Pecorino cheese comes from the milk of sheep, and you can count on it being a delicious substitute for parmesan in some of your favourite recipes. There are numerous varieties of Pecorino cheese to try, but are you able to store Pecorino cheese in the freezer?
Can You Freeze Pecorino Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze Pecorino cheese for up to 6 months. Pecorino cheese is a traditional hard cheese, so keeping it in the freezer is a great way to maintain its solid texture without losing much of its flavour.
Do Does Pecorino Cheese freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Pecorino Cheese? No
How to Freeze Pecorino Cheese
If you want to successfully freeze Pecorino then this is the basic method for doing so:
- Cut Into Portions: Before freezing your cheese, separate the Pecorino into smaller portions, whether it is grated or ungrated, so you have the choice of how much cheese you want to defrost later down the line.
- Wrap it Tightly: If you have purchased your Pecorino cheese in its vacuum seal, then great! Otherwise, using your wrapping film, tightly contain the cheese so that as little air as possible remains to potentially spoil your cheese.
- Place in a Freezer Bag: Now you put your Pecorino into the freezer bag. Make sure that any excess air is removed by squeezing the freezer bag without damaging your cheese and that the freezer bag is securely fastened.
- Date and Label: As always, you should put the date you will first freeze your Pecorino cheese on a sticker which you can then put on the outside of the freezer bag. Now you are all set to place your secured Pecorino cheese in the freezer.
However, you can freeze Pecorino cheese if it is grated too, for around the same amount of time. Just portion it out into bags, seal, and freeze.
You can store your Pecorino cheese in the freezer for up to 6 months as long as it is wrapped tightly. Inspect its quality now and then to see if it is still edible, but it should freeze fine under the right conditions.
3 Tips for Freezing Pecorino Cheese
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing Pecorino to have the best results:
Portion It Out
Whether you fancy eating your Pecorino cheese grated over your favourite recipes or keeping it in a block to take pieces out of, you should separate the Pecorino cheese into individual portions. It saves you from defrosting the whole amount in your freezer when you only want a little bit.Ā
Leave Wrapped as it Defrosts
This is done to keep the moisture of your Pecorino in to retain its flavour. Just transfer it directly from the freezer to the fridge with the wrapping film still covering it.Ā
Rotate Your Frozen Goods
It is reassuring to know that your Pecorino cheese, or any hard cheese for that matter, will freeze well. It also means you can place it at the back of your freezer so goods that cannot spend as much time frozen can go at the front. As long as you regularly check on your frozen produce, you can rotate which goods sit at the front of your freezer.Ā
How Long Can You Freeze Pecorino Cheese?
Pecorino cheese can usually freeze for up to 6 months and maintain its delicious flavour and strong texture.
Some people decide to freeze it for even longer, but remember that the longer you leave your cheese in the freezer, the worse the quality will probably be. If your cheese is still in its vacuum seal as purchased, then you can put it straight in the freezer.
Otherwise, wrapping it as tightly as possible ensures that nothing inside or outside of the wrapping is likely to affect your cheeseās quality.
How Do You Defrost Pecorino Cheese?
The best way to thaw out Pecorino cheese is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight. This prevents the cheese from harbouring harmful bacteria that can ruin your Pecorino cheese.
It is not advised to leave your Pecorino cheese at room temperature for an extended period of time as it can start to rot, so refrigerating straight from the freezer is a sensible idea.
Can You Refreeze Pecorino Cheese?
It is never advised to refreeze Pecorino cheese. Freezing your Pecorino cheese a second time will compromise its quality and leave you with brittle cheese that is inedible.
Therefore, you should consume your Pecorino cheese after it has been frozen and defrosted only once.
Does Pecorino Cheese Freeze Well?
Yes, Pecorino cheese freezes well. Some people complain that Pecorino cheese can develop an almost metallic taste after the freezing process, but you can take steps to combat this with airtight packing and regular checks on its physical appearance.
Bear in mind that its packaging must be sufficient for best results and to defrost it in the freezer. If the right measures are taken, you can expect top-quality Pecorino cheese.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing Pecorino or Italian cheese in general, then these may help:
Unopened pecorino will last for around 8 months in the fridge. Once opened, it will begin to dry out with oxidation so should be used within a month or so. It should always be wrapped in cling film.
Yes, it’s possible to freeze grated pecorino cheese but it will clump together as it freezes. The best way to freeze it is to bag it up and place it in the freezer. Every 20 minutes or so, give it a quick shake until it has frozen solid but not in one clump.
