardless of the best-by date, it is always advisable to check your cheese to ensure it is safe to eat.

Cut off at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) above and below any blue or green surface mold specks you see on hard cheese.

If you accidentally consume a moldy item, you probably won’t get sick if you have a strong immune system. However, some molds are more deadly than others, so you should watch out for food poisoning symptoms like vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea.

Eating aged hard cheeses with white specks or crystalline areas, such as cheddar, parmesan, and gouda, is acceptable. Most likely not mold, but calcium lactate crystals, created when the lactic acid in cheese reacts with the calcium, are to blame for these flaws.

Discard any crumbled, shredded, or sliced cheeses, whether soft or hard, that have mold instead of soft cheeses like cottage cheese and cream cheese.

To assess whether the cheese is safe to consume, you can also smell it. Although some cheeses may have an unpleasant odor, they shouldn’t smell like sweat, chlorine, or ammonia.

Can Cheese be Thawed After being Frozen?

Yes is the obvious response to this query. It would be best to do a few specific things to get the most out of your frozen cheese.

Therefore, cheese can be frozen and thawed, but it must be thawed in the refrigerator and its original packaging.

The cheese should be used right away after it has been thawed. As an alternative, you can utilize it frozen. Most people top their pizza with frozen, shredded mozzarella before baking, which is excellent!

What Happens to Cheese that has been Frozen for too Long?

I warned you earlier that the quality of your cheese would deteriorate after six months in your freezer. But what does this mean?

Ultimately, it all comes down to the kind of cheese you’re using. The natural moisture in soft cheeses will drip out as they thaw, giving them a crumbly, dry texture.

Hard cheeses, such as Manchego and genuine parmesan, are an exception to this rule, albeit their texture may change slightly and become more difficult to grate. All kinds of cheeses are subject to losing their flavor and scent.

Therefore, thaw your cheese before it has been in your freezer for six months if you want to enjoy it at its best. To be safe, you should even defrost it first.

Conclusion

We sincerely hope the information above was useful for you, no matter the circumstance. The cheese can survive a very long time if it is stored correctly.

Do you need assistance freezing any particular cheeses before you leave? Which cheese, mozzarella? Check out our article on how to freeze mozzarella cheese for additional information.

Do you require assistance in making your cheese-wrapping decision? We can provide some direction. Check out our article, Should You Wrap Cheese In Foil Or Cling Film, for additional details.