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Mozzarella cheese is a staple ingredient for many a pizza variety, but what happens with the leftovers? What do you do with it? How can you prolong the life of it, so you don’t end up having to throw it out when it inevitably turns bad? And, can you freeze mozzarella cheese?
Let’s get you some answers!
Can You Freeze Mozzarella Cheese UK?
Although you can freeze mozzarella cheese, it is not always recommended.
There are many factors to take into account when it comes to freezing mozzarella and other cheese types, including what you plan to do with the cheese once you take it out of the freezer, what kind of ‘state’ the cheese is in, the type of mozzarella cheese you have, and many others.
Some mozzarella cheeses that have been frozen will not melt as easily, or as nicely, as others that have not been frozen.
The meltability of mozzarella cheese can also decrease the longer it has been frozen.
The texture of the cheese can also be compromised during the freezing process. Rather than being creamy and rich, it can become more crumbly and harder.
Once again, the longer the cheese has been frozen, the more the texture will change.
You will need to take this into account when preparing to cook with frozen-and-then-thawed-out mozzarella cheese.
If you have grated (shredded) mozzarella cheese, or a block of mozzarella cheese, you can usually freeze them without any ‘serious’ problems, if you freeze them correctly. These types of cheese are usually known as low-moisture mozzarella cheeses and, as the name suggests, they have a much lower moisture content than fresh mozzarella.
Low-moisture mozzarella cheeses also have more preservatives, giving them a much longer shelf life – and making them more suitable for freezing.
Can You Freeze Fresh Mozzarella Cheese?
Because of the very high water content in fresh mozzarella cheese, it is not recommended to freeze it.
When the high water content freezes, ice crystals start to grow within the cheese. This can destabilise it, causing the texture, taste, and a number of other things to change.
When defrosted, fresh mozzarella that has been frozen will become crumbly and fall apart, and it will also lose of its infamous taste, becoming almost chalk-like in nature.
Can Fresh Mozzarella Balls Be Frozen?
It is not recommended to freeze fresh mozzarella balls.
The balls of cheese can be frozen, but fresh mozzarella, even in smaller balls, contain a much higher content than other types of low-moisture content.
Photo by laura novara on Unsplash
Because of this, fresh mozzarella balls do not freeze well. The high moisture content increases the risks of ice affecting the structure of the cheese – making it hard, crumbly, and tasting different to what you might expect.
Obviously, if you have purchased low-moisture mozzarella balls, they will freeze well – like other low-moisture mozzarella products.
Can You Freeze Mozzarella Cheese Sticks?
Yes, you can freeze mozzarella sticks.
Mozzarella sticks are usually created from low-moisture mozzarella, which means that there is less moisture content to alter the structure of the cheese when it turns to ice and then expands.
As long as you freeze the mozzarella sticks in airtight containers or bags, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem with the cheese when it’s time to thaw it out and cook with it or eat it.
Can You Freeze Mozzarella Grated Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze mozzarella grated cheese.
Usually, grated mozzarella cheese is a type of low-moisture cheese, which makes it – as you might have guessed – low in moisture. Because of this, it will freeze considerably better than fresh mozzarella, which has a very high moisture content.
Can You Freeze Galbani Mozzarella Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze Galbani mozzarella cheese.
Most Galbani mozzarella products are created with low-moisture mozzarella cheese, but I definitely recommend checking out the packaging to make sure.
As with all frozen mozzarella products, you will need to be somewhat realistic with your expectations with freezing and then thawing it out. Even the best frozen mozzarella cheese can go through some changes during the process.
Can You Refreeze Frozen Then Defrosted Mozzarella Cheese?
No, it is not recommended to refreeze frozen and then defrosted mozzarella cheese.
Dairy products should be handled with care, especially when it comes to storage and refrigeration or freezing. Freezing, defrosting, and then refreezing mozzarella cheese is not advisable.
Thank you so much for checking out Buzzy Kitchen to answer your cheese-related questions today! I hope you’ve managed to find the answer you’re looking for, but feel free to submit your own question for me to answer! Don’t forget to check out the other cheese pages on the site, too!