Can You Freeze Gruyere Cheese?

Can You Freeze Gruyere Cheese?

If you are scouting for the most versatile foods on this planet, you need not look beyond cheese. Cheese has excellent utility as one of the primary ingredients in scores of recipes. So, it is natural to have cheese handy at all times. But, Gruyere cheese ranks as one of the most delicious and elegant options when it comes to cheese.

Gruyere cheese is unique and gets its name from Gruyeres, a small town in Switzerland. This cheese is made from cow milk, cured, and aged six to twelve months. Gruyere cheese is amongst the most expensive cheeses. Hence, you think twice before wasting it.

Can You Freeze Gruyere Cheese?

Yes, you can freeze Gruyere cheese and maintain its texture and structure for two to six months, based on the cheese’s quality. So let us learn how to freeze this expensive and delicious cheese for later consumption.

How Do You Freeze Gruyere Cheese?

Gruyere cheese is creamy and rich with a pale yellow color. It is a firm cheese but melts beautifully. It is primarily used as a table cheese and is best consumed in slices. Here is how you freeze Gruyere cheese.

Freezing shredded Gruyere cheese is the easiest of all. All you do is reseal the original packaging and place it inside the freezer. It should be enough to freeze the cheese for quick consumption. But, if you wish to freeze the cheese for an extended duration, you need to follow a specific procedure.

Keep the following ingredients handy before freezing Gruyere cheese

  1. Plastic cling wrap or wax parchment paper
  2. Freezer bags
  3. Knife for slicing the cheese into consumable portions

Here is the detailed procedure for freezing Gruyere cheese.

Step 1 – Cut The Cheese Into Consumable Portions

The best way to freeze cheese is to cut the Gruyere cheese block into consumable pieces. The idea is to make it simple for defrosting.

Step 2 – The First Wrap

Take a plastic wrap or a parchment paper and cover the cheese block entirely. Please take a large wrapper section and ensure to cover the entire cheese area. It is better to smooth out the surface and ensure no wrinkles.

Step 3 – Check The Seal

We advise you to check the wrap and ensure it seals the cheese properly from all the sides. The idea behind wrapping and packing the cheese is to prevent it from drying. In addition, you can tape the edges to seal it more securely.

Step 4 – The Second Wrap

Please repeat the entire wrapping process using at least two additional layers of plastic wrap. We recommend rechecking the seals to ensure no air gaps that could cause the cheese to dry.

Step 5 – Place Inside The Freezer Bag

Recheck the sealing and place the wrapped cheese into a freezer-safe bag. Remove excess air as much as possible from the freezer bag. You can press and roll the bag to squeeze maximum air from it. Seal the bag airtight.

Step 6 – Label and Freeze

Write the contents and the freezing date on the freezing bag. It proves handy in monitoring the freezing process.

We recommend keeping the freezer temperature slightly below the freezing point to ensure that the Gruyere cheese does not lose its taste and flavor. However, even if the flavor gets affected, you can use the cheese in sauces, casseroles, and soups.

How Long Can The Gruyere Cheese Remain Frozen Without Compromising Its Taste And Flavor?

Generally, Gruyere cheese remains good for two months. However, it depends on the cheese quality. Some Gruyere cheese variants can remain frozen for eight months in the freezer.

Can You Store Gruyere Cheese At Room Temperature?

Leaving Gruyere cheese at room temperature for more than two hours can spoil the cheese.

How Do You Defrost Frozen Gruyere Cheese?

Defrosting the Gruyere cheese is easy.

  1. It is advisable to remove the necessary portions of frozen Gruyere cheese instead of removing the entire frozen cheese.
  2. Place the Gruyere cheese on a plate without unwrapping it.
  3. Place the wrapped cheese in the fridge and allow it to thaw naturally overnight. Please note that larger pieces can take more time to thaw.
  4. Once thawed, remove the cheese for consumption. You can unwrap the cheese and consume it at the earliest.

We recommend not to keep the cheese at room temperature because they dry fast and change their texture from a firm cheese to a crumbly product.

While thawing, you should ensure that the fridge temperature is between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature crosses 40 degrees, the cheese could get spoilt.

It is advisable to check the thawing cheese every six hours because you never know when it thaws out fully.

Can You Refreeze Gruyere Cheese?

We do not recommend refreezing Gruyere cheese because it can lose its texture and taste.

Should You Refrigerate Gruyere Cheese?

Gruyere cheese can become spoilt if placed at room temperature for more than two hours. So, refrigerating Gruyere cheese is essential to maintain its freshness.

How Long Does Gruyere Cheese Remain Refrigerated In The Fridge?

Gruyere cheese can remain refrigerated in the fridge for two to three weeks. Freezing is the best option if you plan to store Gruyere cheese for more than three weeks.

Can You Freeze Unopened Gruyere Cheese?

You can freeze unopened Gruyere cheese. But you should take the same precautions that you take for freezing opened Gruyere cheese blocks. The idea is not to let it come in contact with air.

Can You Freeze Cooked Gruyere Cheese?

Yes, it is possible to freeze cooked Gruyere cheese. However, you should ensure to cool the cheese to room temperature before starting the freezing procedure. The procedure for freezing cooked Gruyere cheese requires you to place them in freezer-safe bags or containers. The frozen cooked Gruyere cheese can last for two months in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Grated Gruyere Cheese?

Yes, it is possible to grate Gruyere cheese and then freeze it. The procedure of freezing grated Gruyere cheese is the same.

Final Thoughts

Gruyere cheese is too delicious and expensive to be wasted, especially when you have options of storing it properly. While refrigerating Gruyere cheese can keep it fresh for three weeks, you can freeze it and maintain its freshness for two to eight months.

So, can you freeze Gruyere cheese? Yes, you can.

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