Can you freeze mozzarella cheese? This is one question many cheese lovers have been asking!
Do you love mozzarella? Sure you do! After all, who could resist the ooey gooey goodness of this cheese, right? But if there if this cheese has one downside, it is this—it usually comes in large parcels that weigh up to 5 or 10 pounds!
While you could buy small packets of this cheese, you cannot deny the fact that they are much more expensive than the block cheeses. If that’s the case, it seems like a better idea to buy this in bulk but what are you going to do with the leftovers? The first thing that would surely come to mind is to freeze it.
But can you freeze it? Well, allow this article to give you the answer that you need!
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Can You Freeze Mozzarella Cheese?
However, that would depend on the type of mozzarella that you plan to use. Among all the varieties of mozzarella products, the only kind that is not recommended for freezing is the soft mozzarella as it must be consumed fresh.
If you plan to freeze this kind of mozzarella, you need to know what to expect. Upon opening the package, you will notice that there is an excess amount of liquid that has accumulated underneath the cheese. That is the whey. Due to the loss of this liquid, you can expect a small loss in the flavor of the cheese too.
In addition to that, you can also expect to notice a change in texture. Mozzarella is known to have the creamiest textures among all cheeses, but when you freeze fresh mozzarella, you will notice that it will fall apart or crumble a lot easier.
How Long Will It Last When Frozen?
An open package of mozzarella, when properly stored in the refrigerator, can last for 5 to 7 days. But how long will the mozzarella cheese last when it is frozen? According to Still Tasty, frozen mozzarella can last up to 3 months when stored in the freezer.
How to Properly Freeze the Different Types of Mozzarella Cheese
Now that you know that mozzarella (except for the fresh one) can be frozen, you may be wondering what is the right way to freeze it, right? Well, the process of freezing may vary depending on the type of mozzarella cheese that you will be using. With that in mind, here is some information that you need to know:
If you plan on using mozzarella for pizza or sauces, the best type would be shredded mozzarella while sliced mozzarella is recommended if you plan to use it on sandwiches.
If you are using shredded mozzarella (regardless if pre-packaged or homemade), you would be happy to know that this is the best type of mozzarella cheese for freezing. Before freezing, shredded mozzarella spread it in one layer on a baking sheet and place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to allow it to harden a bit.
Afterward, wrap it in foil or a plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer bag. Make sure to let all the air out as it any presence of air will cause damage or freezer burn to the cheese.
If you will be shredding the mozzarella yourself, add a small amount of cornstarch or flour to the shredded cheese and toss it for even distribution. The flour can help soak up moisture and prevent the cheese from clumping.
On the other hand, you need to place wax paper in between mozzarella slices before putting them in a freezer bag to prevent them from sticking together.
Before putting the freezer bags in the freezer, make sure to properly label them and do not forget to indicate the date when the cheese was frozen.
Additional Mozzarella Freezing Tips
Here are other tips that you need to know when freezing mozzarella:
– If the package has already been opened, it is a must that you freeze the mozzarella cheese before the “Best By”, “Use By” or “Best if Used By” date indicated on the packaging. If there is an indicated time for refrigeration on the package, freeze the cheese before the stated date.
– If the mozzarella cheese has been left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature, do not attempt to salvage it by freezing it since bacteria grows rapidly in such temperatures.
– Mozzarella that has already been previously frozen should never be placed back in the freezer.
Thawing Your Frozen Mozzarella
If you are ready to use the cheese, you need to thaw it the right way. The first thing you need to know is that you should NEVER thaw frozen cheese at room temperature as there is a chance that bacteria may grow in it.
If you have used sectioned blocks of mozzarella, place it in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight to achieve best results.
If you have used shredded mozzarella cheese and you plan on using it on dishes that can be cooked through (soups, sauces, and pizza), there is no need for you to thaw it. You can use it in the recipe directly from the freezer.
Thawed mozzarella should be consumed 2-3 days after it has been defrosted.
Conclusion
Mozzarella is the type of cheese that is best bought in bulk because it is much more affordable that way. But what if you cannot consume it all in one cooking? Can you freeze mozzarella cheese?
The answer is it depends on the type of mozzarella that you will use. All kinds of mozzarella (except for fresh or soft mozzarella) are ideal for freezing. However, freezing mozzarella is not as easy as you think. Make sure that you follow all the tips that we have mentioned above to make mozzarella last for a long time (about 3 months!).
I do hope I have answered your question in detail! But if you have a few more questions or there are some information you would like to share with us, the comments section is wide open for you! Let’s talk there!
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0 comments
My mozzarella date says 9/6/19 it’s been in the freezer from day one looks perfect
can I use it