Blue cheese is a favorite of many a cheese lover, adding a sharp, tangy flavor to sauces, spreads, salads, sandwiches, and pastas. But what if you have some leftover blue cheese and you’re not sure if you can freeze it for later use?
If you freeze blue cheese, will you preserve its unique taste and mouthfeel?
The short answer is yes, you can freeze blue cheese. But you must do it properly to retain its quality. Blue cheese can dry out and become crumbly when frozen, but with the right freezing techniques, you can enjoy delicious, creamy blue cheese even after it’s been frozen.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the best ways to freeze blue cheese, as well as tips for thawing it out and making the most of it in your cooking. Whether you’re an avid home cook or you’re just looking to make the most of some blue cheese you bought on a discount, this guide will help you preserve your blue cheese like a pro.
How to Freeze Blue Cheese
Freezing blue cheese is a great way to extend its shelf life and preserve its sharp, tangy flavor for a long time. To freeze blue cheese, you need to follow a few simple steps to ensure that it keeps its best quality. Here are our best tips for how to do it right.
If you’re freezing a big block of cheese, consider cutting it up into smaller, serving-size pieces for easy thawing. Wrap each of the pieces with plastic wrap or aluminum foil so they don’t freeze together. Another tip for freezing blue cheese is to crumble it before freezing. Crumbling the cheese allows for easier portion control and faster thawing time.
First, place the blue cheese in a zip-top bag or an airtight food storage container with a tight seal. Zip-top bags are the better option because you can squeeze the air and moisture out, which you cannot do with a plastic container.
Next, label the blue cheese with the freezing date. When frozen, blue cheese stays safe to eat indefinitely, but it is best to use it within 6 to 8 months. The longer it stays frozen, the crumblier and mealier it will become.
How to Thaw Blue Cheese
When you’re ready to use the blue cheese, take it out of the freezer, place it in the refrigerator, and leave it there overnight. Smaller pieces will thaw out within 12 to 24 hours; bigger pieces within 24 to 48 hours.
Never thaw blue cheese out at room temperature. By the time the cheese defrosts completely, it may become soft, sweaty, and go bad depending on how hot it is in the kitchen and how long it sat out.
Some foods can be thawed on the defrost setting in the microwave. Blue cheese, however, isn’t one of them. If you try to defrost blue cheese in the microwave, it will lose its crumbly texture and turn to a cheesy pile of goo — and not in a good way.
Bottom Line
Blue cheese is a beloved cheese that adds a pungent, tangy flavor to various dishes. With the right method, you can successfully freeze blue cheese to extend its shelf life and preserve its quality.
The key to successfully freezing blue cheese is to wrap it, either in small, serving-size pieces or crumbled, and store to it in an airtight container or zip-top bag. The blue cheese should be labeled with the freezing date and used within 6 to 8 months for optimal taste.
When thawing blue cheese, the trick is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight and never defrosting it at room temperature or in the microwave. By following these tips, you’ll be able to preserve your blue cheese and enjoy its flavor even long after it’s been frozen.
