Halloumi is a firm favourite with its hard, chewy texture and mild salty flavour it can be cooked in various ways. You can also add a whole host of different flavours to it. But cheese isnāt always known for freezing well but is halloumi different?
Can You Freeze Halloumi?
Yes, you can freeze halloumi for up to 6 months. To freeze halloumi, either slice it up or leave it as a block, wrap it in clingfilm, place it into a bag, and then carefully put it into the freezer.
Do Does Halloumi freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Halloumi? No
How To Freeze Halloumi
Halloumi is pretty easy to freeze, and you can freeze it as a block or sliced up if you prefer.
The question shouldn’t be, can you freeze halloumi, but how should you do so? Below we have outlined the two methods you’ll need for freezing halloumi successful.
How to Freeze Halloumi in a Block
If you want to keep your halloumi as a whole, knowing that you always eat a full block whenever you cook it, then follow this method:
- Wrap: Wrap the block in a layer of clingfilm. If you think there are gaps in the cling film, double wrap it to ensure it is fully airtight.
- Bag Up: Place the block into a freezer bag and then add the date to the bag.
- Freeze: Put it in the freezer and allow it to freeze for a few hours, then move it if needs be.
How to Freeze Sliced Halloumi
You might want to freeze your halloumi in slices as this is the most common way this cheese is cooked. This is still an easy process though, so just follow the few steps below.
- Slice: Slice your halloumi into the sizes and shapes you want. This works best if your halloumi slices are evenly sized.
- Prepare Parchment Paper: Cut out rectangular slices of parchment paper slightly larger than the halloumi slices.
- Stack: Stack up your halloumi slices with a piece of parchment between each slice.
- Wrap: Wrap it tightly with cling film so the package is airtight.
- Bag Up and Freeze: Put it into a freezer bag with a label with the name and date of the product on it, then place the bag into the freezer.
Unfortunately, when you freeze cooked halloumi, you’ll lose that delicious crunchy, grilled outer layer, which will soften over time in the freezer. If you can help it, try to grill your halloumi fresh, to serve, and instead freeze it uncooked.
3 Tips for Freezing Halloumi
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing halloumi to have the best results:
Keep It Packaged
If your block is still in its sealed packaging, then you can add a label to it with the freezing date, so you know when to use it and then just pop it into the freezer.
Avoid Cooking It Beforehand
When you freeze cooked halloumi, the texture will change drastically, and you’ll be left with excessively rubbery and dry halloumi. Instead, freeze it uncooked.
Ensure It Is Airtight
If air can get in, then ice crystals can form in the cheese, which will dry it out and cause major textural changes. Do all you can to ensure it is stored completely airtight.
How Long Can You Freeze Halloumi?
Halloumi can last up to around 6 months in the freezer, which is quite a long time for cheese! If you have some leftovers, this is the perfect way to keep them fresh the next time you want to use them.
As always, you must label up your frozen halloumi with the date it needs to be consumed to avoid unwanted halloumi waste further down the line.Ā
If unopened, halloumi will last for up to 12 months in the fridge. Once opened, however, it will only keep for around 2 weeks in an airtight container or sealed bag.
How Do You Defrost Halloumi?
As with any type of cheese, the best way to thaw it out in a way that helps it to keep its texture and the best method is to thaw it very slowly. Take your halloumi out of the freezer a day or two before you want to use it and put it on a plate in the fridge.
It needs to defrost very slowly, or the cheese will form ice crystals which can change the texture of the cheese completely. So allow it 24 to 48 hours of thawing time before using it.
Try not to give in to the temptation of thawing it out quickly, and always keep it in the fridge. Bacteria can grow on cheese as it warms up, so keeping it in the fridge keeps it safer for you and your family.
No, defrosting halloumi in the microwave would be a bad idea. You’ll find that the halloumi becomes dry and extremely rubbery. Instead, opt for defrosting it slowly in the fridge overnight.
Can You Refreeze Halloumi?
Halloumi should not be refrozen. It will play havoc with the texture, causing it to dry out and become excessively rubbery. Instead, if you don’t think you’ll eat a complete block of halloumi, freeze it as individual slices.
Does Halloumi Freeze Well?
On the whole, this is a cheese that freezes fairly well. As long as you follow the instructions above, you should be fine and only experience minimal texture change and the taste should remain fine!
If a step goes wrong along the way, you can experience a change in texture compared to fresh halloumi due to crystals forming in the cheese.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing halloumi or halloumi in general, then these may help:
Halloumi kebabs are easy to freeze. It’s worth considering what else you’re placing on your kebabs. If you’re using water-rich vegetables such as tomatoes or courgettes, they’ll freeze easily but can go mushy. Make halloumi kebabs up, and freeze them on a tray. Once frozen, you can store them in a container.
In the fridge, halloumi that has been removed from the packaging will last for around 3 days or up until the use-by date, whichever comes sooner.
