It’s always handy to have a tub of cheese spread in the fridge, as it’s delicious when added to toast and is great as a tasty snack.
But if you’ve got more cheese spread than you need at any given time, you might be wondering how best to store it. So, can you freeze cheese spread or not?
Cheese spread can be frozen for up to 2 months but it will change the texture and become grainy when frozen. As such, it’s probably best to only freeze cheese spread if you’re not overly concerned with its texture.
Do Does Cheese Spread freeze well? No
Can you refreeze Cheese Spread? No
How to Freeze Cheese Spread
If you have an unopened tub of cheese spread, you can place it directly in the freezer when you bring it home from the supermarket.
However, if you’re planning to freeze cheese spread that you’ve been using in the kitchen, you will have to wrap or bag it up before freezing it in order to protect it from freezer burn.
And while the texture of your cheese spread will change considerably in the freezer, you can still freeze it by following the simple steps listed below.
- Wrap
Place your tub of cheese spread on a sheet of cling film and wrap it tightly. - Bag Up
Next, place the wrapped tub in a freezer-safe bag and seal it. - Label and Freeze
Write the use-by date on the front of the bag and place your cheese spread in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze cheese spread for around two months.
4 Tips for Freezing Cheese Spread
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 4 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing cheese spread to have the best results:
Freeze Cheese Spread as a Last Resort
Although you can freeze cheese spread, we wouldn’t recommend doing it. This is because the texture changes so drastically during the freezing process, and you will be left with a grainy, somewhat unpleasant tub of cheese that won’t be suitable for freezing.
Freeze Harder Cheeses Instead
The main reason that cheese spread doesn’t freeze well is due to its high water content. And while you can freeze spread if you’re not overly concerned with the texture, we’d advise freezing hard cheeses if you want them to resemble their original consistency after they have thawed.
Cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella typically freeze much better than soft cheeses and spreads.
Store in the Fridge
Cheese spread should be good for several weeks when you store it in the fridge, particularly when it is unopened. As soon as you open the tub, it’s a good idea to add it to a sealable bag before returning it to the fridge to protect it for as long as you can.
If you’re worried about your cheese spread going to waste, buy smaller tub sizes from the supermarket.
Mix Once Thawed
If you decide to freeze cheese spread, you will need to mix it well once you have thawed it. This will help it regain some of its desired consistency, even though it will still be markedly different from what it was before it was frozen.
How Long Can You Freeze Cheese Spread?
You can freeze cheese spread for around two months. As mentioned, cheese spread doesn’t freeze particularly well, so we wouldn’t advise freezing it for any longer than this.
You can keep your cheese spread in the fridge until it passes its use-by date. Once opened, wrap your cheese spread tightly before storing it in the fridge so it doesn’t spoil.
You Can Freeze Cheese Spread for up to 2 Months
How Do You Defrost Cheese Spread?
When you’re ready to use your frozen cheese spread, you will need to transfer it from the freezer to the fridge. It will take several hours for your cheese spread to thaw, so it’s best to thaw it the night before you plan to use it in your recipe.
You should never thaw cheese spread at room temperature or in the microwave, as both methods will affect its texture even more.
Can You Refreeze Cheese Spread?
No, you should only freeze cheese spread once. The moisture content of cheese spread changes drastically during the freezing process, and your spread will be dry and crumbly once it has been frozen.
If you were to freeze it for a second time, your spread would be practically inedible and would be far from appetizing.
The bottom line is that you opt to freeze cheese spread in the first place, you definitely shouldn’t freeze it for a second time.
Does Cheese Spread Freeze Well?
Cheese spread doesn’t freeze well, and you should only really freeze it as a last resort. It will dry out and go crumbly once it has been frozen, which is far from ideal if you’re hoping to enjoy your cheese as a spread once it has been defrosted.
So, when it comes to freezing cheese, it’s best to stick to freezing hard cheeses to avoid disappointment.
