Got extra cheese you’re not sure what to do with? If you’re eying the freezer, it could be a good bet! Freezing cheese can preserve it for months. However, there are certain types of cheese that work better than others. Here’s what to know about the process: and how to save that shredded mozzarella for your next pizza!
Can you freeze mozzarella cheese?
You can freeze mozzarella cheese that’s in a block or shredded. Block mozzarella can become crumbly after thawing, so it’s best to cut it into slices before freezing. Avoid freezing fresh mozzarella cheese as it looses its smooth texture and becomes a very dry and crumbly after defrosting. Fresh mozzarella has more water content, which causes crystals to develop in the freezer. Shredded mozzarella cheese is ideal for freezing: the advantage is that it can be used directly from the freezer since it will be heated immediately! Throw it right from the freezer onto your quesadilla or pizza. This is a great way to extend the life of an economy-sized bag of shredded mozzarella cheese (we know from experience!).
How to freeze mozzarella cheese
Ready to get started? Here’s how to freeze mozzarella cheese:
How long to freeze
The fresher the cheese is before it’s frozen, the better! You can technically freeze mozzarella cheese for up to 6 months or longer, the texture does start to suffer. We recommend using frozen mozzarella cheese within 1 to 3 months. It’s best at the 1 month mark. Important: Keep in mind that the longer the cheese is frozen, the harder it is to melt. So the fresher the frozen cheese, the better! Per Healthline, mozzarella cheese that was frozen 4 weeks doesn’t melt as well as mozzarella cheese frozen 1 week.
Defrosting mozzarella cheese
To defrost mozzarella cheese in a block or slices, place it in the refrigerator for 12 hours until soft. Use the thawed cheese within 3 to 4 days. Do not re-freeze frozen cheese. However, shredded mozzarella cheese does not have to be thawed if you’re using it in a cooked recipe! Place it right on your pizza or grilled cheese. (See below for recipe ideas!)
Uses for thawed shredded mozzarella cheese
Frozen shredded mozzarella cheese can be used in many cooked and baked recipes. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Pizza like Margherita pizza, homemade pizza or these 25 Great Pizza RecipesPasta like stuffed shells, lasagna roll ups, baked rigatoni or lasagna with ricottaStuffed vegetables like stuffed zucchini boats or stuffed green peppersSnacks like pizza bagels or English muffin pizza
Related posts
Want more tips on freezing cheese? Here are a few more methods:
Learn How to Freeze CheeseUnderstand How to Freeze Cream CheeseTry How to Freeze Ricotta CheeseGo to How to Freeze Cottage Cheese
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