Freezes well: can Gouda cheese be stored in the freezer and for how long?
Gouda is a hard Dutch cheese made from cow's milk. It is used not only to decorate a cheese plate. But also as an ingredient for preparing salads, pastas, sauces and other dishes.
If the fermented milk product was prepared in large quantities, it can be stored in the freezer.
In order for Gouda to retain its taste and beneficial properties after defrosting, you need to follow certain rules and recommendations.
Is it possible to freeze Gouda cheese, and how long to store the product in the freezer, we will tell you further.
Content
Can it be frozen?
Like other types of hard cheeses, Gouda can be frozen. But it must be taken into account that under the influence of low temperatures, this variety may slightly change its consistency. Or it will start to crumble after defrosting.
Therefore, it is better to use this product for preparing hot dishes: sandwiches, pizzas, or adding it to salads.
Shelf life in the freezer
Frozen Gouda is best used within 2-6 months after freezing. If the product has not been used during this time, it is better to discard it.
Some store-bought Gouda samples may have holes in them. And any cheese with holes, as well as varieties with cracks, may be susceptible to frost burn.
Therefore, throughout the freezing period, it is recommended to check whether the cheese preparations have deteriorated.
How to freeze correctly?
Gouda can be frozen in three ways:
- small bars;
- thin slices;
- grated.
Each type of product has its own freezing rules.
In portions
How to freeze portioned cheese:
- Cut the product into slices. It is not recommended to place large pieces of product into the chamber. The cheese needs to be chopped into smaller pieces. It is recommended to divide the cheese wheel or block into portions weighing up to 200 g. Small slices will be frozen completely and will melt faster with further defrosting.
- Wrap the cheese in film. Plastic cling film or a plastic ziplock bag is suitable for this. The prepared pieces need to be wrapped as tightly as possible, trying to squeeze out all the excess air from the packaging. Otherwise, the product may suffer frost burn.
- The wrapped Gouda should also be placed in another freezer bag. This will provide the product with additional protection from the cold.
- Indicate the time and date of freezing. To track how long the fermented milk product has been in the freezer, you need to make marks on the bag with a waterproof marker. The packaging indicates the freezing date and expiration date of the product.
Grated or chopped
If Gouda will be used not for sandwiches or a cheese plate, but for cooking, it must be chopped into small slices before freezing. An alternative is to grate or puree in a food processor.
How to freeze crushed Gaudu:
-
Product packaging. Shredded or cut into small pieces, the product must be placed in a plastic bag with a zipper.If you plan to freeze packaged cheese purchased in a store, the shell should be slightly opened.
To release excess air, you need to gently squeeze the package and then reseal it tightly.
- Additional packaging. Bagged Gouda should be placed in an additional freezer bag. Such a dense shell will protect the cheese from frost burn.
- Using parchment paper. It is recommended to line the crushed bars of cheese slices with parchment paper. For each serving you need one small rectangular sheet of parchment. Each piece should be about 1.5 cm wider than the cheese slice. Each parchment rectangle is sandwiched between thin blocks of cheese.
This will make it easier to separate the pieces from each other during defrosting. To later get several slices from the general bag, you just need to pull out rectangles of parchment paper. The required number of pieces will easily separate from the total cheese mass.
Defrosting rules
Gouda cheese must be defrosted in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. During the defrosting process, ice crystals are gradually removed and the cheese's moisture is restored.
The product, cut into thin slices or grated, should be placed in the refrigerator for at least a day. Larger slices and pieces are best defrosted in the refrigerator within 48 hours. In this case, they will thaw completely.
You need to remove as much cheese from the freezer as you plan to use in the near future.You need to remove the required amount from the bag with the grated product and return the rest to the freezer.
Thin slices are removed from the freezer bag using parchment paper.. Next, the bag is resealed and sent to the freezer shelf. A large piece will have to be defrosted entirely.
Thawed Gouda should be eaten or used for cooking within 2-3 days. Even if the food has not expired, the remaining cheese must be disposed of 3 days after defrosting.
Conclusion
Gouda cheese can be frozen well in the freezer. The consistency of this product and its taste after defrosting change slightly. This sets Gouda apart from soft cheeses.
The approximate recommended shelf life of the product is up to 6 months.. After the expiration date, it is better to discard unused frozen product.
