How to freeze cheese, storage period, and 5 recipes! [Explanation with photos! ]

"I used some cheese earlier, but when I put it in the refrigerator, it started to grow moldy..."

Have you ever had an experience like this?

Cheese that you usually find at supermarkets will last a long time if it is unopened, but once it is opened, it often goes bad even if you keep it in the refrigerator.

It would be nice if you could only buy as much as you can use at one time, but since the larger size is cheaper, I can understand why you would end up choosing that.

The method of freezing cheese that we will introduce this time will come in handy in such cases.

Here, we explain how to freeze processed cheese such as melted cheese, as well as cream cheese, which is popular as snacks and sweets.

Please refer to this guide if you often buy cheese in large quantities.

cheese nutrition

Cheese is broadly classified into two types.

“Natural cheese” and “processed cheese”.

Natural cheese is made by fermenting or coagulating milk, buttermilk, cream, etc. Examples include cheddar, Gouda, and Parmesan.

​Processed cheese, on the other hand, is made by mixing natural cheeses, such as sliced cheese and 6P cheese.

First, let's talk about what kind of nutrients these cheeses contain, and what benefits eating cheese can have on our bodies.

Nutritional value and calories of cheese

​Calcium is the most famous nutrient found in cheese.

Cheese is made by concentrating milk, and it takes about 1000ml of milk to make 100g of cheese.

Therefore, the amount of calcium contained in cheese is very rich.

Cheese is also rich in vitamins A and B2.

We have made a list for each cheese that you often see, so please use it as a reference.

On the other hand, it contains almost no vitamin C, iron, or dietary fiber, so they must be supplemented with other foods.

Benefits of cheese

First, cheese is rich in calcium, which helps prevent osteoporosis.

The calcium in cheese has excellent absorption rate as well as quantity, allowing the body to efficiently take in the calcium it ingests.

Cheese can be said to be a food that is easy to intake calcium because it can be easily eaten by men and women of all ages.

Vitamin A contained in cheese helps maintain skin and eye health.

In addition, vitamin A is involved in maintaining mucous membranes, and can be expected to have the effect of increasing resistance to bacteria.

Particularly for infants and breastfeeding women, the function of promoting physical growth and maintaining skin and mucous membranes is very important.

I want to use cheese wisely to efficiently ingest vitamin A.

Next is vitamin B2, which is a water-soluble vitamin and is mainly involved in the metabolism of the three major nutrients.

Metabolism of the three major nutrients involves converting carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids into energy, and vitamin B2 is required to convert the food you eat into energy.

The reason why it is often said that it is good to take vitamin B if you have canker sores is that by taking vitamin B2, nutrients can be smoothly converted into energy.

Therefore, if you can properly ingest vitamin B2 from cheese, it will be possible to prevent stomatitis, dermatitis, and improve the metabolism of nutrients.

Advantages of freezing cheese

Allows long-term storage

The advantage of freezing cheese is that it can be stored for a long time even after opening.

Cheese sold at supermarkets can be stored for several months if unopened, but once opened, the taste and flavor will gradually deteriorate.

Freezing preserves food to prevent this.

If you use frozen storage, you can preserve the quality of cheese for about a month after opening, if not for six months.

With the exception of some cheeses, most cheeses do not change in quality when frozen, and can be easily thawed, making cheese the perfect food for freezing.

*For cream cheese, you need to be careful when defrosting it (please refer to the section on how to defrost it, as it is explained there).

How to freeze cheese

Next, we will talk about specific ways to freeze cheese.

This time, we will introduce two commonly encountered products, cream cheese and melted cheese (processed cheese), and how to freeze them.

There is not a big difference between the two freezing methods, but there are some points that you should be aware of, so please refer to them as well.

How to freeze cream cheese

1) Divide into pieces that can be used at once.

2) Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze.

★Cream cheese is not good if it dries out, so wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. By putting it in a freezer bag, you can prevent unpleasant odors from transferring to the freezer.

How to freeze melted cheese

1) Divide into pieces that can be used at once.

2) Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze.

★Unopened sliced cheese can be frozen directly in the bag.
★Even after opening, as long as each piece is still wrapped, you can put it in a freezer bag and freeze it without wrapping it in plastic wrap.
★ For pizza cheese, put it directly into a freezer bag and freeze it in a thin, flat state so that the cheese doesn't stick together and is comfortable to use.

How to defrost cheese and how long it can be stored

Next, we will talk about how to thaw frozen cheese and how long it can be stored.

How to defrost cheese

[How to thaw cream cheese]
Frozen cream cheese can be used frozen or thawed in the refrigerator.

We recommend thawing it in the refrigerator a few hours before using.

If you thaw it in the refrigerator but it becomes crumbly, add a little water and knead it to get it smooth again.

If it still doesn't become smooth, knead it in the microwave in 10 second increments until it becomes softer.

[How to defrost melted cheese]

This cheese can be used frozen or thawed in the refrigerator.

Processed cheeses, including melted cheese, do not have the same problems as cream cheese, so you can safely thaw them or use them as is.

If you want to heat-process the food, such as baking it in the oven, you can keep it frozen, and if you need to bring it back to room temperature, you can thaw it in the refrigerator.

Cheese shelf life

I have introduced cream cheese and melted cheese separately, but both have the same shelf life of 3 to 4 weeks.

However, the 3 to 4 week period is just a guideline, and even after this period, it does not mean that you will no longer be able to eat the food.

However, no matter how long you keep it frozen, the flavor and texture will deteriorate over time, so we recommend that you use it within the expiry date if possible.

>> [Freezing for a long time] 3 points to keep in mind when preserving vegetables

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

5 easy recipes using cheese

Grilled potato and tomato with cheese

☑材料（2人分）
・じゃがいも　1個
・トマト　1個
・厚切りベーコン　適量
・ピザ用チーズ　適量

<How to make>
1) Wash the potatoes, cut them into pieces of appropriate size, and heat them in the microwave until they are soft.
2) Stir-fry the bacon cut into bite-sized pieces, and once it is cooked, add the tomatoes cut into bite-sized pieces and the potatoes from (1) and stir-fry again.
3) Transfer to a heat-resistant plate and sprinkle with as much frozen pizza cheese as you like.
4) Finally, brown it in a toaster oven and it's done.

★In addition to pizza cheese, you can also use frozen melted cheese.
★Adjust the amount of potatoes, tomatoes, and bacon to your taste.

Pizza toast

☑材料（2人分）
・食パン　2枚
・ピーマン　小1
・ウィンナー　2~3本
・ピザソース　適量
・ピザ用チーズ　適量

<How to make>
1) Remove the seeds from the peppers, cut them in half lengthwise, and then cut them horizontally. Cut the sausage diagonally.
2) Spread pizza sauce on the bread, sprinkle with the ingredients from (1), then sprinkle with frozen pizza cheese.
3) Bake in a toaster oven for 3 to 5 minutes and it's done (please adjust the time by yourself).

★If you don't have pizza cheese, you can use melted cheese instead.
★If you don't have pizza sauce, mix ketchup (2 tablespoons) and chili oil (5-6 drops) to get a similar taste.
★Add onions, bacon, tomatoes, etc. if you like.

cheese steamed bread

☑材料（9号のケース5個分）
・クリームチーズ　100g
・砂糖　60g
・たまご　Lサイズ2個
・牛乳　大さじ2
・サラダ油　大さじ1.5
・薄力粉　90g
・ベーキングパウダー　小さじ1.3

<How to make>
1) Thaw frozen cream cheese in the refrigerator.
2) Place the thawed cream cheese in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, heat in the microwave (500W) for 50-60 seconds, and when it becomes soft, stir with a whisk.
3) Add sugar and mix well until smooth.
4) Add one egg and mix, then add another egg and mix.
5) Add milk and salad oil and mix well.
6) Sift and add the flour and baking powder, then use a rubber spatula to mix.
7) Fill the cup up to the 8th cup and steam it in a steamer for 10-12 minutes.
8) If you insert a bamboo skewer and it doesn't stick, it's done.

★If the cream cheese does not become smooth even after stirring, add a little water and heat it in the microwave for about 10 seconds, it will gradually become smooth.
★If you open the lid during steaming, it may deflate, so wait at least 10 minutes before opening the lid.

Grilled rice balls with miso and cheese

☑材料（4個分）
・ごはん　茶碗4杯分
・味噌　大さじ2~3
・みりん　大さじ2~3
・スライスチーズ　2枚

<How to make>
1) Make rice balls.
2) Combine miso and mirin and brush onto the rice balls.
3) Place a cooking sheet on top of the toaster and place the rice balls on top.
4) Fry until lightly browned, then flip and cook the other side.
5) Once both sides are grilled, place the frozen cheese cut in half on top and bake for about 1 minute until the cheese is completely melted.

★By adding the cheese last, you can melt it just right.

Cheesecake

☑材料（パウンド型1個分）
・クリームチーズ　100g
・砂糖　40~50g
・卵　1個
・牛乳　大さじ2
・レモン汁　大さじ1/2
・薄力粉　20g
・レーズン　10g
＝＝＝＝＝
・ビスケット　60g
・無塩バター　25g

<How to make>
1) Defrost the frozen cream cheese in the refrigerator, then take it out of the refrigerator an hour before making it and let it come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees.
2) Line the mold with baking sheet.
3) Crush the biscuits into small pieces using a food processor, add melted unsalted butter, mix, then spread into a mold and chill in the refrigerator.
4) Place cream cheese in a bowl and knead until soft.
5) Add sugar, eggs, milk, lemon juice, and flour in that order and mix well with a whisk.
6) Place the raisins evenly in the mold, pour in (5), and tap the mold to remove air.
7) Bake in an oven preheated to 170 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
8) Once baked, let it cool, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until it's done.

★Can be made without using fresh cream.

Conclusion

So, how do you freeze cheese?

In both cases, ``cream cheese'' and ``melt cheese,'' you just wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in a freezer bag, so feel free to try it out.

In the case of cream cheese, it may take some time to defrost it, but if you add water and knead it while heating it, it will regain its smoothness.

It has a shelf life of about one month, so please use the methods introduced this time to incorporate cheese into your daily life.

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