Can You Freeze Goat Cheese?

Goat cheese is a classic staple in every Greek and Mediterranean household. This, once underrated cheese, is now making its way into the kitchens of people from across the world. But, there is just one tiny problem. Goat cheese is not available in every country and also isn’t available throughout the year. This makes you think, “can you freeze goat cheese?”

It is a question that has not just popped up in your head. Every goat cheese lover has thought about this more than once in their lifetime. But why freeze it? Well, freezing helps increase the shelf life of the cheese. It means that you can enjoy it for a longer time and not worry about its lack of accessibility.

Why is Goat’s Cheese So Favored?

Besides the fact that it tastes heavenly and is versatile, goat’s cheese has a lot of health benefits. It is one of those cheeses that your mother wouldn’t scold when you eat more than you are supposed to.

Wondering why people tend to favor goat cheese so much?

• It has a lower amount of calories.
• It has a high protein percentage.
• It is enriched with vitamins; more than cow’s milk.
• It is easy on the stomach and is easier to digest.
• It helps with possible weight loss results.

Can You Freeze Goat Cheese?

Coming back to the question of the hour. Yes, you can freeze goat cheese if you want. But, since goat’s cheese comes in different textures and shapes, you need to be careful with the freezing process. It is not as easy as it sounds. You just can’t pack it up in a box and throw it inside a freezer.

Freezing goat’s cheese increases its shelf life and ensures that you can enjoy it for a longer time. If you are wondering whether it jeopardizes the taste and flavor, it doesn’t. Just ensure that you thaw it out for an hour or two before you eat it.

Since the availability of this cheese is so scarce, people who love goat cheese tend to buy in bulk. If you don’t know how to preserve cheese, buying in bulk can make the entire lot go to waste. This is why you need to know about the process of freezing goat cheese.

How to Freeze Goat Cheese?

Now that you are assured that freezing goat cheese is okay, you must be wondering how to do it, right?

Well, the process is a little tricky and will differ for the different types. So, if you are freezing a solid block of the cheese, the freezing process will be different for the soft and crumbly variant.

How to Freeze Spreadable and Soft Goat Cheese?

• For the most part, the spreadable and soft goat cheeses come in a container. If you are thinking of merely chucking the container inside the freezer, refrain yourself from doing that.
• Instead, open the lid of the container and wrap it twice with plastic foil. Once you have secured the plastic all around, cover the lid. It helps keep the cheese fresher and prevents the risks of freezer burn and contamination with microbes.
• Keep the packed container inside the freezer, ensuring that you have the freezing date written down. Don’t forget to do that as goat’s cheese can’t be frozen forever. It is good frozen for a maximum of 2-3 months, especially when it is the spreadable type.

How to Freeze a Solid Block of Goat Cheese?

• If you are a bulk buyer, you have likely bought a massive chunk of solid goat cheese. The freezing process is a little different than the previous one.
• Before freezing, you need to assess whether you have space to freeze the entire block or you want to freeze it in smaller sections.
• If you want to freeze the entire block, take plastic wrap and cover the whole cheese block twice from all the sides. If you’re going to freeze them in sections, cut them into smaller pieces and then plastic wrap these individual pieces in the plastic wrap and then freeze them individually.
• Remember that plastic wrapping them is necessary to keep them fresh, prevent freezer burns and any form of contamination that can make the cheese go bad.

Why is Dating the Goat Cheese Before Freezing Important?

We have mentioned that before you freeze the cheese, make sure that you write down the freezing date on top. More than a question, this is a necessity. Unless you have the superpower of remembering a lot of dates, you need to write it down on the cheese container with a marker.

Irrespective of whether you are freezing spreadable goat cheese or a solid log, neither of them will stay fresh anymore than 2-3 months. If you find that you have a lot of cheese leftover, make sure you use them in various recipes before they go bad.

The question of “How do you freeze your goat cheese?” matters more than “Can you freeze goat cheese?”

Doing it the correct way is what makes the difference. If you miss out on even the smallest of steps, it is likely going to end up affecting the flavor and the taste of the cheese drastically.

How to Thaw Frozen Goat Cheese? 

Now that you have frozen goat cheese, the next thing to know about is the thawing process. If you take out the goat cheese from the freezer and just eat it straight away, it won’t taste the same.

The best way to thaw the frozen goat cheese is to take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge. It thaws the cheese in a matter of a day or two and keeps the cheese fresh at the same time.

Keep These in Mind:

• For the spreadable goat’s cheese, you must whisk it once it has been thawed completely. It restores the creamy texture of the cheese and prevents the water from curdling the taste.
• Once you have thawed one portion of the cheese, make sure that you finish that up within three days from thawing. It is always best not to chuck it back in the freezer if there are leftovers. It is one of the reasons why you should always freeze goat cheese in smaller portions.
• Avoid thawing the goat cheese at room temperature as this increases the affinity of molding and can even cause contamination. Always thaw it in the fridge.
• Make sure that you bring down the goat cheese’s temperature to room temperature and then serve it for that packed burst of flavor.
• Avoid overcooking the goat cheese when you are melting it. Excessive heating ends up curdling the cheese and causes a very gritty texture.

Is It Safe to Freeze Goat Cheese?

Can you freeze goat cheese is a question that many have asked, but few go as far as knowing if it is particularly safe. And, to answer whether the process is safe or not, it ultimately is. If you are doing it the right way, there is nothing that you need to worry about.

The majority of the people do it, and there is nothing wrong with it. Make sure to follow through the process of preparing, freezing, and thawing the goat cheese very vigilantly. It is what makes the difference. Find out if you can freeze string cheese.

How Long Does Goat Cheese Last in the Freezer?

If you want a specific timeline, the crumbled goat’s cheese lasts for around 6 months in the freezer. If you plan on keeping it for longer, we wouldn’t suggest doing that. But, in case you do freeze them for longer, try and portion them out into smaller chunks and in separate containers so you don’t have to open and close them continuously.

How Do You Defrost Frozen Goat Cheese?

Thawing your goat’s cheese can be a struggle if you don’t do it right. Start by transferring the block of the cheese from the freezer to the fridge and let it sit there overnight. Once it has been there for 10 hours, you can take it out of the container and use it according to your needs. Try and stir it once to regain the creamy texture before you use it.

How Long Can You Keep Goat Cheese?

Goat cheese normally stays fresh for 2-3 weeks if you keep it sealed tightly in a container inside the fridge. But, in case you want to preserve it for longer, we would suggest storing it inside the freezer for up to 6 months. Always store them in small batches in plastic containers or use parchment paper for the semi-hard variants.

Would you consider these substitutes for goat cheese?

Conclusion

We hope that this article has given you all the questions that you needed to know about freezing goat cheese, the process, and the safety associated with it. If you have been planning on doing this, be sure to always follow the steps diligently. Freeze in sections and thaw the cheese using the process we have mentioned. If you want to savor the taste of the goat cheese, you need to be aware of every nitty-gritty when it comes to the freezing process.