Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese? Easy Guide to Freeze Vegan Cheese

Name: Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese? Easy Guide to Freeze Vegan Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: Please check the end of the post for recipe ingredients.; If you don't find any, let me know in comments.

Ayub KhanandRehmat DietitianMarch 15, 2023Last Updated: April 12, 2023

6 minutes read

Table of Contents

In this article, you will know the answer to the query “Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese? Easy Guide to Freeze Vegan Cheese“.

There are no more waxy, chalky vegan cheeses. Neither are they creamy nor do they taste like cheese.

There are plenty of delicious substitutes on the market. Those who follow a plant-based diet enjoy a variety of tasty options.

For people with a dairy-free diet or just who enjoy plant-based cheese, it is possible to freeze vegan cheese.

Cheese made from vegan ingredients can be frozen. However, unlike regular cheese, you won’t suffer from any health problems.

If you plan to cook with the cheese, it is best to keep it frozen.

It is possible to use frozen or thawed cheese in dishes that call for cheese toppings, such as pizza, enchiladas, or grilled cheese.

We’re going to teach you everything you need to know about freezing vegan mozzarella, including how to defrost and which types are best.

Why You Should Freeze Vegan Cheese?

Veganism has become increasingly popular in recent years.

There have been more questions about vegan food as a result.

Vegans may choose to avoid dairy products, but a variety of cheese substitutes are available.

Vegan cheeses are available at grocery stores and shops that sell organic foods.

There is delicious vegan cheese and dairy-free ice cream available for vegetarians who eat out.

In the past, there were few alternatives to dairy products.

There are, however, many vegan options on the market that are as good as non-vegan alternatives.

Melted cheese is enjoyed by many people on pizza, but vegan cheese is not.

It may seem difficult to find cheese that is dairy-free while still tasting creamy.

The limited cheese choices available to non-vegans can leave them feeling rather bored after a while.

Vegans, on the other hand, can enjoy mozzarella, cheddar, and many other types of cheese available on Amazon.

Try some vegan cream cheese dip if you want something more than chips or vegetable sticks.

The majority of cheeses cannot be frozen, as is the case with most cheeses.

Every cheese is different and may react differently to freezing.

In case you plan to use the vegan cheese for cooking, you can freeze it.

It can also be frozen for a long time without losing any flavor or texture.

Does Freezing Affect Vegan Cheese’s Quality?

Food that is frozen can be kept from spoiling for a long time.

Preventing microorganisms from growing in it, it slows down the process of food spoilage.

Once food has been placed in the freezer, nutrients will slowly be destroyed. The process is natural.

There are more factors that affect the flavor and texture of frozen defrosted cheese than its type.

When cheese is placed in the freezer, it forms ice.

On top of that, vegan cheese often contains moisture, which can also be transformed into ice.

Cheese that has been defrosted will lose water and change in texture and flavor.

Vegan cheddar cheese that has been frozen may not taste as rich as cheese that has been frozen.

Vegan cheddar cheese that has been thawed will be crumblier and grainier.

Which Vegan Cheeses Are Safe to Frozen?

The best cheeses to freeze are hard cheeses like vegan cheddar or parmesan.

In addition to soft vegan cheese, semi-soft vegan cheese will also work in the freezer.

After defrosting, the texture will likely become softer than it was initially.

Contrary to popular belief, soft cheeses such as vegan Ricotta can be frozen, as it is mostly composed of coconut, tofu, and nuts.

If you defrost Ricotta, it can be used as a filling for pasta, not as a topping on bread or a dip.

There may be a difference in texture between vegan cream cheese and dairy cream cheese, depending on the brand and the recipe.

It is the defrosting of this dairy-free substitute that most affects its texture.

If you use frozen food in your baking, you can make these changes less noticeable.

How to Freeze Vegan Cheese?

It’s easy to prepare vegan cheese for freezing.

Ideally, you should transfer the slices or blocks of cheese into a sealable plastic container.

To ensure minimal air space at the top of your container, your lid should have as small an opening as possible.

Cheddars that are fresher can withstand freezing better than those that are stale.

When you freeze your cheese while it’s still fresh, it will turn out much better.

After being placed in the refrigerator, the products undergo chemical changes as they come into contact with air.

As a result, you may notice changes in the smell or taste of the product after it has been stored in cold storage for a while.

What you need to know about freezing vegan cheese:

As much air as possible should be removed from the cheese package by wrapping it in wrapping paper.
To freeze vegan cheese, you should use an airtight container. If you have a vacuum sealer, you can use it to ensure that there is as little air inside the bag/container as possible.
Hard vegan cheeses like cheddar should be grated before they are frozen. After they have been defrosted, they can be difficult to grate. You should freeze the vegan cheese in larger pieces if you are only going to use it for cooking. This will prevent you from wasting any of it.
You can freeze vegan ricotta and use it as a filling for different recipes. It is unsafe to freeze vegan cream cheese under any circumstances, although tofu-based dairy substitutes or other nut cheeses can be frozen.

Depending on how much you require at a given time, you can easily remove it from the freezer.

How Long Can You Freeze Vegan Cheese For?

Cheese can be stored in a freezer for up to six months, but don’t freeze it for longer than four months at a time.

The quality of the cheese may start to deteriorate after that point.

You may notice a change in flavor, for example.

When you put the storage bag in the freezer, be sure to label it with the date.

You’ll be able to notice when it’s time to replace it and throw it away.

How to Thaw Frozen Vegan Cheese?

Defrosting vegan cheese should be done overnight in the refrigerator.

It will take some time for it to thaw completely.

Lay the vegan cheese out on a plate and place it in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours to thaw.

The cheese’s moisture and flavor will be preserved if the packaging is kept intact while it is being defrosted.

In order to preserve the original flavor and texture, it’s best to defrost in the refrigerator.

If you intend to use it as a topping for pizza or other recipes requiring melted cheese, you should leave them at room temperature for about 15 minutes before using them.

In cases where the cheese has been exposed to air while in the freezer, or if the packaging has been damaged, the cheese may have acquired unwanted bacteria.

In addition to cheese absorbing other smells, partially opened or damaged packaging can also absorb them.

Defrosting frozen vegan cheese quickly in the microwave is the best option if you’re in a hurry.

Place the cheese in the microwave for approximately 40 seconds after removing the plastic wrap.

When thawing cheese, use the lowest setting to ensure even thawing.

Microwave defrosting is the best method because it can alter the texture of vegan cheese.

Defrosting soft cheeses with this method is not recommended. The cheese will melt on the outside but remain frozen on the inside.

How to Tell if Vegan Cheese is Bad?

The cheese should not be used if it smells or tastes strange, as it may have been exposed to bacteria.

You should not use any vegan cheese that is older than six months or that has been frozen for more than four months.

These cheeses will not have the same texture as Ricotta or other vegan cheese products available.

Listed below are some tips on determining whether you can still eat vegan cheese:

When it smells acidic or sour, throw it out.
If vegan cheese is defrosted, it is normal to see a separation. As long as you mix them well and use them immediately, such separation does not affect the flavor of the cheese.
If the cheese is moldy, throw it away. In addition, if a white or colored film forms on top of your vegan cheese, throw it away. The fungus may have formed as a result of improper storage.
An old vegan cheese’s appearance is another indicator. It’s possible that its quality has changed if it looks different from how it looked when you first bought it.

Conclusion

The best way to maintain the quality and flavor of vegan cheese is to store it in the freezer.

Also, make sure to store it properly so that it doesn’t take up too much space.

You can also extend the shelf life of frozen cheese by thawing it while maintaining its original taste and texture.

When consuming them within four months of purchase, they should be frozen in small portions and used within four months.