Can You Freeze Feta Cheese? [Tested & Detailed Guide]

Feta cheese is a common ingredient in Mediterranean and Greek cuisines.

This cheese is creamy, salty, mildly tangy, and enjoyed by many.

This cheese does not last long enough. Is it possible to freeze feta cheese?

Yes, it is possible. There are many ways to get around the expiration date.

If you have taken the step and bought too much cheese, or if there was a mistake at the store that led you to buy more than you could use before it went bad, then freezing feta cheese is an option for you.

Although feta cheese tastes slightly different when frozen, it can still be used in many dishes.

This article will explain how to freeze feta cheese and give you some suggestions on how to bring back its flavor once it has been defrosted.

Does Freezing Affect Feta Cheese?

The taste of feta cheese can be affected by freezing. Also, feta cheese’s consistency changes when kept in cold storage.

This limits the variety of dishes it can be used in.

Here’s what happens to feta cheese in the freezer:

1 – Flavor.

Feta cheese is a well-known Greek cheese that has a mild, tangy flavor. It is creamy, rich, salty, and mildly sweet.

Freezing feta cheese changes the taste. When you freeze it, the flavor becomes less intense and richer.

Freezing also lets feta cheese retain its water content more so than when refrigerated – making for a moister, better-tasting product that’s lighter in saltiness.

We recommend not freezing feta cheese, especially if it is an authentic, high-quality Greek feta cheese.

However, it’s better to keep the cheese in the fridge and freeze it so you can use it later than throw it away.

2 – Texture.

In terms of texture, feta cheese that has been frozen or thawed is usually more crumbly.

You will notice a smaller difference in the texture of crumbled feta cheese once it has thawed.

Bricks of feta cheese are more rigid after being frozen. These blocks can be used for cooking but not to make a nice presentation.

Cheese can dry out a little when frozen because it has lost its liquid. Feta cheese can also have over 50% water content.

The water crystals form when the cheese is frozen and then turn into ice crystals.

This can affect the texture of cheese. Also, the space that was occupied by water is now replaced with air or ice crystals.

How to Freeze Feta Cheese – The Best Way

Feta cheese can be purchased in many forms. It can be purchased in blocks or crumbled.

The preparation process can vary depending on which type of feta cheese you are using.

It is, however, the most important step in freezing feta cheese. Your product will be wasted if you don’t do it right.

These are step-by-step instructions on how to freeze feta cheese, whether it is in blocks or chunks.

How to Freeze Feta Cheese in Blocks?

Authentic Greek feta cheese is usually sold in blocks and not crumbled.

These markets sell the cheese as large bricks in salty water, such as brine.

If you have a block of feta cheese, then follow these instructions:

• Strain any feta cheese that has been in brine. Also, open any unopened feta and take it out of the liquid.
• Pat the cheese dry using paper towels. You don’t have to get rid of all the liquid. This will dry the cheese out completely.
• Divide the feta cheese into blocks of the desired size. Do not assume that one size will work for all recipes; consider how much you want to produce and what your specific dish calls for.
• The packaging is now complete. How you package feta cheese will make sure it lasts.

It would be best if you wrapped each piece of feta cheese with cling film.

This will make sure that the cheese is protected from any moisture and freeze-burns.

We recommend using freezer bags to store the cheese separately from each other.

It is also important that you leave some room for the frozen cheese to expand when it freezes.

You can then place this package in a large freezer bag.

This will make sure your product stays intact and is protected from moisture and any damage from other frozen items.

If you plan to use the cheese in a dish that requires quick preparation, then pop it into the fridge.

Otherwise, please don’t remove it from its packaging until you need to use it.

The cheese can be frozen for up to two days if it is not necessary to do so.

Just place the cheese in an airtight container, and you can use it whenever you want.

Ensure that you label the bag containing your feta cheese or any frozen product to know what is inside and when it was packaged.

How to Freeze Crumbled Feta Cheese?

Feta can also be sold in crumbled form. Crumbled feta is more versatile and is, therefore, a popular choice.

It can be used in many ways, including topping salads and as a filling.

Follow these steps to prepare your crumbled feta cheese before freezing.

• You can either thaw your portions of Feta cheese before eating them separately or put all the cheese in one large freezer bag and thaw it at a time.
• To store the cheese in the refrigerator, you can use the container that the cheese came in. Wrap the container in a few layers with cling wrap if you choose to do this.

Also, crumbled feta can be frozen in an airtight container.

You can also add a plastic wrap to protect the cheese if you are certain it will be stored in the freezer for several months.

Don’t forget to label the container where the cheese is stored.

This will make sure you won’t end up with a lot of cheese because you don’t know when it was frozen.

How Long Does Frozen Feta Cheese Last?

Like all dairy products, feta cheese doesn’t last too long. The cheese comes with a best-used by the date that you can extend for up to a week if it is still in brine.

Feta cheese that is not being kept in the liquid will spoil quickly if it has been opened. It will begin to go bad within a week.

The best quality feta in brine will last for about a month in the refrigerator.

Olive oil can also prolong the shelf life of feta cheese up to one month because it acts as a natural preserver.

The shelf life of feta cheese will be extended by storing it in the freezer.

The best quality Feta cheese will last for approximately a month in the freezer. It can be used for up to three months.

Remember that your preparation and packaging quality for cold storage will determine how long the cheese will last.

How to Tell if Feta Cheese is Spoiled?

If you notice any of these signs, throw your feta away immediately.

It will be spoiled:

If the cheese is slimy or smells funny, you should not eat it.

If it has white spots on it with a pungent smell, don’t eat it because it usually means that the product is spoilt.

If the feta is stored in oil and looks grayish or smells bad, you should throw it away.

If the cheese has an unusual color or texture, you shouldn’t eat it.

If the feta tastes sour or moldy, then throw it out of your refrigerator.

Feta cheese can sometimes be contaminated with listeria, especially if you did not follow the correct storage guidelines.

This bacteria can be deadly, so it is best to throw away your feta cheese if you think it has been contaminated with listeria.

How to Thaw Frozen Feta Cheese?

It is important to know that you should not thaw feta cheese on your kitchen counter or anywhere else at room temperature.

When you use feta in a recipe, make sure it is transferred from the cold storage to your refrigerator at least a few hours before you start cooking.

It may take the cheese between 4 and 10 hours to thaw according to the size of the pieces.

It’s best to thaw your feta in the refrigerator because it will retain its flavor and texture.

An easy way to defrost frozen feta cheese is by placing it in cold water for about 1-2 hours until it is completely defrosted.

Once the cheese is defrosted, you should drain it well before using it.

How to Use Frozen Feta Cheese in Recipes?

Feta cheese may be incredibly delicious when it is topped on a creamy Greek salad, but frozen feta cheese may not provide the same degree of flavor.

There are no rules against using it in salads, but if you want to use it in a salad, there are ways to make sure that the taste of the feta will still be fresh.

Frozen Feta cheese is not used alone in most recipes.

It is combined with other ingredients such as herbs and spices or added to cooked vegetables for flavor.

A popular way to get more use out of defrosted feta cheese is to crumble it.

Crumbling the cheese can remove much of its water content, ensuring that the result in your recipe will have less liquid.

You can also sprinkle it on top of falafels for a perfectly spiced dish.

You can also add feta cheese to soups, sandwiches, pasta, or pizza as garnish.

You can even put in your omelets or scrambled eggs if you want to give them more flavor.

If you add feta cubes to your pasta sauce, it is best not to thaw the cheese first.

Instead, you can add them frozen because they will add a tangy flavor to your pasta sauce and give it that Greek touch that you are looking for.

Many people have had success using feta cheese in sandwiches or salads, but most recommend adding fresh Feta cheese rather than thawed.

You can also add feta crumbles on top of noodles or rice, but you should know that this will alter the taste.

Should You Refreeze Feta Cheese after Defrosting?

If you refreeze your feta cheese because it was defrosted and there is still some leftover, you should know that this is not a good idea.

There may be times when you thaw your feta cheese, and there will still be some leftover at the end of your meal, so you might think that it is best to refreeze it.

This can lead to serious health problems, especially if you have certain allergies or medical conditions.

It’s best to throw away any leftover feta cheese after you have thawed it because there is a risk that the texture of the cheese will be altered by refreezing it.

When you choose to freeze your feta cheese, make sure that you follow the guidelines carefully.

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