Feta cheese is great for a variety of uses, one of the most common being salads. Because of its slightly salty flavor, feta is great as an addition to fresh and roasted vegetables, pastas and soups .
If you’re a Costco member, then you probably have seen extremely large blocks of this cheese being sold at your local branch. As a cheese lover you’ve considered purchasing this large block of cheese but was dissuaded as you have no idea if and when you would ever get through consuming so much cheese.
Luckily for you, Feta cheese can last for a very long time when frozen. So yes, you can freeze feta cheese and for a very long time too. Go ahead and make that purchase, and continue reading for the best ways to preserve your Feta cheese.
Why Freeze Feta?
Feta cheese is one of the most expensive cheeses on the market and when refrigerated normally does not last more than a week or two. This is not very economical for the common homemaker who does not use a lot of this type of cheese but loves to have it on hand. If you’re like me, you’re always buying feta and you’re also always throwing it out because it spoils so quickly. If you find yourself in this situation often, freezing your feta cheese will prove to be not only an economical and thrifty idea, but a very smart one.
Feta unlike other cheeses freezes very well. The only downfall of the freezing process is that the cheese tends to lose some of its characteristic salty flavor. This flavor can however be revived depending on the intended use for the thawed feta cheese.
Related: Can You Freeze Hummus?
How To Freeze Feta
Most feta cheeses come pre-packaged in water. Before starting the steps below, remove the feta cheese from the water it was packaged in and use a paper towel to pat it dry. Once the cheese is dried, proceed with the steps below.
Step 1:
Cut the block of cheese into smaller sections for storage. Each small section should be enough for one serving.
Step 2:
Wrap the sections of feta cheese individually using plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn.
Step 3:
Place the cheese in a freezer bag and remove the excess air using a vacuum sealer if you have one available. Place in your freezer for storage until needed.
Related: Can You Freeze Pita Bread?
Thawing Your Frozen Feta Cheese
Defrosting of the frozen feta cheese should preferably be done in the refrigerator. Remove the cheese as needed and allow it to thaw for a few hours while still wrapped in the plastic. Removing the plastic during the thawing process can lead to the cheese becoming excessively dry. As mentioned earlier, the freezing process often leads to loss of taste in feta cheese. If and when this happens, place the cheese in salted water for an hour or two before use to restore some of the flavor that was lost. The thawed cheese can also be covered with olive oil before final use.
Never refreeze feta that has been thawed. Try to use the thawed feta within three days after it has been removed from the freezer.
Feta cheese that is frozen using the correct procedures and kept at a constant low temperature can be kept as long as 3 months.
