Can You Freeze Edam Cheese?

3 minutes

You may or may not be aware but when it comes to most dairy products, and this includes cheese, you’ll often find that it doesn’t freeze particularly well. But, can the same be said about Edam cheese?

How To Freeze Edam Cheese

Once you open a block of Edam, it’ll last for around 4 weeks if you have wrapped and stored it properly in the fridge.

But sometimes, that simply isn’t long enough so know that there are ways to freeze it can be incredibly helpful – but you need to freeze it correctly.

1. Portion Up: Take your remaining block of Edam cheese and portion it up. You want to cut it into blocks that you know you’ll use in one go to avoid wastage.
2. Wrap: Wrap each blog in a layer of clingfilm followed by a layer of foil. This will prevent oxidation from occurring on the surface of the cheese which can ruin the texture.
3. Bag Up and Freeze: Place each wrapped block into a freezer bag or airtight container and place it in the freezer.

How to Freeze Sliced Edam Cheese

You can freeze sliced Edam but you’ll find the texture will change pretty quickly because you have exposed such a large surface area of the cheese. If you can avoid it, freeze it sliced and, instead, freeze it in blocks as we have done above.

If you do decide to freeze sliced Edam then use the same method by wrapping each slice in clingfilm and then storing it in a bag.

3 Tips for Freezing Edam Cheese

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing Edam cheese to have the best results:

Wrap Securely
Keeping the air out is vital so make sure you wrap the cheese in multiple layers to ensure there is no way for the air to find a way in.

Label Clearly
Make sure you clearly label the Edam with the type of cheese so you can tell the difference between frozen Edam and Gouda, for example. 

Use Cooked
Like a lot of cheese varieties, Edam doesn’t freeze well if you plan on using it raw in a sandwich or salad. However, if you’re going to melt it then you won’t notice the difference so try to use it in cooked dishes. 

How Long Can You Freeze Edam Cheese?

Dairy products will degrade quite quickly in the freezer. The flavour won’t change too much but, texturally, you’ll notice the difference. It can become grainy or gritty as the fats freeze at a different rate from the rest of the cheese.

That’s why we would limit the time it is in the freezer to 3 months.

Beyond this point and provided that it has been frozen correctly, it will remain safe to eat, but might not be quite as tasty or enjoyable.

How Do You Defrost Edam Cheese?

You have two options here: You can either freeze it slowly in the fridge overnight or you can use the microwave to quickly thaw it. If you opt for freezing it slowly in the fridge then you can keep it in the fridge for a few days before it needs to all be consumed.

If, however, you have opted to use the microwave to thaw it then you need to make sure you use it immediately.

Can You Refreeze Edam Cheese?

We would strongly advise against refreezing Edam. Unfortunately, freezing it once will instantly impact the texture. Freezing it for a second time will accelerate this change and make it inedible and unpleasant at best. 

Instead, portion the Edam out so you can easily defrost a small piece at a time, negating the need to ever refreeze it. 

Does Edam Cheese Freeze Well?

This isn’t an easy question to answer. This is because it comes down to how you’re going to use it. Edam cheese has a recognisable semi-hard and almost rubbery texture. When it is frozen, it is going to lose this quality. It is likely to become a little grainy and crumbly.

If you plan on using it raw in sandwiches for example then it is not a good idea to freeze it. If, however, you’re going to melt it or use it in sauces then freezing Edam will work fine.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing Edam cheese or Edam in general, then these may help: