Cheese balls are the perfect appetizer if you’re throwing a party, but what if your guests don’t eat as many as you estimated?
While it’s a common practice to eat whatever leftover party food you may have for the following few days after the party, it doesn’t mean you should. You’ll also probably get sick of having the same thing over and over.
Or maybe you don’t have them at parties. Maybe you spied that they were on offer in your local supermarket, and you couldn’t resist. Or, you’re still there, and you’re wondering if buying them is a good idea, and it all depends on whether or not you can freeze them.
Can You Freeze Cheese Balls?
When it comes to freezing cheese balls (see also How To Freeze Mozzarella), it really depends on the type of cheese balls you want to freeze, as some freeze better than others.
Cheese balls which include nuts are fine to freeze, but stay away from those which are covered in a jelly or marmalade, as they don’t freeze very well at all.
The best cheese balls to freeze are the plain ones, and you can always jazz them up with herbs or nuts after you thaw them.
Cheese balls can also lose some of their shape while they are in the freezer, or some of the smooth texture. Adding chopped nuts or other coatings will help disguise this, and really, it’s not a bad thing that they aren’t uniform.
In the freezer, cheese balls will last up to a month before the quality starts to degrade.
How Do You Freeze Cheese Balls?
If you haven’t opened the packaging, this is the perfect way to freeze them. Simply put the whole thing into the freezer, making sure it won’t get flattened by anything heavier.
If you have opened the packaging, you can freeze the cheese balls by wrapping each of them in a double layer of foil or cling wrap, making sure that it’s airtight.
Transfer the cheese balls into a freezer bag, or a rigid airtight container. Don’t forget to label the container.
When you want to freeze leftover cheese balls, remember that they shouldn’t have been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
After that point, the risk of bacterial growth is high, and they won’t be safe to eat.
How Do You Thaw Cheese Balls?
Let the cheese balls defrost in the fridge the night before you need them. Make sure to eat them within a few days, and don’t refreeze them.
Before serving, leave them out on the counter for about 10 minutes or so in order to warm up.
Conclusion
Freezing cheese balls is worth doing (see also Can You Freeze Grated Cheese) to extend the shelf life of these tasty appetizers, but how well the cheese balls freeze depends on the ingredients. Plain cheese balls (see also Freezing Cheese Curds) are much easier to freeze.
If you’re making them from scratch, avoid using crumbly cheese, as this won’t weather well in the freezer, or once you’ve defrosted them.
