Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese?

Can you freeze vegan cheese?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you freeze vegan cheese?”, and how to safely freeze your vegan cheese?

Yes, you can freeze vegan cheese. This article is a brief guide on how to freeze and defrost your vegan cheese. Read on to know all the dos and don’ts of freezing vegan cheese.

How does freezing affect the quality of vegan cheese?

You will observe noticeable differences in the taste and texture of the frozen vegan cheese once it is thawed. Freezing is a great food preservation technique. But freezing tends to make the cheese go crumbly.

It slows down the metabolic reactions by inactivating enzymes, thus delaying the spoilage. But it comes at a cost. The moisture in the food forms ice crystals during freezing. The ice crystals, with their sharp edges, damage the food texture over time.

The damage is pronounced if the food is sensitive such as vegan cheese. Moreover, prolonged storage of any food reduces the nutritional value of the food.

Which vegan cheeses can you freeze?

You can freeze all types of vegan cheese. It is just that some types of cheese freeze better than others. Due to low water content, hard cheeses, vegan or not, better withstand the freezing temperatures. This includes vegan parmesan or vegan cheddar.

Semi-soft cheeses also freeze pretty well. They may not freeze as good as the hard cheeses but the results aren’t bad either. Freezing soft vegan cheese like vegan ricotta could be tricky.

Due to comparatively high moisture content, soft cheeses do not hold well to the freezing environment. Therefore, soft frozen cheese, frozen and thawed, won’t taste good plain.

But you can mask the quality changes by using such cheese in dishes like pasta or baked goods. The spices and cooking process make up for the altered taste of the vegan cheese.

Can you freeze vegan cheese slices?

Yes, you can freeze vegan cheese slices. Frozen vegan slices are super easy to defrost so that you do not have to worry about refreezing the defrosted leftovers. Because each freezing and thawing cycle negatively impacts the quality of the cheese.

How long does vegan cheese last in the freezer?

The shelf-life of vegan cheese depends upon the type of cheese and how you store it. If stored incorrectly, it may go bad soon before its best-by.

Therefore, you must always inspect the cheese for spoilage before you salvage it. The following table shows an estimated shelf life of the homemade and store-bought vegan cheese.

Type of cheese	In the fridge	In the freezer
Homemade vegan cheese	5 days	3 months
Store-bought vegan cheese	1 week (unopened)	6 months

How to freeze vegan cheese?

Defrosting a block of cheese could be very problematic. Therefore, the first thing you need to do before freezing vegan cheese is to grate or shred if it isn’t already. Then divide the grated or shredded cheese into portions.

This helps you defrost just the right amount of cheese at once. Pack the cheese in an air-tight container or a freezer bag.

Out of these two options, we prefer freezer bags. Because they take up less space and you can create a sort of vacuum by squeezing maximum air out of them. Vacuum sealing is your best bet if it is available.

Do not forget to label the storage medium, whatever that might be. This helps you identify the frozen food and keep track of the shelf-life of the food.

How to defrost vegan cheese?

In the fridge

This is the safest way to defrost vegan cheese. It may be time-consuming but it is worth since cheese defrosted in the fridge overnight taste and feels closest to the fresh cheese.

In the microwave

This isn’t a very safe method as there are higher chances that you may end up with melted cheese but it sure is quick. So, when you are pressed for time, take out the frozen cheese on a microwave-safe plate and microwave it on low power in 40-sec intervals.

On the counter

This is not a recommended method since it may contaminate the cheese. If you decide to use this method, make sure you do not let the cheese sit out for more than 3 hours.