Cheese dip is a useful side for any dip, but it’s a vital part of nachos. You simply cannot have nachos without cheese dip.
It’s the perfect, low-effort, highly satisfying snack or group dish that nearly everyone will eat.
But what if you made too much cheese dip? Can you freeze it, and save it for another day?
As you probably know, some dairy products freeze well (see also Freezing Butter), but some are notorious for freezing disastrously.
Many dairy products lose their original flavor or consistency when frozen and defrosted, but as long as you freeze it properly, cheese dip is not one of them (see also Freezing Vegan Cheese).
There is, however, a problem. The nature of nachos is that it’s a group dish. It’s simply meant to be shared. That’s only a problem if you want it to yourself, right? No.
It increases the risk of contamination when it comes to the cheese sauce itself, especially if any of your group are guilty of double-dipping their nachos.
If you made too much cheese sauce to begin with, it helps to portion it from the get go, and then you can set some aside for freezing, while still having enough for your guests to enjoy.
The Shelf Life Of Cheese Dip
Cheese dip will last about 4 to 6 days in the fridge, and this may be longer or shorter, depending on if you made it yourself, and what kind of cheese the dip is made of.
If you freeze the cheese dip (see also Freezing Nacho Cheese Sauce), this will extend the shelf life for up to 6 months, but you’re better off using it within 4 months to keep its quality and flavor at its best.
How Do You Freeze Cheese Dip?
It’s best to freeze cheese dip (see also How To Freeze Guacamole) that hasn’t touched other food, if you can help it. That way it will be free of any contamination risks.
Make sure to ensure that the cheese dip is stone-cold, before you try to freeze it.
You’ll want to portion the cheese dip to start with. The smaller, the better, as you can always defrost more at the same time, but refreezing it isn’t a great idea, as the quality will drop further.
To make things easier, use resealable freezer bags. Portion the cheese into the bags, leaving at least an inch at the top for the cheese to expand as it freezes.
Get rid of any excess air, seal it, label it, and freeze it.
If you bought the cheese dip, but you haven’t opened it yet, you can use the original packaging. This is provided that the cheese came in a plastic container.
If it is canned, or bottled, you’ll need to decant it into an airtight container or freezer bag first.
How Do You Defrost And Reheat Cheese Dip?
The easiest way to defrost the cheese dip is to put the container straight into the fridge.
Depending on the portion size of the dip, it could take anywhere from a couple of hours to overnight to thaw all the way through.
You’ll also probably notice that the cheese dip will separate to some degree once it thaws. This is nothing to worry about. You can fix the texture of the cheese as you reheat it.
When you want to reheat the cheese dip, decant it into a pan on a very low heat. Make sure to keep stirring it so that it heats evenly, and to avoid the cheese getting stuck to the pan.
Once it’s piping hot, it’s ready for your nachos, or whatever you want to use it for.
If you prefer, you can reheat the dip in the microwave, though you might find that the texture is a bit different after cooking.
Only microwave it in short bursts of around 20 seconds at a time, and stir. Repeat until hot.
Conclusion
It’s extremely easy to make too much cheese dip, but at least you can freeze it.
This also means that you have the base for snacks whenever your stomach clangs for them, as well as saving you time, money, and reducing food waste.
It’s also helpful if you have unexpected guests, in which case you can whip up a batch of nachos in a hurry.
