Can you freeze goat cheese? (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze goat cheese? ›

When freezing it, goat cheese will keep its flavor for around 6 months in the freezer. For best results, use the cheese within 3 months. It will be safe to eat for a further 2 months after that, but it will lose some of its flavor and texture.

You might be shocked to find out that soft cheese such as Brie, Camembert, and goat's cheese can also be frozen for up to six months. So the next time you have a hankering for some baked gnocchi and goat's cheese, you know where to look – in your freezer.

Surprisingly, the texture of goat cheese isn't change much when you freeze then thaw it! When frozen in a freezer-safe, airtight bag or container, goat cheese retains it's velvety texture and sharp flavor.

For aged cheeses, wrap it in wax or parchment paper and store it in your refrigerator. You can also place the wrapped cheese in an airtight glass container for extra protection. Fresh cheeses will stay fresher in an airtight container and are ideally enjoyed within about five days.

You can freeze goat cheese, Havarti and feta and thaw them without any major change to the texture (as well as the incredibly delicious soft cheese Boursin). Buy cheese at Costco when possible.

Before freezing, the moisture in a cheese is distributed evenly throughout its interior, along with fat, protein, and minerals. Freezing turns that moisture into ice crystals, which damages the cheese's structure and can affect whether its texture is crumbly or pliable, firm or pasty after thawing.

Goat cheese can be stored packaged in the refrigerator for up to 3 months and unpacked for 2 to 3 weeks. The Best By date (MMDDYY) is estimated for your convenience on each cheese.

In general, hand-crafted cheeses with delicate flavors and aromas don't freeze well and are best bought in smaller portions and eaten fresh. Freezing is also not recommended for fresh curd cheeses like cottage cheese, ricotta, and quark due to their high moisture content.

So why does goats' cheese taste of 'goat'? The scientific reason behind the goat flavour in goats' cheese, is that their milk has a higher amount of three smaller-chain fatty acids (caproic, capric and caprylic fat) that give those 'goaty', 'barnyardy' flavours.

How long does cheese last in the freezer? Freezing cheese stops bacterial growth completely. Frozen cheeses should be used within six months of freezing and then used within two to three days of thawing.

How to tell if goat cheese has gone bad? ›

Goat cheese has a refreshing, tangy smell and firm texture. If you notice rancid, sour smells, slimy textures, or mold, it's time to replace your batch.

Goat cheese is a nutritious dairy product that is packed with vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Eating goat cheese may benefit your health in several ways, including increasing satiety and reducing inflammation.

Soft cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, shredded cheeses, and goat cheese must be refrigerated for safety. As a general rule, hard cheeses such as cheddar, processed cheeses (American), and both block and grated Parmesan do not require refrigeration for safety, but they will last longer if kept refrigerated.

Freezing goat cheese

Technically, you can freeze goat cheese. This extends its shelf life, but can change its texture. Especially hard and semi-hard cheeses are more suitable for freezing than soft cheeses, because soft cheeses have a higher moisture content that affects the texture more after freezing.

How to thaw goat cheese. Only thaw as much as you need each time. Transfer the required amount from the freezer to the refrigerator and thaw overnight before you open it. Once the cheese is at room temperature, take it out of the ziploc bag, unwrap and place in a bowl.

Grating or Shaving: Most goat cheeses don't grate that well, but the hardest-aged goat cheeses can be grated (especially if you place them in the freezer a little while before grating). Add as a finishing touch to salads, bruschetta, pasta—or any dish that could use some intense flavor and lusciousness.

Goat's milk can be easily frozen and has little fat separation throughout the process just like cow's milk. Goat's milk may be frozen for two to six months and should be consumed within three to four days of defrosting.

Ground or cubed goat meat will keep its best quality in the freezer for 4 months. Larger cuts, such as chops, steaks, legs or loins, will keep their best quality 6 to 9 months; ground meat, 3 to 4 months. Frozen goat meat remains safe indefinitely if kept frozen continuously.

Place it in the center of a microwave-safe plate, bowl, or pan. Microwaving cheese is the fastest method to defrost cheese, but it can also lift the whey and milk from the cheese, leaving it oily or wet. Select this method if you're in a rush, have no other option, or plan on melting the cheese in a recipe.