Are you wondering if you can freeze goat cheese to extend its shelf life? And if so, how?
Indeed, goat cheese is one of the cheeses favored for its unique, sharp flavor as well as its harmonious combination in many recipes.
So if you are a big fan of these nutritious and delicious cheeses to make, for example, mouthwatering savory breakfasts, but you might be upset when seeing your goat cheese runny or lumped in the refrigerator or have to waste leftovers after cooking.
This article will give you exact and detailed answers to help you feel free to buy goat cheese in promotions for long-term use, and without having to throw away cheese anymore, you will save a considerable amount of money!
Let’s read it together!
What Is Goat Cheese?
Goat cheese is often called chevre, made from goat’s milk. It has a complex flavor, softer texture, and contains more fat, less lactose than cow cheese. Furthermore, goat cheese is distinctive in different white shades and can sometimes be accompanied by spices or herbs toppings.
In case you can’t buy them in your local market, there are many types of foods that can replace goat cheese ideally, from vegan to non-vegan diet. In contrast, you can use this cheese as an ideal alternative to feta cheese, blue cheese, etc. Very versatile, isn’t it?
There are 2 main types of goat cheese: block and spreads; it participates in many different recipes to create the dish’s texture and increase the flavor and overall appearance of the dish.
It’s great to go with snacks like sandwiches, crackers, serve it in your most-liked cold starters, mix with salads or pasta, top with pizza, and add to soups.
It combines well with wine and beer. Not only is it a great addition to dishes, but goat cheese also has amazing health benefits.
Is Goat Cheese Good For Health?
Goat cheese contains many nutrients, is an excellent source of protein, calcium, fat, vitamins, making it one of the healthiest cheeses.
Some of the specific health benefits of goat cheese are as follows:
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Improve Gut Health
Goat cheese contains many probiotics that are beneficial for the gut, digestive system, and immune system.
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Strong Bones
Calcium in goat cheese is an essential nutrient for strong bones and the prevention of osteoporosis.
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Weight Loss
The fatty acids in goat cheese such as omega 3 are rapidly metabolized, creating a feeling of fullness faster and less hungry, supporting effective weight loss.
Can You Freeze Goat Cheese?
You can freeze goat cheese always to have it for your favorite dishes.
No matter what type of goat cheese you freeze it, the critical thing to keep in mind that you should minimize the exposure of goat cheese to oxygen as oxygen can destroy the flavor of the goat cheese even at freezing temperatures.
Freezing cheese is a great way to store it instead of refrigerating it, as cheese that stays in the fridge will become hard, chalky, and spoiled for a long time.
For more information, if you wonder whether to freeze cottage cheese or if it’s alright to freeze cream cheese – both ideal replacements for goat cheese, the answer is yes. However, you need to know the right techniques to freeze these cheese varieties properly.
With Goat Cheese Blocks
Here are the steps I recommend for you to freeze goat cheese block form properly.
Step 1: Cut cheese into small chunks for easy management and use.
Step 2: Wrap a piece of cheese tightly with cheese wrapping paper
Step 3: Place this cheese in a zip bag or a sealable freezer bag. You can use a vacuum sealer to absorb oxygen in the bag and seal it.
Step 4: Write the frozen date on the bag to track its quality and use it before time expires.
With Spreadable Goat Cheese
This goat cheese has a softer texture than a block cheese, and you can freeze it with the following recommended steps.
Step 1: With the cheese box unopened, you can put it directly in the freezer. If you want to freeze the leftover goat cheese, remove all of it from the box and roll it into a round shape so that the edges are as smooth as possible to allow oxygen to escape.
Step 2: Wrap the cheese in plastic wrap, trying to keep its round shape.
Step 3: Put this cheese ball in the freezer bag, suck out the air out of the bag, and quickly close the bag.
Step 4: Note the freezing time and its shelf life on the bag and put it in the freezer.
How Long Can Goat Cheese Keep In The Freezer?
If you store the goat cheese properly and do not put oxygen inside the bag, it can be in the freezer for about 6 months.
However, over time its taste and texture will fade, so the faster you should use it, the better it will retain the same quality as the original fresh goat cheese.
How To Thaw Frozen Goat Cheese?
Once you know how to freeze goat cheese, another essential thing you need to know to have the great cheese to use is how to thaw it.
The best way to thaw cheese is to keep it in the refrigerator overnight or longer until it softens. A slow temperature change will keep a better quality frozen product. Then, stir it well to regain the creamy of the cheese.
Goat cheese should not be thawed at room temperature, as it can be watery, lose texture and facilitate bacteria and mold growth.
If you want to use goat cheese right away, a microwave can be a good choice for defrosting it. About 10 seconds are enough to thaw goat cheese, and you should not leave it in the microwave for too long as the cheese will over melt and not retain its original texture.
Bonus Tips
- You should only freeze goat cheese if it is valid for use, especially if it shows signs of spoilage such as mold, mold, discoloration, an unpleasant odor, or watery; you should discard it instead of freeze it.
- After thawing cheese, you should not freeze goat cheese again as it will no longer retain the texture and flavor of the original cheese.
- When you add the goat cheese spread to the container, you will need to fill the container to prevent air from entering. If the cheese isn’t enough, add extra olive oil to fill those gaps.
FAQs
Please keep reading some frequently asked questions and their answers that will help you a lot when eating goat cheese, so read on!
Expectation Vs. Reality
Now you don’t have to worry about storing a large stock of goat cheese for use as you can completely freeze it to extend its shelf life. To have a safely frozen goat cheese and retain its original texture and flavor, you need to know how to freeze it properly.
When not properly preserved, goat cheese can lose its value and cause damage and waste. Therefore, when storing, you should be careful and should not skip any steps.
Which dishes do you usually use goat cheese for? Do you have a habit of storing goat cheese in the freeze?
If you found this article helpful, please share it with goat cheese lovers to know and always have cheese for your favorite dishes!
I am also ready to answer questions related to this article, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
