Feta cheese is typically found in large blocks or pre-crumbled form, and it’s easy to waste some when you don’t eat it all in the time given on the pack. To save wasting such a delightful cheese, you may wonder, can feta cheese be frozen? Many dairy products are not known for freezing; in particular feta, cheese freezing may not be something you notice too often.
Feta cheese is among the best cheese or famous soft cheeses with extra flavor from its salty taste and crumbly texture. In our guide, you can find the answers to all your can I freeze feta cheese questions. By the end, you’ll know how can feta be frozen without it spoiling and how long will it last in the freezer?
You can also learn about thawing feta and find a few feta cheese tips on using it in cooked dishes after you have frozen and thawed feta so you don’t lose the pungent taste. (Read Can You Freeze Cottage Cheese)
What Happens If You Freeze Feta?
It is entirely acceptable to freeze feta cheese. Though the refrigerator is the best environment for feta and other soft cheeses, there’s no harm in freezing feta in a wonderful recipe for later use. You might also question if fresh cheeses can be frozen. The response is the same, and it is fine if measures are taken. It’s simple to figure out how to freeze mozzarella cheese, shredded cheese, cream cheese, and other types of cheese.
You should do a few things to guarantee that cheese is adequately frozen so that it is fresh and free of freezer burn when you remove it from the freezer. First, ensure you have all the equipment to ensure you’re following the best technique to freeze feta cheese and other types of cheese or dairy products.
Here’s how freezing can change feta cheese.
Flavor
Feta cheese is a popular Greek cheese that has a mildly acidic flavor. It’s also rich, salty, and creamy all at the same time. The flavor of feta cheese is not as deep and creamy when it is frozen and then thawed. In addition, feta cheese that has been thawed is less salty than feta cheese that will be frozen.
As a result, if you’ve spent a lot of money on authentic Greek feta cheese and want to enjoy its rich flavor, we don’t advocate freezing it. Rather than throwing away the cheese, it is advisable to freeze it and use it later.
Texture
With texture, frozen and thawed feta cheese is often more crumbly. If you’re using crumbled feta cheese, freeze crumbles, and you won’t notice the difference once it’s frozen. Water, brine, milk, or olive oil are used to preserve feta cheese in bricks. The liquid maintains the softness and creaminess of the cheese. When cheese is frozen, it loses some of its liquid, causing it to dry up slightly.
Feta cheese can also contain up to 56 percent water, and when kept in the freezer, the water condenses into ice crystals, causing the cheese constituents to separate. The cheese will be more crumbly than usual because of this. (Learn How Many Amps Does A Refrigerator Use)
How Long Can You Keep Feta Cheese In The Freezer?
How long does feta cheese last in the freezer is another question? Is freezing crumbled feta cheese possible? Like all dairy products, Feta cheese has a relatively short shelf life. It has an expiration date, which you can extend by a week if the cheese is still in brine and hasn’t been opened.
Feta cheese that has been opened and stored without liquid will go bad quickly. In about a week, it will go bad. In contrast, opened feta in brine will keep for about a month in the fridge and keep its most outstanding features. Because olive oil is a natural preservative, it can increase the shelf life of feta cheese by up to a month.
By storing feta cheese in the freezer, you may extend its shelf life even more. Feta cheese will keep its most significant properties in the freezer for about a month. It will, however, last for 2 to 3 months if used properly. Remember that when you freeze fresh feta cheese, you need to prepare it properly and portion it as you can’t refreeze feta cheese once it has been thawed.
Signs your feta cheese has gone bad. Even if you believe you have created the ideal environment for the feta cheese to last, it may spoil for whatever reason. As a result, you should be able to recognize the indicators that feta cheese has gone bad.
- Sour smell: When dairy products go bad, they usually smell sour and unpleasant. Ensure your feta cheese smells good before eating it, whether it’s just opened or frozen and thawed.
- Mold: When you detect a mold spot on a piece of cheese, it doesn’t have to be thrown out. Take out that portion, and the rest is ready to eat. This is not the case with leftover feta cheese. It’s a soft cheese, and the mold quickly spreads through it. As a result, don’t eat feta cheese if it has mold on it.
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Feta Cheese?
What kind of cheese you’re freezing determines the best technique to freeze it. Working with cottage cheese differs from working with mozzarella, which differs from working with feta.
Depending on whether you buy entire blocks of feta cheese or crumbled feta cheese for preservation, you can freeze it in two ways. The feta will be covered in brine if it is sliced into large chunks.
- Pour the liquid out of the container before freezing.
- Cut the feta into meal-size chunks with your knife.
- Using a paper towel, absorb any excess moisture.
- You don’t need to cut your cheese if it’s already crumbled.
- Take your portions and wrap them in plastic wrap twice. It will help prevent freezer burn and contamination if you wrap it twice.
- Seal the freezer bag with the wrapped item inside. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, press down on the plastic bag until it’s completely sealed.
- If you have crumbled feta cheese, put it straight into a freezer bag and vacuum seal it.
- Because crumbled feta has a larger surface area, removing as much air as possible is incredibly crucial.
- Place the feta cheese bags in the freezer after writing the date on them with your marker.
How Do You Defrost Feta Cheese?
You don’t want to let your frozen feta cheese defrost at room temperature. This can cause contamination.
- Remove the cheese from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
- Remove the plastic wrap before avoiding drying out the cheese. Allow a few hours for it to thaw.
- Taste the cheese after removing it from the plastic.
- Unfortunately, freezing feta cheese removes some flavors, but it’s a simple fix. Place the cheese in a container with some cold water or add olive oil if it needs a flavor boost.
- Allow it to sit for a few hours.
Feta cheese can be frozen for up to three months, prolonging its shelf life. As previously stated, feta cheese is typically available in blocks or pre-crumbled. The freezing process differs slightly depending on the type you choose to freeze.
Freezing Feta Cut in Blocks
Many fans of authentic Greek feta purchase their cheese from local Greek markets.
These stores typically sell feta in large chunks that have been soaked in the liquid mentioned above.
If you have feta blocks, here’s how freezing feta cheese is straightforward.
- Remove the liquid from the feta cheese if it’s in a package containing brine or another liquid.
- Using kitchen paper, pat dry your feta cheese.
- Cut your feta into small pieces. The size of pieces will be determined by the dishes you will use, the cheese, and the number of people eating.
- Pack your feta carefully to ensure it stays in the best possible shape when frozen.
- Wrap cling film around each piece, keeping air from it and protecting it from freeze-burn.
- Squeeze out as much air as possible from the wrapped pieces in a resealable heavy-duty freezer bag.
- If you need to cut the feta into small cubes, place them in a resealable plastic freezer bag as soon as possible and squeeze out as much air as possible.
- You don’t have to worry about how you pack feta if you only need to freeze it for two or three days. Place it in a plastic bag or freezer container and freeze it. You can then take it as required.
- Label your freezer bags with a description of the contents and the date you first put them in the freezer. Remember to store it in an airtight container for added protection.
Freezing Feta Cheese Crumbles
Feta cheese can be purchased as cheese crumbles. Its versatility in use is one reason so many people want to get and freeze feta cheese crumbles. It’s ideal for salad dressings and stuffing preparations.
This is how you make crumbled feta and package it for the freezer.
- Freeze the entire bag of cheese or divide it into parts. Whatever is most appropriate for your future needs.
- When you freeze crumbled feta in the freezer, you can keep it in the original package. If you do this, cover it in several layers of cling film.
- Remember to label and date frozen feta cheese.
How to Use Defrosted Feta Cheese
Most people love a fresh Greek salad made with creamy cubes of feta. Using defrosted feta may not be the best thing to do.
The first thing after defrosting feta cheese is to strain the feta before putting it into the salad. It’s a good idea to have a small portion to try first.
When you freeze feta cheese, the best use for frozen and thawed feta is to put it into cooked foods. (Read Can You Eat Sprouted Potatoes)
Here’s a couple of ways you can use frozen feta cheese in cooked meals:
- Put frozen feta in baked dishes like casseroles and stews or on frittatas and pizzas.
- Melt frozen feta on pasta or mashed potatoes in your skillet for quick delicious meals.
- Mix frozen feta cubes into sauces. Thawed feta cubes work well with any thick sauce recipe needing feta.
- Salads: If you ask, will freezing affect feta cheese, be wary of a salad. Texture and taste could differ, and you need to use any thawed feta within three days.
- Don’t refreeze thawed feta. If you ask, can you freeze feta cheese after it has thawed? No, you shouldn’t, as you could risk food poisoning as you could with freezing food that has been thawed.
- You could refreeze feta if you made a feta cheese dip. It would be cooked again, so it is safe to freeze feta cheese dip if you store feta cheese in an airtight container and follow the wrapping techniques.
