Fresh cheese retains its richest flavor and ideal texture, but sometimes it’s too late to eat it right at its peak. Freezing cheese can extend its shelf life and reduce food waste. However, some cheeses are suitable for freezing, while others are not.

The Effects of Freezing and Thawing on Cheese

Cheese with a higher water content require a higher freezing temperature than cheeses with lower water content. For example, cottage cheese, which has a higher water content, freezes completely at -1.2°C. Cheddar cheese, however, requires a temperature of -12.9°C to fully freeze.

Although freezing preserves most of the nutrients in cheese, its taste and texture are affected. In particular, frozen cheese can form numerous small water crystals.

The Effect of Thawing on Cheese

When cheese thaws, these small crystals melt, releasing moisture. This causes the cheese to become dry, easily break into small pieces, and feel crumbly.

In fact, if cheese is frozen for too long, it will become less thawable when cooked. For example, mozzarella cheese frozen for one week will thaw more easily when heated than mozzarella cheese frozen for four weeks.

Microorganisms within cheese, such as mold, are also inactivated by freezing, extending the cheese’s shelf life. Most microorganisms begin to reactivate after the cheese is thawed. Examples of cheeses rich in microorganisms include blue cheese and Camembert.

Types of Cheese That Are Suitable and Unsuitable for Freezing

Generally speaking, cheeses designed for cooking are the most suitable for freezing. Cheeses that are meant to be consumed at peak freshness are the least suitable for freezing. A more detailed classification is below.

Cheese Types That Freeze Best

Hard and semi-hard cheeses, such as Cheddar, Swiss, and Blue, freeze well, but their texture may become drier.

While mozzarella and pizza cheese also freeze well, their texture and ease of melting after thawing will inevitably be affected. Some semi-soft cheeses, such as Stilton, also freeze well.

Cheese Types Less Suitable for Freezing

Hard cheeses, such as Parmesan and Pecorino Romano, freeze well like other hard cheeses, but once shredded, they are not suitable for freezing. Refrigerate to prevent the quality of the shredded cheese from deteriorating due to freezing.

Flavorful cheeses are also not suitable for freezing. These cheeses are best consumed quickly, so it’s best to buy small quantities.

Fresh soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese and ricotta, are also not recommended for freezing. Because of their high water content, aged soft cheeses such as Brie, Combe, and Fontina are also recommended to be refrigerated and consumed as soon as possible. Storing them in the refrigerator allows them to continue maturing.

Although we mentioned earlier that blue cheese freezes well, if you want to enjoy the most flavorful blue cheese and don’t want to delay its maturation process by freezing, it’s recommended to refrigerate it and consume it as soon as possible. Common processed cheeses and cheese spreads are also not suitable for freezing.