Name: How to Freeze Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Cheese (shredded, sliced, or block)

Freezing cheese extends its shelf life and is easy to thaw for future recipes. This guide explains how to freeze cheese, how long frozen cheese lasts in the freezer, and which cheeses can actually be frozen.

Can You Freeze Cheese?

Freezing cheese is a great idea … most of the time. Most cheeses freeze and thaw well, but a select few — mostly soft cheeses — should not be frozen.

Freezing cheese is a great way to limit your food waste. Whether you bought too much cheese by accident or purposely stocked up on your favorite cheeses while they were on sale, it’s important that you know how to freeze cheese to extend its shelf life.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to freeze cheese a few different ways, depending on your needs.

How to Freeze Cheese

You actually have a few options when it comes to freezing cheese. You can freeze cheese in slices, in a block, or after it’s been shredded.

Here’s an overview of each of the three cheese freezing methods.

Freezing a Block of Cheese

If possible, freeze blocks of cheese in their original zip-top packaging.
If you lost the packaging or the cheese didn’t come in a zip-top bag, place the block of cheese into a zip-top freezer bag.
Squeeze as much excess air out of the bag as possible.
Label the bag and store for up to 3 months.

Freezing Sliced Cheese

If needed, place squares of parchment paper between each slice of cheese. This will prevent the cheese from sticking together once frozen.
Carefully arrange the cheese slices in a zip-top freezer bag.
Label the bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Freezing Shredded Cheese

If you haven’t yet opened the bag of shredded cheese, you can place it directly into the freezer to freeze.
If you’ve opened the bag, transfer the cheese to a zip-top freezer bag. Press out any excess air.
Label the bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

You can also shred your own cheese for freezing by using a box grater and buying a block of cheese. Often large blocks of cheese are less expensive than pre-shredded cheese.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Best Way to Store Frozen Cheese

The best way to store frozen cheese is in a zip-top freezer bag or in an airtight container that’s intended for freezer storage.

No matter what type of storage container you use, press out as much excess air as possible to prevent the cheese from developing freezer burn.

Tip: Believe it or not, buying good-quality freezer bags — like Ziploc brand — actually does extend the shelf life of your frozen foods. So, it’s worth paying the extra money if you know you’ll be freezing cheese!

How Long Does Cheese Last in the Freezer?

If stored properly, frozen cheese will last up to 3 months in the freezer.

Use bags or containers that are specifically meant to be used as freezer storage, and squeeze out as much air from the container as possible beforehand.

Freezing Cheese vs. Freezing Cheese-Based Dishes

Although cheese can be frozen, not all cheese-laden dishes can be.

Cheesy soups, for example, can technically be frozen. However, the soup may split (i.e. become grainy) once thawed. It will still be safe to eat, but the texture may be unpleasant.

Macaroni and cheese is safe to freeze, though. Prepare the macaroni and cheese as the recipe instructs, then let it cool to room temperature. Wrap the pan in a few layers of plastic wrap, followed by a few layers of foil, then freeze. Frozen macaroni and cheese can be reheated in the oven from frozen.

If you want to assemble and freeze recipes to bake off later (such as enchiladas or lasagna), you’re fine to do so. The only issue you may run into is that softer cheeses, such as ricotta and queso fresco, will release excess moisture once frozen and thawed.

However, since you’ll be baking the dish anyways before serving it, the extra moisture shouldn’t be an issue.

How to Thaw Frozen Cheese

The best way to thaw frozen cheese is to place it in the fridge overnight. Do NOT set frozen cheese on the counter to thaw, as that could encourage bacterial growth.

You can also stir frozen cheese directly into soups. It’s best to do so with frozen shredded cheese as stirring an entire block of frozen cheese into a pot of soup would take a long time to thaw.

The Best & Worst Cheeses to Freeze

As a rule of thumb, hard cheeses freeze well and soft cheeses do not.

Soft cheeses like paneer and queso fresco are best stored in the fridge. Conversely, heartier cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan, and pepper jack freeze well. Also, cheeses that are intended for melting (i.e. mozzarella for a pizza) freeze well.

Just keep in mind that even if you freeze a cheese correctly, it still may change texture slightly once thawed.

Can you freeze cream cheese? Yes, you can freeze cream cheese in its original packaging. Note that it will likely lose its creaminess and be more crumbly once thawed.

Can you freeze ricotta cheese? No, ricotta is one of the worst cheeses to freeze. Much of the liquid releases from the cheese once thawed, and the ricotta itself develops a squidgy texture.

Can you freeze cheese slices? Yes! Just remember to place squares of parchment paper between each slice to keep them from sticking to each other.

Can you freeze feta cheese? Yes, feta can be frozen.

Can you freeze block cheese? Most definitely! Freeze unopened block cheese in its zip-top packaging, or seal inside a freezer bag that’s had the air squeezed out of it.

Can you freeze Brie cheese? No, frozen Brie will change texture considerably once thawed.

Can you freeze string cheese? Yes! In fact, you can freeze string cheese in the vacuum sealed packaging it came in.

Can you freeze Parmesan cheese? Yes, Parmesan freezes very well. It’s best to freeze Parmesan in a block, but pre-shredded Parm may be frozen too.

Cheesy Recipes to Make

Now that you have all that frozen cheese on hand, you need to use it up! Frozen cheese should be used within 3 months. Below are some of my favorite cheesy recipes with thawed frozen cheese.

Blue Cheese Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

Blue Cheese Rosemary Mashed Potatoes are a unique take on classic mashed potatoes. With the addition of gorgonzola cheese and fresh rosemary, you go from yum to YUM!

Broccoli Cheese Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Next time you're craving comfort food, try these Broccoli Cheese Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes. They're loaded up with plenty of broccoli, cheese, and - everyone's favorite - bacon!

Bacon Blue Cheese Grilled Flatbread with Arugula

One thing that I love about recipes like this Bacon Blue Cheese Grilled Flatbread with Arugula, is you don’t have to have a set recipe. It’s fun to think outside the box.

Baked Mac n Cheese with Gruyere and Butternut Squash

Master a basic cheese sauce and utilize that recipe over and over again, but each time you can experiment with different cheeses. Adjusting and tweaking the flavors to fit your mood at the time.

Southwestern Mac and Cheese

My kids are crazy and don't like any form of mac and cheese. This post is about this tasty Southwestern Mac and Cheese recipe that I love and that I eat all by myself.

Jalapeño Bacon Mac n Cheese

Jalapeño Bacon Mac n Cheese is loaded with poblano peppers, jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and of course lots of bacon!

Asparagus and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese stepped up a notch with asparagus, bacon and fancy cheeses including aged and sharp white cheddar cheeses. The ultimate comfort food.

Baked White Cheddar Mac n Cheese with Kale and Bacon

Baked White Cheddar Mac n Cheese with Kale and Bacon is a bit sinful. Pasta loaded with rich, velvety cheese, kale, plenty of bacon, and a nice crispy topping.

Butternut Squash Sage Bacon Mac n Cheese

Butternut Squash Sage Bacon Mac n Cheese features penne covered in a creamy, rich sauce of pureed butternut squash, parmesan and sharp white cheddar with bacon and fresh sage.

Bacon, Apple and Cheddar Grilled Cheese

If we are feeling fancy, we usually have something we can throw in between the two slices of bread with the cheese to make it seem more like a meal than just a sandwich. I love making custom sandwiches like this.

Quiche Lorraine Scones

Scones are generally in the "sweet" category so I wanted to try something different and thus the quiche lorraine scone was born! Who doesn't love cheddar biscuits - these are a good twist.

Tex-Mex Stuffed Zucchini with Avocado Salsa

Zucchini is stuffed with a mixture of salsa and ground turkey and topped with cheese and avocado salsa for a quick, easy and healthy dinner!

Black Bean-Taco Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

This is a great salad recipe! Fresh tasting, easy to make, healthy. I happened to like the dressing especially and switching to blue corn chips made it so colorful!

Easy Loaded Baked Potato Soup Bar

This Easy Loaded Baked Potato Soup Bar makes for a super simple and fun family dinner. Dress up your bowl of soup with all the delicious toppings traditional to a loaded baked potato.

Roasted Cauliflower, Bacon, Leek, Mushroom Twice Baked Potatoes

These Roasted Cauliflower, Bacon, Leek, Mushroom Twice Baked Potatoes are a riff on the traditional twice baked potato. They're loaded with pureed roasted cauliflower, sautéed leeks and crimini mushrooms, bacon crumbles, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Easy Cheesy Broccoli, Kale, Carrot Soup

This recipe for Easy Cheesy Broccoli, Kale, Carrot Soup is incredibly simple to whip up for dinner on a busy and the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter evening.

Pizza Caprese with Garlic Focaccia Crust

Focaccia bread is a wonderful side to any meal, but add your favorite toppings to this garlic focaccia and you have the best pizza I've tasted!

Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine is a perfect springtime egg dish.

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Change up your Friday night pizza routine with this Barbecue Chicken Pizza. The crust is slathered in BBQ sauce and topped with sliced chicken, red onion, cilantro, and gouda cheese.

Caramelized Onion Quiche with Dubliner

One of my favorite ways to cook eggs for breakfast is in a quiche or frittata. I particularly love the flavors in this Caramelized Onion Quiche for a special breakfast or brunch.

Parmesan Chive Buttermilk Biscuits

Several Sunday evenings in a row my sister and I have been whipping up a batch of hot, steamy buttermilk biscuits to serve with dinner. My latest experiment – Parmesan Chive Buttermilk Biscuits!

Chard, Bacon, and Gouda Quiche

Quiche is always a favorite springtime recipe. This recipe features the addition of chard, bacon, and gouda for plenty of flavor. Serve it at your next spring brunch gathering and wow your guests!

Rosemary Parmesan Cheese Straws

Rosemary Parmesan Cheese Straws are a great, easy snack to add to your holiday appetizer table.

Browned Butter Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

Classic buttery russet potato mashed potatoes are elevated thanks to the addition of plenty of browned butter and fresh grated parmesan in this Browned Butter Parmesan Mashed Potatoes. They're perfect for Thanksgiving!

Smashed Potatoes with Parmesan Gremolata

Boiled potatoes transformed into something extremely flavorful with roasting and a parmesan-parsley gremolata.

Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Calzone

Use your leftover Easter ham to make these family favorite ham and broccoli calzones. The cheese is gooey inside a crisp crust and is irrisistable.

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Chili

We've combined two of our recent dinner time favorites - Chicken Enchiladas and Chili - into this new recipe for Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Chili. Tender chunks of chicken, black beans, diced tomatoes, and corn simmer in a creamy, cheesy, enchilada flavored chili base for a creative take on a bowl of chili.

Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Chile Gravy Enchilada Sauce

Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Chile Gravy Enchilada Sauce is a classic Tex-Mex dish from my childhood. Corn tortillas are stuffed with shredded chicken and smothered in a rich, chile gravy sauce before baked up to perfection with a gooey cheese topping.

Chicken, Black Bean, and Spinach Enchiladas with Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce

Corn tortillas are filled with tender, shredded chicken, black beans, and fresh spinach. Then, smothered in two contrasting sauces for one amazing Chicken Enchilada recipe.

Ultimate Easy Nachos

These Ultimate Easy Nachos whip up in a pinch and make game day appetizers super simple to prepare (and serve). Topped with spicy refried beans, tomatoes, olives, green onions, and of course plenty of cheese, they're both tasty and colorful.

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How to Freeze Cheese

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Freeze Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Freezing cheese extends its shelf life and is easy to thaw for future recipes. This guide explains how to freeze cheese, how long frozen cheese lasts in the freezer, and which cheeses can be frozen.

Ingredients

1 lb Cheese (shredded, sliced, or block)