### Author:  [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/1 "2017-11-30T16:03:57Z")
The day before my doctors told me to go on a clear liquid diet due to gastric issues and possible surgery, I had stocked up for the month on groceries. Such delightful menus were dancing in my head. \
I have several cheeses, including a bunch of my beloved Philadelphia cream cheese sitting in the fridge which were destined to be spread upon bagels from the local baker.
Since I won’t be able to consume them for unseen days into the future and I hate wasting food, is it possible to toss cheese into the freezer for later consumption? Never tried it, hence the question.
Yes, it sucks. Especially when I watch the food/cooking channels on TV and I CAN’T HAVE ANY OF THAT GOOD STUFF!
GRRRR.
MODS: Not sure sure if this should go into IMHO or Cafe Society. Move as you see fit. Meanwhile, I will be in my corner sipping chicken broth.
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### Author:  [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/2 "2017-11-30T16:07:14Z")
My experience with cheese that has been frozen is not good. It tends to become hard and crumbly when it thaws. The flavor was off a bit too. Don’t know about cream cheese.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/3 "2017-11-30T16:08:47Z")
Do you mean Philadelphia brand cream cheese? What is the date on it – it should last a while in the fridge.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/4 "2017-11-30T16:12:54Z")
It’ll be safe, but it might only be good for cooking with when it comes out.
Very hard cheeses will last forever in the fridge if they’re in airtight wrapping.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/5 "2017-11-30T16:20:17Z")
We bought a big block (I mean, big) of jack-dill cheese at the end of summer when a local tourist place was closing and clearancing out their cheeses. We cut it into smaller blocks, and we froze them. We thawed a block just before Thanksgiving to make mac and cheese. When it thawed, the corners were a bit mushy, but the rest of it was fine. Granted, we cooked with it. I don’t know about the consistency of it had we just eaten it straight off the block.
But yes, you can freeze cheese. Don’t know about cream cheese.
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/6 "2017-11-30T16:27:31Z")
From several articles - you can safely freeze cream cheese, but the texture will change once it’s thawed.
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/7 "2017-11-30T16:35:20Z")
The only downside to freezing hard cheese that I have experienced is that sometimes it’s crumbly and hard to get nice slices from it after it thaws. Taste is fine.
I have never frozen cream cheese, but unopened, it should be good in your fridge for quite a while.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/8 "2017-11-30T16:38:11Z")
A lot of cheeses lose texture from freezing. Otherwise the taste won’t suffer much. Perfectly good if you are going to melt the cheese in the end.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/9 "2017-11-30T16:47:08Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#):
>
> Very hard cheeses will last forever in the fridge if they’re in airtight wrapping.
I’ve got two waxed truckles of cheddar that have been in my fridge for nearly a year now. I will buy the cheese for next Christmas just after this Christmas (when it’s reduced in price)
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### Author:  [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/10 "2017-11-30T17:13:27Z")
Thanks all for the quick replies. So it seems that if I freeze it, it is better to melt it and use it in some sort of recipe that accepts it.
My friend said “Just let it grow mold. After all that is how they make Blue cheese”.
After rolling my eyes, I said I think I will pass on that.
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### Author:  [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/11 "2017-11-30T17:28:54Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> I’ve got two waxed truckles of cheddar that have been in my fridge for nearly a year now. I will buy the cheese for next Christmas just after this Christmas (when it’s reduced in price)
The thing is, the last time I bought a big block of cheddar and stored it our shared fridge, it went moldy and dry.
I have no qualms about scraping mold off of cheese and it was perhaps stored improperly, but I don’t want this stuff to go to waste.
Perhaps I should trek down to my neighbors’ house (whom I have only met once) and ask them if they want some free cheese.
(Me with a wild and tangly overgrown beard, a “Salt Free Shark Free” sweat-shirt, camo pants, and holding about 15 pounds of cheese in my hands knocking on their door. Comedy may ensue).
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### Author:  [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/12 "2017-11-30T17:37:47Z")
I’ve frequently bought hard cheese in large blocks and frozen half. For this particular cheese at least I’ve noticed no differences.
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### Author:  [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/13 "2017-11-30T17:41:06Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#):
>
> My friend said “Just let it grow mold. After all that is how they make Blue cheese”.
>
> After rolling my eyes, I said I think I will pass on that.
While you shouldn’t eat the mold that grows on cheese in your fridge, you can safely cut it off and eat the inner cheese.
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### Author:  [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/14 "2017-11-30T18:07:50Z")
What they said. You can safely cut the mold off of hard block cheeses, then use a clean knife to cut off whatever you want to eat. IME, most cheeses that have been frozen are best used for cooking, but try a bit first to see if any changes in texture or flavor are acceptable.
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### Author:  [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/15 "2017-11-30T19:05:46Z")
> [@racer72](#):
>
> My experience with cheese that has been frozen is not good. It tends to become hard and crumbly when it thaws. The flavor was off a bit too. Don’t know about cream cheese.
To avoid the crumbliness, when defrosting the cheese, allow it to come fully to room temperature, then refrigerate as usual.
In my part of the world, cheese is incredibly expensive compared to the USA. I frequently buy a truckload of it when it goes on sale, freeze 95% of it, and thaw as needed. Allowing the cheese to come to room temperature after freezing eliminates the crumbly problem.
I haven’t noticed any flavour difference between frozen and fresh cheese.
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### Author:  [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/16 "2017-11-30T20:46:08Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#):
>
> To avoid the crumbliness, when defrosting the cheese, allow it to come fully to room temperature, then refrigerate as usual.
>
> In my part of the world, cheese is incredibly expensive compared to the USA. I frequently buy a truckload of it when it goes on sale, freeze 95% of it, and thaw as needed. Allowing the cheese to come to room temperature after freezing eliminates the crumbly problem.
>
> I haven’t noticed any flavour difference between frozen and fresh cheese.
I don’t buy quite that much cheese, but I agree with you. Seal the cheese tightly and it should freeze just fine. In fact, I usually freeze three or four grilled cheese sandwiches (i.e., before grilling) each time I make them. I don’t even thaw them before tossing them in a pan.
As far as cream cheese…I don’t even consider that to be a real cheese, so I probably shouldn’t comment. However, I have frozen cream cheese before unsealing the package and it was absolutely fine, even after six months.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/17 "2017-11-30T21:51:50Z")
> [@racer72](#):
>
> My experience with cheese that has been frozen is not good. It tends to become hard and crumbly when it thaws.
Try slicing the brick before freezing. We’ve done that with cheese that’s about to get moldy: slice & freeze so it will last longer.
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### Author:  [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/18 "2017-12-01T04:00:40Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#):
>
> Thanks all for the quick replies. So it seems that if I freeze it, it is better to melt it and use it in some sort of recipe that accepts it.
> My friend said “Just let it grow mold. After all that is how they make Blue cheese”.
>
> After rolling my eyes, I said I think I will pass on that.
Good idea. Soft cheeses like cream cheese need to be thrown out when mold grows on them: the hyphae (roots of the fungus, if you will) are so fine/thin that you can’t see them spread throughout the rest of the cheese. [Is It Safe to Eat Moldy Bread or Cheese?](https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/01/10/moldy-bread-cheese.aspx)
We regularly buy blocks of cheese and freeze them. They do get crumbly but taste fine and cook nicely. We also freeze cottage cheese (buying extras when it’s on sale) and just let a container thaw in the fridge. You have to stir it a bit to get the whey mixed back in.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/19 "2017-12-01T04:14:39Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#):
>
> … In my part of the world, cheese is incredibly expensive compared to the USA. …
Cheese is always, always on sale here in Ontario. One brand or another will be like $5 or $6 bucks CDN for 400 or 450 grams.
I’m not talking gourmet, just Cracker Barrel, no name and the like.
That’s like $4 or $5 US bucks a pound. What do you pay in the US?
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2017, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-freeze-cheese/803152/20 "2017-12-01T04:24:06Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#):
>
> To avoid the crumbliness, when defrosting the cheese, allow it to come fully to room temperature, then refrigerate as usual.
>
> In my part of the world, cheese is incredibly expensive compared to the USA. I frequently buy a truckload of it when it goes on sale, freeze 95% of it, and thaw as needed. Allowing the cheese to come to room temperature after freezing eliminates the crumbly problem.
>
> I haven’t noticed any flavour difference between frozen and fresh cheese.
If 95% of the cheese you eat has been through a freeze/thaw cycle, that may not be surprising.
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