Is it possible to freeze mozzarella: why and is it worth it?

Mozzarella can be found on the shelf of almost any grocery store. And it can be difficult to resist buying several packages, such a wonderful cheese. But how to store it later? Is it possible to freeze mozzarella in the freezer without damaging the taste and shape? We’ll answer right away that yes, you can freeze cheese, but you need to follow a few simple rules.

Is it possible to freeze

Can mozzarella be frozen in the freezer? This is the question most often asked by housewives around the world, wanting to extend the shelf life of this product. We hasten to answer - yes, mozzarella can be frozen in the freezer.

You can freeze any type and variety of this product. However, do not rush to put the cheese in the freezer. Before placing in the freezer, place the product in a container of water. This is the freezing method that the Italians recommend. Frozen water will act as a deterrent and prevent the cheese from losing its shape.

When it is necessary to defrost the mozzarella, remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for several hours and only then remove it from the refrigerator. In this case, it will be possible to avoid the so-called “heat stroke” and maintain shape and taste.

It is important that the cheese is defrosted gradually, without a sudden temperature change.
Otherwise, it will lose not only its shape, but also its taste. Important: freeze this product only in water or brine, otherwise after defrosting you will get a sticky curd porridge.
It is not recommended to store mozzarella in the freezer for longer than one month.

Freezing in cubes or bars

To freeze cheese into cubes/blocks, you will need a sharp knife, parchment or a piece of food foil, and special vacuum bags.

1. Cut the cheese into pieces. Please note that the smaller the cubes, the shorter their shelf life. So don't be shallow. Cut into pieces that you can use at a time, or that are enough to prepare 1-2 dishes.
2. Wrap the slices individually in parchment. It is advisable to also wrap them with foil paper on top - so that the product retains its taste properties as much as possible.
3. Place the cheese wrapped in paper in bags - this will prevent the cheese from sticking to the internal surfaces of the freezer.

Don't forget to write the storage date on the container.

Proper freezing of different types

The procedure and principles for storing different cheeses in the freezer have much in common. There are only small nuances related to the structure and other features of this product.

Hard cheeses

Cheeses with a dense structure store better than other varieties. It is more profitable to pre-grind the product in one way or another - grate or cut into cubes. In this form, the product will be convenient to use for preparing pizza, baked goods, and other dishes.

Do not defrost cheese in the microwave. It will melt in it and lose all its beneficial properties.

Hard cheeses include Armenian Chanakh, Romano, Emmental, Maasdam and others. To make your task easier, buy cheese for freezing in vacuum packaging, then the process will be simplified as much as possible - you just throw the product into the freezer.

Parmesan

This Italian cheese is made from cow's milk and has a rich taste and aroma. After defrosting it does not crumble. Parmesan can be stored at -20°C for at least 2 months.

Don't put Parmesan in the corner of the freezer so you don't forget about it. Other products may block it, and you may simply not see the package of cheese.

Processed cheeses

Spreadable cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time without compromising its consumer properties. Their shelf life, thanks to freezing, increases from 8-10 days to 3-4 months.

Processed cheeses are the most finicky. When thawed, they lose their presentation. It is used only for spreading toast and sandwiches. Cutting it into cubes will not work.

Suluguni

Suluguni is a cheese with a sour milk taste, moderately salty. Its consistency is thick. This is a layered and elastic cheese.

Before freezing suluguni, soak it in 20% brine. Or in serum. When the cheese structures absorb the liquid, drain the remaining liquid and pack it in an airtight container. Other pickled cheeses are frozen using the same scheme.

Adyghe cheese

This product belongs to the group of curd cheeses. He is able to adapt to frost. But the minimum freezing temperature is limited to -5°C. With this mode, the cheese retains its structure and other properties for 2 months.

Mozzarella

This young cheese, prepared according to an Italian recipe, can be stored in the freezer for the same amount of time as any other curd cheese - about 3 months. It is better not to unpack Mozzarella before storing it - it is better stored in an airtight container.

Similar to Mozzarella - in industrial packaging, Mascarpone, Philadelphia, Ricotta and Camembert are stored.

Cremette

This cream cheese is usually used to make creams. To provide themselves with an important ingredient and pay wholesale prices, many pastry chefs purchase large quantities of cremette. And to preserve it longer, they put it in freezers.

How to freeze cremette:

1. Place the cheese in vacuum bags.
2. Place the cremette in the freezer, placing the bags in a single layer.
3. To ensure that the product freezes quickly, turn on the maximum cold setting.
4. When the cheese is frozen, place the vacuum sealed bags into one large bag and seal it.

Almost all types of cream cheeses separate after defrosting. In this form they are only suitable for sauces, salads, and cheesecakes. Beat the defrosted cremette with a blender. It can be used in cooking, but not for creams. Some cream cheeses are able to return to their original consistency.

Dutch

There are many varieties and varieties of Dutch cheeses. The most popular are Gouda and Edam. Cheese lovers also appreciate Maasdam for its appetizing perforated structure.

Dutch cheeses with holes do not store well. It is recommended to freeze only varieties with a dense, hole-free structure.

How to freeze Dutch cheese:

1. Cut the cheese into portions, for example, 150-200 g - as much as you may need.
2. Wrap each piece in paper, and then put it in a bag and then in the freezer.

Camembert

This cheese has a moist and chewy center. Camembert resembles Brie, but is more difficult to freeze. While the cheese is ripening, it contains live fungi. But once they get into the freezer, they die. The cheese loses its unique taste.

Blast freezing helps to avoid loss of the taste of Camembert. There are freezers in which you can enable a similar function. The temperature should not be higher than -20°C.

Hochland

Hochland is a processed cheese and is frozen according to the same freezing rules. The main thing is not to freeze foods that contain perishable additives.

Hochland freezing procedure:

1. Remove the cheese triangles from the packaging.
2. Place them in the freezer for 2 hours. Turn on the coldest setting possible.
3. Place the frozen triangles in a large bag, seal it, and place it back in the freezer.

Hochland cheese slices are frozen in a similar way - first they freeze them, scattering them around the freezer, and then put them in airtight packaging.

When should you put cheese on pizza?

Cheese must be placed on pizza twice. The first layer of cheese goes immediately on top of the sauce, then the filling is placed, and the second layer of cheese is distributed on top of the filling. The first layer will be protected by the filling from drying out, as a result of which the cheese in the pizza will always stretch.

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How to store in the refrigerator

Soft cheeses such as ricotta, mozzarella and mascarpone are recommended to be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight glass container. Moreover, the mozzarella should be completely immersed in its own brine; it will protect the cheese from chapping and rapid souring.

At an average temperature of +3° C, the shelf life of opened mozzarella does not exceed three days. After this, it begins to turn yellow, and bitterness appears in the taste. These are clear signs of spoiled cheese. Under no circumstances should such a product be consumed, even after heat treatment.

We recommend: How to preserve apples until spring: the right places and methods of laying them

Advice from Miss Clean magazine: The original brine can be completely replaced by 100 ml of water with 1 tablespoon of regular salt.

What is mozzarella

Traditionally, mozzarella is made from black buffalo milk; this cheese is called mozzarella di bufala and has a rich, salty taste. It is very difficult to find it outside of Italy, since it is produced only in its historical homeland. This cheese is awarded the highest category DOP mark, which indicates compliance with all traditional technologies and product quality.

Mozzarella made from regular cow's milk - fior di latte (milk flower) has become much more widespread; it has a less rich, but still very pleasant taste.

Mozzarella is a young cheese, and the fresher it is, the better, it does not last long. To get more pleasure, it is better to eat the delicacy on the day of purchase, if the cheese was purchased by weight, or immediately after opening the package.

A Deli's Take Mozzarella goes perfectly with tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar and is a staple ingredient in Italian cooking. It is often used in all kinds of appetizers, salads, and hot dishes.

The best and worst cheeses to freeze

Any cheese can technically be frozen, but some varieties respond to freezing better than others.

Here are some of the best and worst cheeses to freeze (1):

The Best Cheeses to Freeze

In general, it is best to freeze cheeses that are intended to be used in cooked dishes rather than eaten fresh.

Hard and semi-hard cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss, brick and blue cheese can be frozen, but their texture often becomes crumbly and floury. They will also be more difficult to cut.

Mozzarella and pizza cheese are generally suitable for freezing as well, especially shredded pizza cheese. However, its texture and melting properties may be impaired (6).

Some semi-soft cheeses, such as Stilton or soft goat cheese, also work well for freezing (10).

Shelf life

1. Be aware of expiration dates when purchasing cheese in advance. Study the packaging. Try to adhere to the specified rules and storage periods.
2. Most often, mozzarella is sold in 125g packages and is shaped like balls. This is a classic form of serving Italian cheese, which customers really like.
3. How long to store mozzarella in open packaging directly depends on the temperature in the refrigerator.
4. Opened product will be stored longer in glass containers. Be sure to cover it with the brine and cover it tightly with a lid. In this form, it will retain its properties for 2-3 days from the moment the package is opened.
5. If you don’t have enough brine, it’s not difficult to prepare it yourself. Dilute in 100 gr. a glass of water one tablespoon of table salt. This homemade brine will be quite suitable for storing Italian mozzarella cheese.

Do you freeze cheese in the freezer and will it spoil it?

To maximize the flavor and texture of the cheese, it is best consumed fresh, but sometimes it is not possible to use large quantities within its expiration date.

Freezing is an ancient method of food preservation that has been used for over 3,000 years.

This is an effective way to increase the shelf life of food, reduce waste and save money.

This article tells you everything you need to know about freezing cheese.

Cheese without defrosting

By freezing cheese, you can not only increase its shelf life, but also simplify and shorten culinary processes. This becomes possible if unfrozen cheese is used during cooking.

If you expect to save time on defrosting, store chopped cheese, preferably grated. You can add it to dishes, ready-made and semi-ready dishes without defrosting.

Not defrosted cheese is added to:

• pizza;
• soups;
• casseroles;
• minced meat for meatballs and cutlets.

Using shredded mozzarella cheese after it has been frozen

Using shredded mozzarella after it has been frozen is very easy .

The only thing we warn you about is to defrost only what you need . Be prepared to use the entire bag within a couple of weeks of thawing it.

If you bought a large bag, you may want to divide it into smaller pieces before freezing.

When it comes to thawing mozzarella cheese, we recommend transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before and letting it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

However, you can also let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. This method works best when using the cheese in a reheated dish, such as a casserole or homemade pizza.

Is it possible to freeze

Many housewives are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to freeze mozzarella for pizza and other dishes, while maintaining all its taste. Answer: yes, but subject to several conditions.

1. Before putting the cheese in the freezer, soak it in water first, this will help maintain its shape and not turn into a soft, unattractive mass.
2. Place the mozzarella on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for a couple of hours, this way you will avoid sudden temperature changes that degrade the quality of any product.
3. Transfer to the freezer.

Shelf life of mozzarella: