Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese? (2024)

FAQs

Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese? ›

Ideally, store the cheese in the back of your freezer, where the temperature is the lowest. The door of your freezer is a bit warmer and can fluctuate in temperature whenever you open and close it. Stored properly, fresh ricotta will last in the freezer for one to three months.

If you have an unopened container of ricotta, you can stick the whole thing right in the freezer, but if the package has been opened, you have to transfer the cheese to a new container. Use a clean, airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn and bacterial contamination.

Because ricotta has a high moisture content, the water in it will become ice once it's frozen, causing the texture to change. As the curds and whey are divided by the ice, the cheese will become more dry and crumbly in texture.

In a pinch, you can freeze ricotta cheese, but you may have some texture changes after thawing. When I have leftover ricotta cheese, I place small portions in heavy-duty freezer bags or an airtight container and, for best results, use it within three months.

Soft cheeses such as camembert and brie, as well as ricotta and cottage cheese, that have a higher water and fat content can still be frozen, but just know that their texture will suffer. Cream cheese can be frozen, too!

Before freezing, the moisture in a cheese is distributed evenly throughout its interior, along with fat, protein, and minerals. Freezing turns that moisture into ice crystals, which damages the cheese's structure and can affect whether its texture is crumbly or pliable, firm or pasty after thawing.

Ricotta doesn't have much of a smell to it, so if it smells foul or off in any way, then it's time to throw it out. Additionally, look for any change in the ricotta's appearance.

When it comes to the creamy and cheesy layer, ricotta, cottage cheese, and béchamel fillings can all be frozen, although béchamel varieties tend to weather the freezing process a bit better. Both meat and vegetable lasagnas can be frozen, but be sure to fully cook any meat before assembling and freezing.

Do not boil aggressively; the ricotta will be rubbery. Tip: while the mixture is heating up, use a wooden spoon to stir in a “figure 8” motion so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot.

Freezing cheese doesn't affect the flavor much but it does affect the texture. This is why it is best for melting rather than thawing and trying to use fresh in recipes. See “Serving and Cooking Suggestions” above for more ideas on how to best use frozen cheese in recipes.

Can you vacuum seal ricotta cheese? ›

It is perfectly safe to vacuum-seal hard cheeses, but soft cheeses such as blue cheese, brie, camembert, ricotta, and other soft and unpasteurized cheeses, can actually produce mould faster in a vacuum than in regular air.

Yes you can thaw ricotta cheese in the microwave, it is easier to thaw the harder cheeses such as cheddar or provolone. Softer cheeses like ricotta and brie are soft cheeses which when thawing begin to sweat and melt when defrosted. When thawing cheese iy is preferred to thaw it in the fridge over 3 days.

1. How long can cheese sit out before it becomes unsafe to eat? For the best taste and quality, cheese should not be left out for longer than two hours at room temperature. Hard cheeses can be left out longer without becoming unsafe, but the quality and taste may change.

Ricotta is about 74% water, and when that water transforms into ice, it disrupts the cheese's texture and makes it dry, crumbly, and slightly grainy.

Freezing cheese stops bacterial growth completely. Frozen cheeses should be used within six months of freezing and then used within two to three days of thawing.

In general, hand-crafted cheeses with delicate flavors and aromas don't freeze well and are best bought in smaller portions and eaten fresh. Freezing is also not recommended for fresh curd cheeses like cottage cheese, ricotta, and quark due to their high moisture content.

“Yes, you can freeze ricotta. Fresh mozzarella can be frozen as well. No need to freeze our feta and the hard cheeses such as Atwells Gold (our asiago), Cheddar, and Divine Providence (our Gouda).” You can also freeze milk, eggs and butter.

When that ice defrosts, the consistency of ricotta becomes more watery and less creamy. Fat separation is why it's essential to whip or stir defrosted ricotta to bring back a creamy consistency, although it's sometimes impossible to avoid the grainy texture.