Mozzarella cheese is a delectable, household name because of its versatility and creamy, mildly salty taste. It can be used for pasta fillings, snacks like mozzarella sticks and in many baked and casserole dishes.
Having leftover mozzarella is something that we will all experience at one point so we ask the question, can you freeze mozzarella cheese? In this post, you will find that out.
Table of Contents
Can you freeze mozzarella cheese?
When it comes to mozzarella cheese, opting to freeze goes beyond just yes or no because it comes in many forms.
The most popular ones would be the fresh mozzarella, which is submerged in liquid, the block mozzarella that looks like gouda cheese and there is the shredded mozzarella. Not all these three freezes well.
Nonetheless, since mozzarella generally has a long shelf life, freezing them should not be so much of a problem. When they are bought in small proportions, chances are you would finish the whole box and might not call for freezing.
However, it should be noted too that when mozzarella stays in the freezer for long, it may become crumbly due to high moisture content.
Related: Can you freeze Ricotta Cheese?
Can you freeze shredded mozzarella cheese?
Yes. It is one of those mozzarella types that will freeze well thanks to the preservatives added to the packaging. If you ever freeze it, it might be best to portion it and then store it in freezer-safe bags.
It can stay in the freezer for a month or two. Make sure that the bag is airtight. Label the date and you are good to go.
Related: Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?
Can you freeze fresh mozzarella cheese?
This one is the preferred mozzarella for cooked dishes. It is also the one whose texture can be altered when frozen. But yes, you can freeze it if needed.
First, you need to drain the excess water from the fresh mozzarella cheese balls using paper towels. This is to eliminate the chances of ice crystals forming when it is frozen.
You can portion the fresh mozzarella before freezing it. Wrap it with a cookie sheet and then put in the freezer-safe bag before freezing.
Can you freeze sliced mozzarella cheese?
Yes, and in a unique way. Freezing sliced mozzarella cheese is to keep it in a jar with water submerged on cold water. The water should be changed daily, however, and the temperature should be kept at not lower than 34degrees Fahrenheit.
Can you freeze soft mozzarella cheese?
Yes, like other soft cheeses, it should be wrapped with either plastic cling wrap or baking sheet before packing them in an airtight freezer-safe bag. They can stay frozen for up to two months but once thawed, they should be consumed immediately.
Can you freeze packaged mozzarella cheese?
Yes, you can do this by slightly opening the box of the packaged mozzarella cheese and then throw the whole box in an airtight freezer-safe bag.
If properly stored, frozen packaged mozzarella cheese can last in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. When stored in the freezer, it could last to up to a month.
Can you freeze grated mozzarella cheese?
Yes, just chunk them in small slabs and pack them in airtight freezer-safe bags. When kept at freezing point, frozen grated mozzarella cheese can last for up to 8months. When kept at freezing point, it can stretch to up to nine months.
Can you freeze whole milk mozzarella cheese?
Yes, but it will only last for two months in the freezer, granting that it has been sealed and prepared properly. Once opened and slightly consumed, whole milk mozzarella cheese can only last for 5-7 days. As far as whole milk mozzarella cheese is concerned, these are the two things you should remember.
Can you freeze buffalo mozzarella cheese?
Buffalo mozzarella has a short shelf-life. Once opened, it could only last for four days. But yes, you can freeze buffalo mozzarella. You will just have to follow the process of freezing fresh mozzarella.
You may or may not slice but freezing them in chunked portions is still a recommended choice. Store the chunks in airtight glass containers and submerge them on water. The water should be changed everyday. Overall, you can store buffalo mozzarella cheese in the freezer for a month.
How to freeze shredded mozzarella cheese
Freezing mozzarella cheese almost always follows the same storing process. They only differ in terms of the length of time they should be staying in the freezer before they go bad. Here is a step by step process of freezing shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Prep time: 15mins
- Active time: 10hrs and 15mins (or up to 6mos)
- Materials
Tools
- Freezer
Instructions
- The first thing to do is refrigerate the mozzarella block for 30mins. This allows for finer mozzarella shred. Prepare the cheese grater and start shredding the mozzarella block.
- Next, line the baking sheet/cookie tray. This is to prevent the shredded mozzarella from sticking on the tray’s surface.
- Now, transfer the shredded mozzarella on the silicone mat and put it back to the freezer.
- Break the shredded mozzarella in small chunks using a spatula. Transfer the chunks in an airtight freezer-safe bag, label the bags and then freeze for up to six months.
How long can you freeze mozzarella cheese?
There are no absolute figures as to how long mozzarella cheese can stay frozen but here are some estimates:
Mozzarella blocks can last in the freezer for up to six months. This is because they are firmer than the others and have lower moisture content. Shredded mozzarella on the other hand, can last for up to four months.
Beyond that, it will become crumbly. Fresh mozzarella can stay in the freezer for two months. It has the highest moisture content of all and becomes the crumbliest after thawing.
How to thaw frozen mozzarella cheese?
So now that we know the prime considerations in freezing various types of mozzarella, it is time to know how the cheese is thawed.
- Overnight thawing: The most famous way to thaw mozzarella is by transferring it to the fridge to soften overnight. If there will still be leftovers after, overnight thawing allows you to refreeze for future use.
- Using lukewarm water: For faster thawing, you can submerge mozzarella on lukewarm water. Depending on the size and type of mozzarella being thawed, this method could only last for at least two hours. It is recommended that the cheese be consumed at once after thawing.
- Use it frozen: If you think you have portioned the cheese well, you can just immediately throw it in the pan and just let it soften there as you stir and cook. All you need to adjust is the cooking time for the dish as well as the amount of seasoning added as you are taking the defrosted water out of the cheese.
How to use defrosted mozzarella cheese?
Strikingly, there is no significant difference as to what you can use defrosted mozzarella cheese for compared to unfrozen mozzarella. As such, here is what you can do with defrosted mozzarella:
- Casserole dishes
- Pizza
- Paninis and sandwiches
- Creamy soups
- Scrambled eggs and all other egg-based dishes
- Frittatas
Honestly, anything that can be cooked or prepared using the stove can be topped or cooked with mozzarella cheese.
What happens if you freeze mozzarella?
Like all other food with moisture content, mozzarella will expand in the freezer. When frozen, the moisture in the mozzarella becomes ice crystals. The ice crystals cause the expansion.
The excess moisture will then contract when thawed. Overall, this process will make the mozzarella cheese go dry and crumbly after defrosting.
Can mozzarella go bad?
If sealed and packed properly, mozzarella can go for as long as six months. But once it is opened, expect the mozzarella’s shelf life to drop to about just a month.
Once you notice a foul smell like sour milk, that is your indication that the mozzarella has gone bad. The taste is the ultimate determiner. If it tastes bad, ditch it.
How long can you keep mozzarella cheese in the refrigerator?
Again, because there are different types of mozzarella cheese, there are also different refrigerator days for each. Fresh mozzarella and shredded mozzarella can only be kept for five days in the refrigerator once it is opened. Loaf, smoked, and ball mozzarella can be kept in the refrigerator for 21 days.
Conclusion
Freezing mozzarella sticks is not just something that can be answered with a simple yes or no. More than ever, the presence of various types of mozzarella should be the prime consideration of how it is frozen and how long it would have to stay in the freezer.
The type and size of mozzarella also determines the number of days it could be kept in the refrigerator.
With all of these, you should familiarize yourself more with the types of mozzarella and when to use them. That way, you would know how to store them each in the freezer and you would save time and a whole lot of mozzarella in the process.
How To Freeze Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Freezing mozzarella cheese almost always follows the same storing process. They only differ in terms of the length of time they should be staying in the freezer before they go bad. Here is a step by step process of freezing shredded mozzarella cheese.
Materials
- Cheese grater
- Baking sheet / cookie tray
- Silicone mat
- Spatula
- Freezer-safe bags
Tools
- Freezer
Instructions
- The first thing to do is refrigerate the mozzarella block for 30mins. This allows for finer mozzarella shred. Prepare the cheese grater and start shredding the mozzarella block.
- Next, line the baking sheet/cookie tray. This is to prevent the shredded mozzarella from sticking on the tray’s surface.
- Now, transfer the shredded mozzarella on the silicone mat and put it back to the freezer.
- Break the shredded mozzarella in small chunks using a spatula. Transfer the chunks in an airtight freezer-safe bag, label the bags and then freeze for up to six months.
