Can American cheese be frozen?

No sandwich is complete without a slice of cheese. The most common type of cheese used in sandwiches is American cheese. If you make sandwiches very often, you’re probably already familiar with American cheese.

Of course, American cheese can be used for many other things besides making sandwiches. People use American cheese for many other things besides sandwiches, but that could easily be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of it.

Can American cheese be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze American cheese and it’s pretty easy to do. Freezing American cheese is a great way to keep it longer if you’re worried you won’t be able to eat it before it goes bad. You can freeze it for up to 6 months with decent results, but there are a few things to keep in mind to maintain quality. 

In this guide, we’ll talk about freezing American cheese, the processes you need to follow, and what to expect when you use cheese after it’s been frozen. Nothing is the same after freezing it, right?

Read on to find out how to freeze American cheese and much more.

The Complete Guide to Freezing American Cheese

American cheese is one of those cheeses that you don’t often see block or cubed, or even shredded. It is almost always sold sliced for sandwiches. You may be able to buy it in other shapes at your local deli, but traditionally it’s a sandwich slice.

American cheese is a type of processed cheese. Actually, this cheese can be made from different types of cheese. Most often, it is made with cheddar or Colby cheese, even a blend of similar cheeses.

American cheese has a low melting point, so it melts easily, and it has a mild flavor with a creamy texture. American cheese can also be yellow or white, depending on how it is made.

That doesn’t mean American cheese can only be used on sandwiches. It can be used for anything, but when you go to the store for American cheese, expect to look in the sandwich cheese section.

Use of American cheese

American cheese is quite versatile, even though it’s mostly sold sliced for sandwiches. Don’t let those sandwich slices limit you! There are many things you can do! Of course, the sandwiches are definitely a favorite, but there are other options as well.

Here are some great ideas for using American cheese. 

• grilled cheese
• cheeseburgers
• stews
• Cheese sauces for vegetables
• cheese steaks
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• soups

These are just a few ideas for using American cheese. You can use it in any type of stew, in any type of sandwich and also in any type of vegetable or hamburger. It’s practical. American cheese melts easily, but it mostly holds its shape when melted as well.

What makes American cheese so different?

You realize that when you walk through the cheese section, you see a ton of different types of cheese. Some of the most popular are Cheddar, Colby, Pepper Jack, Swiss, and other similar varieties.

Of course, if you frequent specialty cheese shops or even a deli, you’ll likely see plenty of other options, such as gouda and other specialty cheese blends. This is what most people would call real cheese.

The thing is, although American cheese is made from cheese, it is not considered real cheese.  It is processed very differently and is made with a variety of cheeses that are processed together and cut into squares.

The reason you can find so many varieties of American cheese is that it can be made in many different ways . Actually, there are no restrictions or requirements regarding the type of cheese that is processed in it.

Traditionally, American cheese was a mix of Cheddar and Colby primarily, because they were popular flavors that blended easily.  However, this is no longer the case and you may find that some will have different flavors and textures. Some will also melt more easily than others.

American cheese is not the same in all cases, it can vary a lot in general.  Most American cheeses are individually wrapped in small plastic sleeves , but you can also buy sliced American cheese that is not individually wrapped.

Most varieties of American cheese have a lot of chemicals and processed ingredients. If you buy American deli cheese, you may get better quality. Pay attention to ingredient labels if this concerns you.

Proper Storing and Freezing of American Cheese

Almost any type of cheese can be frozen. You just have to be aware that the cheese will not be the same when you use it after freezing. The same goes for American cheese.

However, because American cheese is so processed, you probably won’t notice much of a difference after freezing it. 

To properly preserve American cheese, it must be stored in the refrigerator. It should also be stored airtight. If the cheese slices are individually wrapped, it is enough to preserve them.

However, if they are not, you will need to place them in an airtight bag or container to preserve them.

The most common problem with American cheese is the possibility of it drying out. American cheese can also absorb the flavors of the objects around it if it is not well wrapped.

If you buy American cheese directly from the deli counter and wrap it properly, it should last 2-3 weeks in the fridge.

Pre-cut and packaged American cheese can sometimes last up to 3 months in the refrigerator. 

How to Freeze American Cheese

Because deli-bought American cheese is fresher and less processed, it requires a little more care to store in the fridge or freezer.

The same general rules of thumb apply as far as making sure it’s covered and airtight, but it’s also more likely to spoil sooner since it’s not filled with preservatives.

These instructions are designed to work with store-bought or deli-bought American cheese.

Here are some instructions on how to freeze American cheese. 

1. It’s best to wrap each slice individually if it’s not in a wrapper, so you don’t have to thaw and refreeze if you don’t use it all. We recommend wrapping each slice in a tight layer of wax paper or plastic wrap.
2. Once each slice or block is wrapped, place it in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. This double layer of protection will keep out air and moisture to better preserve the cheese.
3. Label, date and close all containers.
4. Put it in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Your cheese could last longer, but we recommend using it before 6 months for the best quality. 

What you have to know is that when you take the cheese out of the freezer , it might be slightly brittle. It will fall apart much easier than when you first put it in the freezer.

If you’ve individually wrapped the slices as we recommend , you shouldn’t have any problems. You can let the cheese thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 1-2 hours and then use it as normal.

If you’re going to cook or bake with the cheese, you don’t even have to worry about defrosting time.

We also want to point out that American cheese bought at the deli is more likely to need to be frozen than the sandwich sticks from the local supermarket. This is because it is fresher and contains fewer preservatives.

If you have an unopened package of individual American cheese, you can put the entire package in the freezer until you are ready to use it, and then transfer it to the fridge.

Related questions

We hope you found this guide to freezing American cheese a valuable and informative resource. It’s fairly easy to make and will usually freeze just fine if you know the basic freezing tips.

We invite you to review the following question and answer section for additional information that might be helpful.

Why isn’t American cheese considered real cheese?

When it comes to the chunks or slices from the grocery store, you can establish that it’s primarily not cheese by reading the ingredients label.

It’s a bit of cheese with many other preservatives from processing. In fact, they are often less than 50% real cheese.

Is Velveeta an American cheese?

Velveeta undergoes processing similar to that of American cheese. However, it is classified as a cheese spread.

What you’ll notice is that both are considered “pasteurized cheese products” rather than cheese. It is a bit smoother and creamier than most cheese spreads.