February 18, 2025, 4:36 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Sometimes, the eyes are bigger than the stomach, and so it can happen that you buy a piece of cheese that is slightly bigger than you need. Sure, you can use it in a casserole, but that would be a bit of a shame with good cheese. But what is the best way to store it?
Whether it’s cream cheese, hard cheese, or another type of cheese, sometimes you just have too much and don’t know where to put it. Would it be possible to keep it in the freezer for a longer period of time? myHOMEBOOK clarifies the question of whether you can freeze cheese.
Hard Cheese
Whether Emmental, Parmesan, or Pecorino – these freeze well and can be thus preserved. Some varieties, such as Gouda, become harder with age and are only suitable when they have reached a certain degree of ripeness. The German Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE) recommends a period of two to four months for hard cheese. If it is frozen for longer, it will lose its taste, writes Ökotest.
Tip: For hard cheese, it is advisable to grate it before freezing. If you freeze the cheese in one piece, it can become crumbly. If it is already grated, it can be used straight away and defrosts more quickly.
Semi-Hard Cheese
Semi-hard cheeses include Tilsiter, Mutschli, and Tête de Moine AOP. Freezing these cheeses also has a negative effect on the taste, but it is possible. Grated gratin cheese can also be frozen. Semi-hard cheese should not be kept in the freezer for longer than three months, writes the BZfE. It is advisable to divide the cheese into portions in advance and freeze them individually.
Soft Cheese
Soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, Limburger, or Bavaria blu are less suitable for freezing. Their high water content means that they lose their consistency and can no longer be enjoyed once they have been defrosted. However, it is possible to freeze these cheeses and use them for gratinating after defrosting.
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is not a suitable cheese for freezing. Due to its high moisture content, it can flake when defrosted.
You Should Bear This in Mind When Freezing Cheese
The higher the water content in a type of cheese, the less suitable it is for freezing. According to Ökotest, the water in the cheese crystallizes, and the structure disintegrates when defrosted. For cheeses that are suitable for freezing, it is advisable to cut the cheese into slices and freeze them either individually or separated by greaseproof paper. This makes it easier to defrost and use later.
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How Do You Defrost Cheese?
When defrosting cheese, it is important to remember that it should be done slowly, preferably in the fridge. If cheese defrosts too quickly, it loses too much moisture, and the enjoyment is impaired.