Cheese is one of the world’s most popular kitchen staples. We just cannot live without it. If you are anything like us, then cheese can go on pretty much any meal and it will improve it ten times!
Shredded cheese is great for making things like nachos, topping off a meal, or sprinkling on your favorite sandwiches ready for melting, so this truly is a food item that you will want to keep stocked in your fridge.
The difficult thing is, what do you do if you only want a little bit of cheese, and you do not want to waste the rest of the bag, or leave it to go bad in the refrigerator? You are going to want to keep the cheese for longer, and not waste a single crumb! This is where we come in handy.
We are here to tell you exactly how to store shredded mozzarella cheese, so that you can use it whenever you need it!
Can You Freeze Shredded Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze shredded mozzarella cheese. You can basically freeze any food, but bear in mind that freezing foods does change the texture, flavor and quality of the food, depending on how long it has been left in the freezer.
However freezing mozzarella cheese is a great way to keep it for longer, and use it time and time again without wasting any leftovers or ingredients.
All you have to do is ensure that it is sealed and stored in the proper manner, and you can keep your shredded mozzarella cheese or any frozen cheese for the days to come.
How To Freeze Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
You may not have ever thought about freezing your mozzarella cheese before, or ever wondered how you should do it. Luckily, we are here with all of the cheese expertise that you need!
Freezing cheese is pretty simple, as long as you have a few resealable freezer bags around. That being said, if you only want to freeze your shredded or grated cheese for a short period of time, then you can use the bag that it came in. the same goes for block cheese, soft cheese, hard cheese, or sliced cheese. I wouldn't freeze cottage cheese though.
For the best results, when freezing mozzarella cheese, you are going to need to keep it in a resealable zip lock bag, and you can store this in the freezer for up to 9 months!! However, if you choose to freeze the cheese in the bag it came in, then it is better to only keep it for two months.
We recommend freezing mozzarella cheese to maintain it for longer, by placing it inside an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag.
This will ensure that there is no air inside, and it will not dry up or go off quickly. Once you have placed your mozzarella cheese inside the bag, ensure it is locked tightly, and push as much excess air out as possible.
Then, you should label the bag with the date you froze it. This step is highly important, as it will ensure that you know exactly when to use the mozzarella cheese for the best and most flavorful results. Once you have labeled, you can place the bag in the freezer, and store it there for up to 9 months.
Pros Of Freezing Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
If you think that freezing your mozzarella cheese is the right choice for you, so that you do not have to eat cheese every day for the next week, then take a few of our pros and cons into consideration.
One of the best pros of freezing mozzarella cheese is that you can keep it for so much longer, and you can enjoy it time and time again. In addition, you can purchase cheese in bulk, and never have to worry about wasting any, as you can just package up the leftovers, and freeze them.
This process is incredibly simple, just use resealable bags and you are good to go! You can even keep mozzarella cheese in the freezer for up to 9 months, but it is best to use it sooner.
With shredded mozzarella cheese, you could even freeze it inside its original packaging, as most of these come in resealable bags themselves. However this would not last as long as if you transferred it to a freezer bag or a Ziploc bag.
One of the best pros of freezing mozzarella cheese is that you can have it handy whenever you need or feel like it. By keeping shredded mozzarella cheese in the freezer, you can take it out whenever your recipes demand it, which you cannot do with fresh mozzarella in the ball form, as these do not last as long.
Cons Of Freezing Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Whilst there are lots of pros to freezing mozzarella cheese, this food is not without its faults. There are a few cons to freezing mozzarella cheese that you should be aware of before taking any steps further.
For example, freezing any type of food can change the overall flavor and texture of the food, and the longer it is frozen, the more the food will depreciate, so try to keep foods in the freezer for shorter periods of time...not months at a time!
In addition, after freezing, your shredded mozzarella cheese may become a little drier than usual, and it can crumble easily. This is because the quality is lessened slightly after sticking it in the freezer, but it can still be delicious, and used in a variety of meals.
How To Store Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
If you want to refrigerate, or freeze your mozzarella cheese, then you will need to know exactly how to store this cheese properly, to maintain the cheese for longer.
Whether you are refrigerating or freezing your mozzarella cheese, you should always keep it in an airtight container, such as a freezer bag or a plastic storage tub.
This will ensure that your cheese lasts so much longer, and there is no air for bacteria to breed.
With the right storage methods, and proper freezing, you can keep your shredded mozzarella cheese for up to a month in the freezer, ready to use whenever you need it! We have a few simple steps to follow to ensure that you can keep shredded mozzarella cheese for so much longer.
The first step is to portion out the cheese. This is so important because if you freeze the whole bag of cheese, then when you thaw it you will have to use it all. We recommend taking a few freezer bags or storage containers, and splitting up the cheese between them, so when it comes to defrosting, you can just take out what you need!
Once you have portioned out your cheese, remember to make sure that the resealable bag is closed tightly and completely, with no air inside. The same goes for the containers, make sure that the lid is on properly before you refrigerate or freeze.
You can store shredded mozzarella cheese like this in the refrigerator for about a week or two, but keep it in the freezer if you want to store it for longer such as 2-4 weeks. As long as the storage container or freezer bag was airtight, your mozzarella cheese should last, and it will not dry out.
How To Use Shredded Mozzarella Cheese After It Has Been Frozen
When you are ready to use your mozzarella cheese, you will need to know exactly what to do with it once it has been frozen.
This is why it is so vital that you store it properly, because once you remove it from the freezer, you will have to use it up. So, consider storing it in smaller portions or smaller freezer bags before your freeze!
If you are thinking about using your mozzarella cheese, then you will have to remove it from the freezer, and thaw it out. The best way to do this is to put it into the refrigerator overnight, and leave it defrost. By the morning, your mozzarella cheese should be ready to go, and you can start using it throughout the day.
If you need a quick fix, and you want to use the mozzarella cheese for cooking, then you can just remove it from the freezer, and leave the mozzarella to sit at room temperature for about half hour to an hour, and it should loosen up ready for using in your favorite recipes.
What you should never do is use the microwave to defrost your cheese as this is far too powerful. Using a microwave can defrost the food unevenly, and you may end up with some bits melting and others still frozen on the inside, whilst also destroying the flavor of the cheese in the meantime.
Stick to either the refrigerator overnight, or room temperature for 30 minutes if you need to cook the cheese, and you should be good to go!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any more queries regarding freezing mozzarella cheese, then why not check out our handy frequently asked questions section?
Here we have all of the answers to the most common questions about mozzarella cheese.
Can You Refreeze Mozzarella Cheese?
For the most part, you should not refreeze anything after it has already been frozen and thawed. This is largely due to the fact that the drastic changes in temperature can breed bacteria, and can make foods unsafe to eat.
If your mozzarella cheese has been only out of the freezer for a short time, and has not really thawed, then you can change your mind and put it back in.
If you have completely thawed your mozzarella cheese, or left it out of the freezer for hours, then we do not recommend that you freeze the cheese again. This would cause unsafe bacteria to form, dry out the cheese, and it will not thaw again nicely.
Is Mozzarella Cheese Healthy For You?
Mozzarella cheese is rather low in sodium, and is filled with protein, whilst still being lower in calories than other cheese.
The good thing about mozzarella cheese is that it can be rather filling, and so a little bit of it goes a long way.
Whilst a lot of cheese can be unhealthy, a little bit of mozzarella is fine, as this cheese is full of calcium and minerals that are good for strong teeth and bones.
Is Mozzarella A Melting Cheese?
Yes, mozzarella cheese is a really good melting cheese as it has a soft and smooth texture, which makes it really creamy when melted.
In addition, mozzarella cheese has much more of a lower moisture content than some other cheese, and so it works exceptionally well for melting on top of nachos, burgers, you name it!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
