Can You Freeze Mozzarella Cheese
Yes, you can freeze mozzarella cheese. Mozzarella is a type of cheese that can be frozen without losing its flavor or texture. However, it is important to note that frozen mozzarella may become crumbly and lose some of its moisture when it is thawed. To freeze mozzarella cheese, place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
If you do not need to freeze the mozzarella very long, you may want to place the original bag into a sealed bag before freezing. You can freeze unsundered mozzarella by placing the package into a freezer-safe bag and marking the date on the top. If you are planning to freeze the mozzarella for longer than one to two months, consider wrapping each in plastic wrap.
When freezing cheeses of any kind, it is essential that you remove as much moisture as possible, and that is particularly vital when dealing with cheeses like mozzarella that are packed with liquid. Mozzarella has a high amount of moisture as compared to other cheeses (part of what makes it so gloppy and delicious) and therefore, the freezing process will have a pretty big effect on the cheeses texture. Before I get into the process of freezing mozzarella balls, let me again caution you that the freezing process does disturb the texture of the cheese.
If you love using slices of mozzarella in sandwiches and salads, freezing is sadly not a solution. Once you properly store your mozzarella in the freezer, you do not have to worry about freezer burn either. If you are going to use your mozzarella in a recipe that requires melting cheese, you may want to experiment with pulling it out of the freezer and using it right away.
| Facts | |
| Can be last Up to | 6 months |
| At temperature | 0 degree F |
| Can remain last in any condition | Fresh mozzarella cheese certainly will freeze, defrost, and retain its flavor |
Before packing up your mozzarella for freezer storage, it is good to think about how you are going to want to use it in the future. When it comes to freezing and defrosting mozzarella, you can pretty much use it just like you would if you had not frozen it. Remember, as with most dairy products, defrosted mozzarella cannot be refrozen again, so you will want to keep your freezer runs low. Because frozen mozzarella loses its stretchy texture, you will want to use it for dishes where you are going to use heat to melt the cheese.
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This way, your frozen mozzarella cheese thaws slowly, avoiding the chance that it could be exposed to too much bacteria. To ensure that you get an uncontaminated, first-rate frozen mozzarella, you will want to use a freeze-thaw process that works.
You can either thaw your mozzarella ahead of time, or place it directly on top of the pizza when it is still frozen, before baking. Thawing mozzarella needs to happen in the fridge until it is soft, as doing so on the counter may lead to the cheese growing pathogens. If using sectioned blocks of mozzarella, put in refrigerator and let it thaw overnight for best results.
Before freezing, shredded mozzarella is layered on a sheet pan, then placed in the fridge for several minutes to let it set. If you are not using your mozzarella all at once, split it up into a couple portions, ready to go in any dishes that you plan on adding them to. When freezing grated mozzarella, the best plan of attack is to split it up into smaller freezer bags, so that you can pull out just one at a time and use it before having to defrost another. When freezing fresh mozzarella, you will want to divide it up ahead of time, since the texture changes will make this harder once it is defrosted.
Remember to use your fresh mozzarella cheese within 6 months after freezing, although it can keep indefinitely at the temperature of 00F. Fresh mozzarella cheese certainly will freeze, defrost, and retain its flavor, but it is sure to lose that distinctive texture unique to fresh cheese.
Since fresh mozzarella is a dairy-based product containing milk, the few things the cheese can lose by freezing are its texture and its creamy taste. Among all varieties of mozzarella products, the one type that is not recommended to freeze is the mild mozzarella, since that needs to be consumed fresh. Low-hydration mozzarella, either in blocks or shredded, tends to freeze well, since low-hydration mozzarella contains far less water than fresh mozzarella. Shredded mozzarella is lower in moisture, so you can put it in the freezer without affecting the texture too much once thawed.
While frozen blocks and shreds of mozzarella will freeze just fine, you will want to avoid adding fresh mozzarella to your freezer. Since you have already frozen your shredded leftover mozzarella in the flash freeze, you can be sure the separate pieces of shredded cheese do not congeal together and freeze, defeating the point of shredding mozzarella. You can freeze an entire block of dairy without having to slice it, as long as you are okay with the shredded mozzarella.
As mentioned in the beginning, there are several different ways that you may end up with mozzarella left over, and for this reason, we are going to be breaking down different ways you can freeze mozzarella in different states. Here, you will find out how to properly freeze the cheese, and we are going to show you the special techniques that you can use to freeze fresh mozzarella either shredded or in slices. We will take you through each freezing step, and share our best tips and tricks to successfully freeze cheese. We also provide tips for how to defrost frozen cheese, and we will show you how to re-shape your soft mozzarella after it has been inactive for some time.
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Properly sealed mozzarella can last in your freezer six to eight months, depending once again on how fresh and good your cheese is to begin with. You likely will not use a whole brick of mozzarella within a couple days, so to prevent refreezes or forcing yourself to use more than you need, you will want to slice it.
How long does mozzarella cheese last in the freezer?
Fresh mozzarella cheese can be safely stored for longer than six months while still maintaining its optimum quality. Only the highest quality products should be frozen for the duration indicated; fresh mozzarella cheese that has been continuously frozen at 0°F will remain safe eternally. Whereas, Properly sealed mozzarella can last in your freezer six to eight months.
How do you preserve mozzarella cheese?
Simply drain the cheese’s liquid packaging and carefully cover the cheese in plastic wrap is all that is required. Check to make sure everything is covered and there are no air pockets. This prevents the cheese from drying out and allows it to keep its quality for a few days.
Can you freeze packaged cheese?
Freeze them in their original packaging if they haven’t been opened. If you’ve already opened them, place them in a sealable plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as you can before freezing. It’s okay to freeze packaged shredded cheeses as long as you squeeze out the air before freezing and tightly seal the package. For up to three months, freeze.