Can you freeze cheese?

Like most foodstuffs, cheese is best eaten fresh, but if you are keen to reduce waste and save money, you may be wondering if you can freeze that leftover cheese.

The answer is yes - but with a caveat. Many types of cheese can be frozen, but not all will benefit from the experience.

Read on to find out which cheeses to freeze and how to store them.

How to freeze cheese

If you plan to freeze cheese, we have a few tips on preparing your savoury favourite for life in the deep freeze.

Cheese can be frozen even if it has been removed from its original packaging if properly prepared. 

First, it should be tightly rewrapped in aluminium foil, cling film, or parchment paper. Ensure that all excess air has been squeezed out, and then place the cheese in an airtight container to avoid freezer burn. If you have a vacuum sealer, it is useful for freezing cheese.

The tight wrapping is also essential to protect the cheese from the cold air of the freezer. An icy blast could cause ice crystals to form, which will significantly affect the taste and texture of the cheese when it is defrosted.

Cheese can be kept in the freezer quite safely for twelve months.

How do I thaw frozen cheese?

Take your cheese out of the freezer and put it in the fridge overnight. It will need a good twenty-four hours to thaw completely.

Can you freeze blue cheese?

Blue cheese can be frozen, but the chilly temperatures may change its texture and taste. A defrosted blue cheese could be crumbly, and the freezing may take the edge off its vibrant taste.

Previously frozen Stilton cheese does not need to be thrown away, though. Defrosted blue cheese can still add a delicious cheesy tang to soups and sauces.

Bearing this in mind, it's a good idea to freeze blue cheese in small pieces. You won't need a huge amount to flavour your cheese sauce or Stilton soup, and you can just use a slice as you need it.

Blue cheeses are notoriously pungent, so it's essential to ensure your pieces are tightly covered in foil and then placed in a freezer bag to prevent the other contents of your freezer from being tainted.

Can cheddar cheese be frozen?

Like all truly hard cheeses, Cheddar is perhaps one of the best cheeses to freeze. It will sit in your freezer quite happily for twelve months or even longer.

A top tip is to wipe the cheese's outside thoroughly before wrapping it in parchment paper or aluminium foil. This minimises the effects of ice crystals, the enemy of frozen cheese.

Other hard cheeses like Parmesan and Gouda also freeze well.

Is Red Leicester suitable for freezing?

Red Leicester can be successfully frozen. However, although it is a hard cheese, its flavour and texture may be affected. 

The glorious red-gold colouring that gives Red Leicester its name will survive its icy slumber but the cheese's texture may be more crumbly. Like Stilton, your gorgeous Red Leicester may no longer cut it as the centrepiece of a cheeseboard.

We often use Red Leicester in cooked dishes, so we freeze it as grated cheese rather than in one block. Shredded or sliced cheese are super-quick to thaw and can be sprinkled on mashed potatoes for a cheesy gratin or used in many different recipes. 

These aromatic flatbreads made with our Masala Red Leicester are a great way to use your thawed cheese.

Can cream cheese be kept in the freezer?

You can freeze cream cheese but don't expect it to look or feel the same. The delicate flavours of the fresh cheese will have been lost in the freezing process, and the texture may be unpleasantly grainy.

The issue with freezing cream cheese and other soft cheeses such as creamy brie, mozzarella and camembert is their high moisture content. The large quantity of water in the cheese will form ice crystals, and when thawed, the cheese will lose its creamy texture and be more of a puddle than a neat round.

All softer cheeses, including feta and goat cheese, are best eaten fresh. However, to reduce waste, they can be frozen and then used in cooked dishes. How about this Artisan Baked Brie recipe?

Don't even try to freeze cottage cheese, as its high water content makes it unsuitable for freezing.

Can cheese be kept in the fridge?

Freezing cheese isn't always necessary as most cheeses have a long shelf life and will be quite happy in the fridge for some time, even months.

Cheese has been around much longer than refrigeration, and for hundreds of years, a cool room or pantry was seen as the ideal place to store it. Many cheeses have a high salt content, which protects against bacterial growth.

However, our centrally heated houses make the fridge the best place to store cheese; blue cheese certainly needs low temperatures. The coldest part of the fridge is at the back, so wrap your cheese well and place it there.

Even chilly temperatures above freezing will still affect the flavour and texture of cheese, so to enjoy your cheese at its best, take it out of the fridge at least an hour before you intend to eat it.