# OK to freeze deli cheese?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 18, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173 "2012-10-18T22:50:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/1 "2012-10-18T22:50:07Z")
If I buy a couple of pounds of sliced pepper jack cheese from the deli, can I freeze most of the slices in ziplock freezer bags? How long will it last in the freezer if I do?
I’m thinking of buying 2 pounds and breaking it into 4 half pound sections and then freezing 3 of these.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/2 "2012-10-18T22:57:50Z")
Depending on the cheese it may be a mess after freezing. But cheddar survives freezing fairly well. The slices may not come apart after freezing and thawing. It certainly won’t be inedible, just losing texture and flavor.
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### Author:  [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/3 "2012-10-19T02:52:46Z")
Yeah–OK, but not great. We freeze sliced cheddar (make sure the slices are thick) that we get from Costco all the time … but, it is definitely much crumblier after thawing. Once it’s in a sandwich, though, who cares?
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/4 "2012-10-19T03:16:26Z")
It will definitely be more crumbly after freezing, but it doesn’t bother me. I have eaten cheddar that as been in the freezer for like a year. I figure if it’s been frozen, it’s fine.
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### Author:  [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/5 "2012-10-19T03:21:45Z")
If you plan on melting the cheese in casseroles, freezing it is fine. As stated above, freezing changes the texture, making it more crumbly after thawing.
If you are thinking of making a sandwich platter with meats and sliced cheeses, don’t freeze it.
~VOW
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/6 "2012-10-20T01:33:03Z")
The cheese will be used for sandwiches and cheeseburgers, so sounds like I can freeze it without too many problems.
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### Author:  [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/7 "2012-10-20T01:36:39Z")
It’s crumbelievable!
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### Author:  [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/8 "2012-10-20T02:37:31Z")
I’ve never tried freezing it, so I don’t know, but sealing the cheese with a food sealer works amazingly well. It keeps for months in the frig that way.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/9 "2012-10-20T03:16:30Z")
make sure it is wrapped tightly, double wrapped, with no air. some of the deterioration happens when water is drawn out of the cheese and wrapping well will minimize that.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/10 "2013-03-09T19:23:52Z")
I’ve tried freezing cheese, it sucks! Unless it is going to be used in a casserole, freezing deli cheese does not work. I can’t even peel off a slice to put on a burger ☹
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### Author:  [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-freeze-deli-cheese/638173/11 "2013-03-09T22:22:51Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> The cheese will be used for sandwiches and cheeseburgers, so sounds like I can freeze it without too many problems.
You may want to slice it before you freeze it. Trying to slice a brick after it has been frozen and thawed often results in cheese gravel.