Vegan cheese is becoming more and more popular as many people are choosing a plant-based diet. It is also popular with those who are lactose intolerant. You can buy all types of vegan cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella, blue cheese, feta, camembert, and soft cheese.
They are usually made from plant-based milk such as almond, oat, soya, or coconut. You can use vegan cheese in the same recipes as you would use dairy cheese. Try mac n cheese with vegan cheese or bean quesadillas and nachos. Simple grilled cheese is always a winner and vegan cheese makes a great addition to pasta and pizza (see also Is Freezing Pepperoni A Good Idea?).
Make vegan pesto parmesan breadsticks or melting mozzarella sticks. The opportunities are endless.
However, its texture is different from that of dairy cheese, so is it possible to freeze vegan cheese like you can dairy-based cheese? The simple answer is yes, although hard cheeses freeze better than soft spreads (see also Can You Freeze Burrata?). They tend to lose their consistency because of their high water content.
In this article, we will tell you how to freeze vegan cheese and how to defrost it.
How To Freeze Vegan Cheese
1. Prepare the cheese.
It is better to slice the cheese, grate it, or shred it to save time when defrosting. A block of vegan cheese will take a long time to thaw.
2. Divide the cheese into portions.
Vegan cheese doesn’t last for a long time in the fridge after it has been frozen, so it is a good idea to divide it into meal-size portions so that you only defrost as much as you need and don’t end up wasting any. This is another reason for not freezing a whole block of cheese.
3. Put the cheese into airtight containers or freezer bags.
If you are using freezer bags, remember to squeeze out all the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of your cheese. Put labels on the containers or bags with the date and the contents. If you are freezing different cheeses, it is important to know which cheese is in which bag so that you defrost the right one.
4. Freeze.
Tips For Freezing Vegan Cheese
1. Keep the vegan cheese in the fridge rather than freezing it.
Vegan cheese keeps for much longer in the fridge than dairy cheese. It can keep for a couple of months when opened. If you freeze it, it won’t then keep in the fridge for longer than a day or two. Only freeze the cheese if you want to keep it for a longer period.
2. Slice, grate, or shred your vegan cheese.
It takes a long time to defrost a block of cheese and it can be difficult to slice when defrosted. If you have a packet of sliced vegan cheese, it is better to separate them into meal-size portions as they tend to stick together. When you come to defrost them, you might not be able to get them apart.
3. Make sure that the vegan cheese is airtight.
Use an airtight container or squeeze out the air from a freezer bag. This stops freezer burn from occurring. One way to get the air out of a freezer bag is to almost close it and then insert a straw. Suck the air out and close quickly.
4. Hard vegan cheese freezes better than soft.
It’s not unsafe to freeze soft vegan cheese but it has a high water content and it will end up watery when you come to defrost it.
For How Long Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese?
If you freeze store-bought vegan cheese, it will be good for up to six months. If you make your own vegan cheese, it will last for up to three months.
How Do You Defrost Vegan Cheese?
There are three different ways in which you can defrost vegan cheese. They are in the fridge, on your worktop, or in the microwave. Whichever way you choose, always check that the packaging is still airtight. If it is, the cheese will be safe to eat. If it isn’t, throw it away as there is a risk that bacteria may have formed, and you could become sick when you eat it.
How Do You Defrost Vegan Cheese in the Fridge?
This is the best way to defrost vegan cheese. Defrosting slowly and steadily helps the cheese retain its taste and texture.
Take the vegan cheese out of the fridge and put it on a plate. Keep the packaging on the cheese to avoid losing moisture. It will take about 24 hours to defrost.
How Do You Defrost Vegan Cheese on the Worktop?
Follow the same steps as for defrosting vegan cheese in the fridge. It will take between two and a half and three hours to defrost.
How Do You Defrost Vegan Cheese in the Microwave?
Take the cheese out of the packaging and put it on a microwave-safe plate. Heat on low power for 40 seconds. Repeat if the cheese hasn’t thawed. A disadvantage is that the cheese might lose some of its texture.
Can You Refreeze Vegan Cheese?
Like with most food, it isn’t a good idea to refreeze vegan cheese. The taste and texture will be ruined by the process of freezing, defrosting, and refreezing. It also strips the cheese of its nutrients.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Vegan Cheese?
Hard vegan cheese freezes well as long as you keep it airtight. Soft vegan cheese doesn’t freeze well as it will become watery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing vegan cheese but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
Yes, many types of vegan cheese are made from nuts such as macadamia nuts, cashews, and almonds. The cheese is made by soaking the nuts in water and then grinding them into a paste. Then oil, spices, and herbs are added, and the cheese is pressed into a mold to make a block of cheese.
Yes, you can freeze vegan parmesan cheese. As it is a hard cheese, you shouldn’t notice much change in texture.
You can but you may notice a change in texture as it isn’t a hard cheese. However, this won’t matter much if you put it on a pizza or in a pasta dish.
Yes, you can, as long as it isn’t a soft cheese spread. Most vegan cheese brands can be frozen but you must ensure that they are kept airtight.
