Can you freeze cheese? Which kinds work and how long it lasts
Hard and semi-hard cheeses freeze well for up to about 3 months. Afterwards they are more crumbly but great for cooking and melting. Soft cheese, cream cheese and mozzarella lose a lot of their texture in the freezer. Mold: only cut it off a block of hard cheese, generously. Throw all other cheese away.
Freezing cheese: guidelines
| Cheese | Freezing | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hard cheese (Parmesan, Gruyère, Emmental, cheddar) | good, up to about 3 months | Best grated or in chunks. Once opened, about 3–4 weeks in the fridge |
| Semi-hard cheese, raclette cheese | good, up to about 3 months | Turns crumbly but melts well: ideal for raclette and gratins |
| Soft cheese (Brie, Camembert) | not ideal | Turns greasy. About 1–2 weeks in the fridge |
| Mozzarella | for cooking only, up to about 3 months | Turns watery and stringy: fine for pizza and bakes |
| Cream cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese | not ideal | Turns grainy. About 1 week once opened |
How to freeze cheese the right way
- Only freeze cheese in good condition, ideally soon after buying and not just before the date. Spoiled cheese goes in the trash.
- Portion it: chunks, slices or grated. Put baking paper between slices so they do not stick together.
- Wrap it airtight (freezer bag or container, press out the air) and write the date on it. This prevents freezer burn.
- Thaw it slowly in the fridge, not at room temperature. Use it soon and do not refreeze it.
Freezing raclette cheese and grated cheese
Leftover raclette cheese freezes well: in slices, with baking paper in between. After thawing it is a bit crumbly but melts just as before. Perfect for your next raclette, gratins or cheese toast.
Freeze Parmesan already grated, since a whole piece crumbles when it thaws. You can sprinkle grated cheese straight from the bag onto pasta or bakes.
Expired mozzarella: can you still eat it?
Check the label first. “Use by” is a safety date: do not eat the mozzarella after it, even if it looks normal. If it says “best before”, unopened mozzarella that was always kept cold may still be fine shortly after. Check it carefully first. Raw-milk mozzarella: always stick strictly to the date.
Keep opened mozzarella in its brine in a closed container in the fridge and eat it soon, within about 5 days at most and never past the date. Throw it out if the pack is bloated, it smells sour or rotten, turns yellowish or slimy, shows mold or tastes bitter.
Moldy cheese: cut it off or throw it out?
- A block of hard cheese (Parmesan, Gruyère, cheddar): cut the mold off generously, at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) around and below it. Keep the knife out of the mold.
- Soft cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, ricotta: always throw the whole thing away. Mold threads and toxins can spread invisibly through the cheese.
- Semi-hard cheese (for example raclette cheese) and grated or sliced cheese: better throw it all away.
- Intended mold on Brie, Camembert or Gorgonzola is part of the cheese. If the mold looks different from usual: throw it out.
How to store cheese in the fridge
- Wrap cheese in cheese paper or baking paper and put it in a container. It will not dry out or pick up other smells.
- Keep it on a middle shelf and refrigerate it quickly after shopping.
- Store mold-ripened cheese separately from other cheese and foods.
- Cut it with a clean knife and touch it with your hands as little as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you freeze cheese?
Yes, especially hard and semi-hard cheeses such as Parmesan, Gruyère, Emmental or raclette cheese, for up to about 3 months. After thawing it is more crumbly and works best for cooking and melting.
Can you freeze mozzarella?
Yes, if you will cook it afterwards. Freeze it before the date, drain it well, and keep it for up to about 3 months. It turns watery and stringy: fine for pizza and lasagna, not for a caprese salad.
Can you freeze cream cheese?
Not really. Cream cheese, ricotta and cottage cheese turn grainy and watery after thawing. If you do, freeze them before the date and only use them in sauces, cakes or bakes.
How long does frozen cheese last?
Up to about 3 months at -18 °C (0 °F). After that it gradually loses flavor. Thaw it in the fridge, use it soon and do not refreeze it.
Can you cut mold off cheese?
Only off a block of hard cheese: generously, at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) around and below. Throw away soft cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella and grated cheese entirely. If in doubt, always throw it out.
All figures are guidelines for food that is stored correctly and kept chilled. No guarantee: when in doubt, throw it out. Take extra care during pregnancy and with young children, older or vulnerable people.