can I freeze cheese

redfox

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Pitlanepiglet

I freeze both brie and stilton. I've no idea how long they will last, I've probably used some after a year or more.

The slight thing to watch is that cheeses, especially soft cheeses mature really quickly when they are defrosted so I've switched to freezing them in fairly small portions that I'll use in a day or two. I used to freeze whole Camemberts but after a few days out of the freezer they were really really ripe and smelly!

Captain_Bluebear

Hi there!
I've never mentioned on here before but....I am a Cheesemonger. There...I've said it!

I've never frozen blue or soft cheeses commercially... because that would just be wrong! I've been told it can be done but you have to be Very careful as to how you defrost it, and the texture will never be quite the same. Cheddar...yes, I freeze this all the time....grated and open frozen then bagged up for topping pasta bake/cottage pie etc but I would never freeze blue or soft cheese sorry!

It just doesn't seem proper considering the mush you will be left with....sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear. (This is just my opinion and I'm sure I'll get flamed for it but there is a lot of liquid still left in blue and soft cheeses that will get spoilt during the freezing and defrosting process.) I'm not saying (in theory) it will be inedible....I'm just saying...I wouldn't do it. (mainly because...it would be all gone in this house!)

Captain_Bluebear

Can I just say....Ignore the use by dates on cheese...It's cheese! It's been maturing somewhere for months.....a few couple of weeks will be fine!

Cheese is the way we 'saved milk' centuries ago. ...don't let the E.U. tell you when your cheese is 'off' you be the judge....I've had to chuck out brie that was not even half ripe for eating because the sell by date said so. The E.U don't take into consideration the month the milk was taken, what the cows were eating, how the milk was stored etc...and that's even before it's turned into cheese! please don't get me started! SORRY!

pelirocco

I freeze all sorts of cheese after I think it's in danger of walking out of the fridge lol, cut into small chunks I use it in cheese sauce

lostinrates

1derwoman wrote: »

Hi there!
I've never mentioned on here before but....I am a Cheesemonger. There...I've said it!

I've never frozen blue or soft cheeses commercially... because that would just be wrong! I've been told it can be done but you have to be Very careful as to how you defrost it, and the texture will never be quite the same. Cheddar...yes, I freeze this all the time....grated and open frozen then bagged up for topping pasta bake/cottage pie etc but I would never freeze blue or soft cheese sorry!

It just doesn't seem proper considering the mush you will be left with....sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear. (This is just my opinion and I'm sure I'll get flamed for it but there is a lot of liquid still left in blue and soft cheeses that will get spoilt during the freezing and defrosting process.) I'm not saying (in theory) it will be inedible....I'm just saying...I wouldn't do it. (mainly because...it would be all gone in this house!)

you have my husbands dream job I think!

I don't think anyone can pretend frozen cheese is as good, but we freeze blue cheese successfully (I think I have almost reached the end of the fortnums stliton dh bought the Christmas before last....) it defrosts fine, not mushy, but yes, not the perfect texture, and it's not ideal, but better than nothing. It has on occasion defrosted well enough for a cheese board, but always adaquately for something like crumbling on a salad, and of course, perfectly for cookiong with.

I have never frozen soft cheese like Brie because here it would not last. I have frozen mozzerella after reading here it's ok. It's ok for cooking, even light cooking on a pizza, but will never be good enough for raw eating.

Edwardia

College trained ex chef here..I freeze cheese for cooking and though I would freeze Stilton or other blue cheeses to use in a sauce, I wouldn't freeze Brie or any other soft cheese.
.
I might chuck reduced price hard cheese in the freezer for a couple of weeks if the cheese storage bit of my fridge is full but OH is such a cheeselover it doesn't stay there long.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

I always freeze leftover cheese after Xmas and any bargain buys during the year, brie, stilton, cheddar, mozerella, all gets frozen and used for cooking and occasionally sandwiches. NO problems so far and no-ones had food poisoning!!!

321x

Meadows

littlemoney wrote: »

I purchased a mixed pack of cheese on offer at a local supermarket as its use by date was the next day. The box contains individually wrapped cheeses. Can anyone tell me if I can freeze the brie and the blue stilton for later use and how long will it keep in the freezer. Thanks

Yes you can freezer Stilton (never tried Brie) they advise to double wrap but it really does not matter, you can keep it for a long time.
I tend to but after Christmas and put in the freeze for soup, okay to eat it is not mush when defrosted but needs to be eaten quickly once defrosted.

zenobia

Hi, I've just found a block of cheese in the back of the fridge it says best before 8th June. Will it be ok to grate it and freeze it ?