Vegan cheese has become more and more popular in the last couple of years, mostly fuelled by a dramatic increase in interest in plant-based or vegan diets.
Vegans can now enjoy various types of cheddar, brie, soft cheese, camembertā¦even Babybels are vegan now! Vegan cheeses are often made using coconut products instead of dairy, so the textures and tastes are slightly different but will that affect how well vegan cheeses freeze?
Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese? Yes, you can freeze most vegan cheese. It can be frozen for around 5-6 months if unopened and store-bought. If you have made your own vegan cheese, this will last around 3 months in the freezer.
Do Does Vegan Cheese freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Vegan Cheese? No
How to Freeze Vegan Cheese
If you have decided that you want to freeze your vegan cheese, youāre going to ideally shred, grate or slice it versus freezing it in an entire block. Although it’s possible to freeze as a block and it will freeze as a block, it doesn’t make much sense.
Here are our simple steps to freezing vegan cheese successfully:
- Prepare the Cheese
Choose how you want to freeze the cheese and prepare it accordingly. This could be in individual slices, grated or shredded. - Portion Into Containers
Portion out your cheese then place it into airtight containers or wrap in sealed bags. It is key to make sure the packaging is airtight and the cheese is not exposed to the air. - Freeze
Finally, label the containers with the cheese type (especially if you’re freezing differnet varities of vegan cheese) and then place into the freezer.
4 Tips for Freezing Vegan Cheese
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 4 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing vegan cheese to have the best results:
Just Leave It in the Fridge
Vegan cheeses often last much longer than dairy cheeses in the fridge, up to 4 months. If you think you are going to eat it within this period, I recommend eating it fresh and keeping it in the fridge.
Consider Different Types of Vegan Cheese
The cheeses that freeze well are typically the hard cheeses such as cheddar, halloumi, Greek cheeses etc. It is not recommended to try and freeze any soft or spreadable cheeses as this will alter the texture too much.
Shred, Grate or Slice the Cheese Before Freezing
Itās better to have more individual servings than fewer as you can always use more. But when slices are frozen together, or if you are freezing a big block of cheese, it can be difficult to separate the slices or it may take a long time to defrost the whole block.
Wrap Cheese Well!
Ideally, you want to freeze vegan cheese before it has been opened and keep it in the original packaging. However, if you do want to freeze cheese once itās been opened, make sure you either wrap it in a sealed, air-tight bag or very tightly in cling film.
How Long Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese?
Unopened vegan cheese can remain in the freezer for up to 6 months, so it can be a great product to stock up on in bulk. If you have made your own vegan cheese then reduce this time to 3 months.
You Can Freeze Vegan Cheese for up to 6 Months
How Do You Defrost Vegan Cheese?
If you have frozen vegan cheese and now want to defrost it, you should know how to do it right to avoid changes in texture and taste as much as possible.
There are three ways of defrosting plant-based cheese depending on how much time you have. You can defrost the cheese:
- In the fridge
- On the counter
- In the microwave
How to Defrost in the Fridge
Defrosting vegan cheese in the refrigerator is the best way to bring it back to life.
One important thing to consider is how well the cheese has been packaged in the freezer. If the packaging is nice and airtight, then the cheese is still safe to consume.
However, if the packaging is damaged and the cheese could have been exposed to air whilst in the freezer, it might have absorbed unwanted bacteria and therefore should not be eaten.
To defrost vegan cheese in the fridge, place the cheese on a plate and let it thaw for 24 to 48 hours. It is recommended to leave the packaging on to avoid losing the moisture and taste the cheese had before being placed in the freezer.
How to Defrost on the Counter
Defrosting cheese on the counter requires the same steps as doing it in the fridge. The only difference is that it will thaw in less time: ā 2 to 3 hours.
How to Defrost in the Microwave
If you are in a rush, you can also use a microwave to defrost vegan cheese.
Take the cheese out of the packaging, place it on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for approximately 40 seconds. Do not use a high power setting, use a lower setting to ensure the cheese can be evenly thawed.
Can You Refreeze Vegan Cheese?
Ideally, you should not refreeze vegan cheese. Freezing, thawing and then refreezing vegan cheese will greatly impact the taste and texture of the cheese and it will also destroy any nutrients in the cheese.
It is recommended that once you have defrosted vegan cheese, you use it as soon as possible.
Does Vegan Cheese Freeze Well?
Most vegan cheeses do freeze well, providing they are kept airtight. Try to freeze only the hard cheeses as the soft ones will spoil too easily.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing vegan cheese or vegan cheese in general, then these may help:
