Can You Freeze Cheddar Cheese?
Even cheesaholics sometimes find that they have a glut of cheese.
Perhaps you bought Cheddar cheese for a recipe and didn't use it all, or you had friends around for a meal, and they foolishly ate too much to do the cheese course justice.
Christmas is often a cheese fest but the competition from other celebratory food can mean a glorious Cheddar is left on the cheese board.
You could make a super salad with leftover Cheddar or melt some into soup for a luscious cheesy flavour boost. But if salad and soup aren’t your idea of a winter feast, freezing cheese is a good option.
Here are a few tips and tricks to make the most of your Cheddar cheese from the freezer.
Does freezing affect the quality of cheese?
Soft cheeses like Camembert and Brie are not so happy with chilly conditions. Their high water content means ice crystals quickly form, changing the structure of the proteins in the cheese with implications for both texture and taste.
Cheddar cheese and other hard and semi-hard cheeses like Gouda and Parmesan can be frozen successfully. Hard cheeses retain their flavour well after freezing, although their texture may become a little crumbly and better for cooking than the centre of the cheeseboard.
How to prepare your cheese for the freezer
Firstly, remove any moisture from the surface of your cheese with a clean, dry cloth. Excess water will turn into ice crystals and affect the texture of the defrosted cheese.
Then, double bag the cheese or wrap it with parchment paper and then strong foil to protect other food items from taint.
Okay If you're dealing with a large cheese, you could cut it into portions, wrapping each separately, so you don’t need to defrost an entire cheese.
Freezer bags are ideal for grated cheese or small cubes. Shake the cheese then smooth it flat to ensure that it doesn’t freeze into a hard lump which will take longer to defrost.
Our Cheddar can be frozen for up to 12 months. When you freeze it, ensure the cheese is as fresh as possible and not past its use-by date.
Can you freeze mature cheddar?
You can freeze mature cheddar but with care. The taste and smell of a deliciously strong cheese like our own Black Bob - Extra Mature Cheddar could easily transfer to other foods in the freezer if you don’t wrap it properly so be sure to double wrap.
Much as we all love the strong flavour of mature Cheddar you probably don’t want your ice cream tasting of cheese.
How do I defrost cheese?
Take your cheese out of the freezer and unwrap it carefully.
Leave it in the fridge to defrost for 24-48 hours.
Allow your Cheddar cheese to reach room temperature before eating as this is when the full flavour is at its best.
Like all defrosted food, cheese should be eaten as soon as possible.
Can I use Cheddar cheese straight from the freezer?
You can use grated or sliced cheese straight from the freezer if you are using it for cooking or melting.
Frozen cheese is ideal for use in pizza toppings, cheesy stuffed omelettes, Cheddar mash or Cheddar pasta bakes.
Our Elevated Mac and Cheese is a delicious way to make the most of grated Cheddar straight from the freezer.
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