Blue cheese is a type of cheese that ages in a temperature-controlled environment to give the food its sharp, salty taste. Like other cheeses, blue cheese can be consumed by itself, crumbled, spread, or melted over many decadent dishes. One of the most common food storage questions about this kind of cheese is, “Can you freeze blue cheese?”
In this article, we demonstrate that freezing blue cheese is a terrific way to preserve the food for an extended period of time. Like other dairy products, the shelf life of blue cheese is relatively short when it is kept in the refrigerator.
However, learning how to freeze blue cheese extends the shelf life by many months. To freeze blue cheese, you have to know how to do so correctly, so the cheese has the best quality after thawing.
In addition to teaching how to freeze blue cheese crumbles, we also describe the different types of blue cheese, how to thaw the cheese, and what tools prevent freezer burn.
How is Blue Cheese Made?
Blue cheese varieties are quite different from other cheeses like mozzarella, Parmesan, and feta, both in taste and food preservation techniques.
During the blue cheese-making process, a little bit of Penicillium is added after the cheese is rolled into wheels. Penicillium is a type of mold that ripens the cheese while adding more flavor.
After cheese manufacturers add the Penicillium, blue cheese ages for up to three months before it is ready to eat. Now that you understand how blue cheese is made, it is time to discover how to freeze blue cheese properly.
Most Popular Kinds of Blue Cheese
There are a few different sub-categories when it comes to blue cheese. All blue cheese types are softer, unlike cheddar, which is a hard cheese.
Because of the aging process, blue cheeses are generally more soft and crumbly, with a texture similar to cottage cheese. No matter what kind of blue cheese you are learning how to freeze, it can be frozen while preserving the creaminess.
Gorgonzola cheese is a soft cheese known for being crumbly and saltier than other blue cheeses. Both Danish Blue and Stilton blue cheese are semi-soft and become more creamy with age.
One of the most pungent blue cheeses is Cabrales, a semi-hard cheese made from unpasteurized cow’s milk. The difference between blue cheese varieties is the amount of time required to age, ranging from a few weeks to five months.
Benefits of Freezing Blue Cheese
Compared to other cheese like Camembert or Brie, blue cheese is not as famous. However, if you purchased more blue cheese than you could eat before the expiration date, learning the best way to freeze blue cheese is necessary.
Can blue cheese be frozen? Yes, freezing blue cheese is possible, but there are a few things to keep in mind before doing so. How long does blue cheese last in the freezer? Freezing blue cheese helps you preserve the dairy product for several months.
However, the longer blue cheese remains in the freezer, the more likely the texture and taste change slightly, just like any other food kept in the freezer.
We recommend only using frozen blue cheese in cooked dishes and not in a cheese platter or salad. In a cooked blue cheese recipe, the slight alterations in texture and creaminess do not matter, where they would be more noticeable in a salad or on a cheese platter.
What about blue cheese salad dressing? Can blue cheese dressing go bad? Yes, it can spoil just like cheese. Proper storage is important to keep your blue cheese dressing fresh and ready to use.
Can You Freeze Blue Cheese in Small Portions?
Like goat cheese and cream cheese, you must refrigerate blue cheese until you plan on eating the product within the near future.
When it comes time to freeze your excess blue cheese, cutting and portioning the cheese into smaller amounts makes the freezing and thawing process easier. Is it ok to freeze feta cheese the same way? Definitely. A smaller portion of blue cheese or feta cheese will thaw quicker when you are ready to use the cheese.
If your extra blue cheese is still unopened, remove it from its original packaging. Portion your blue cheese by slicing it into smaller pieces or cubing it. Freeze cheese slices with the appropriate wrap.
With a flat knife, cutting blue cheese into small cubes is simple. Place the cubes in your desired measuring cup to know exactly how much cheese is in each portion.
How to Freeze Blue Cheese Correctly
Whether you plan to use extra blue cheese for appetizers or a cooked dish in the future, you have to know how to freeze blue cheese the right way. Can you freeze blue cheese in large portions?
Take your wedge of blue cheese, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil, and place it inside a heavy-duty freezer bag. Storing blue cheese wedges in the freezer keeps them fresh for about six months.
Another way to freeze blue cheese is to wrap the wedge in plastic wrap and parchment paper to prevent sticking. Place the wrapped blue cheese in a freezer bag and set it in the freezer.
Both aluminum foil and plastic wrap reflect light and oxygen from coming in contact with the cheese. Light and oxygen are responsible for premature food spoilage.
Freeze shredded mozzarella cheese and other cheeses in much the same way as blue cheese. Proper packaging is key.
How to Thaw Frozen Blue Cheese
After learning how to freeze blue cheese for several months at a time, you need to understand how to thaw frozen blue cheese to preserve as much flavor as possible.
After removing your frozen blue cheese from the freezer, inspect the packaging. If it appears air reached the cheese, it will not be edible.
There are two ways to defrost blue cheese. The fastest way to thaw frozen blue cheese is to let it sit at room temperature on a countertop or table until it is defrosted.
For a higher chance of preserving the flavor of your blue cheese, set it in the refrigerator to thaw, like the best way to thaw frozen cream cheese. Although this thawing method takes a little longer, it is the best way to ensure the flavor profile does not change.
Containers that Keep Blue Cheese Fresh
Can you freeze blue cheese incorrectly? Yes, with the wrong containers and storage methods, it is possible to ruin the flavor that blue cheese carries.
When storing any food in the freezer, block as much airflow possible from reaching the food. Exposure to air leads to freezer burn, lost flavor, and spoiled food.
We recommend storing small portions of blue cheese in an airtight container, which prevents any chance of foreign molecules in the air from entering the box, limiting contamination.
Another benefit of using airtight containers is that they come in various sizes, so you can portion your blue cheese as you desire. Before placing the airtight container in the freezer, ensure the box is completely sealed.
Instead of letting extra blue cheese go to waste in the garbage, learning how to freeze blue cheese is an excellent way to preserve the dairy product. Like other foods, freezing blue cheese is straightforward when you know what storage tools work best.
Whether you need to store an entire block of blue cheese or smaller amounts, aluminum foil and airtight containers are useful devices for food preservation.
If we answered your question, “Can you freeze blue cheese?” share these tricks for freezing blue cheese with your fellow cheese lovers and family on Pinterest or Facebook.