Can gorgonzola cheese be frozen?

Cheese is the perfect topping or topping for almost any meal. It can also be a great tool for appetizers, snacks, dips, and many other foods. There are no limits to what you can do with cheese.

There are over 400 varieties of cheese if you break down all the options. There are specific varieties of various countries and places. One of the most unique and interesting types of cheese is gorgonzola cheese.

If you’re a cheese connoisseur, you’re probably already familiar with this cheese and know the best ways to enjoy it. Don’t be fooled by the fancy title and unusual type of cheese, gorgonzola cheese is quite useful and tasty.

Can gorgonzola cheese be frozen?

It’s easier to buy it in large chunks, but yes, you can freeze gorgonzola cheese. It is perfectly safe to do so and the process is quite easy.

In this guide, we will share with you everything you need to know about freezing gorgonzola cheese. In addition, we will cover other specific information about gorgonzola cheese that you may find useful.

Read on to find out all about freezing gorgonzola cheese and much more.

Your Guide to Freezing Gorgonzola Cheese

Gorgonzola cheese is an Italian blue cheese. It can serve a wide variety of purposes, but as you may have gathered from its Italian nature, it’s popular in pasta dishes.

Gorgonzola cheese got its name because it was originally produced in and around Gorgonzola, Italy.

This derivative of blue cheese is made with non-skimmed cow’s milk. It can be made crumbly, firm, or even soft. This makes the cheese quite versatile, as you can find gorgonzola cheese alone in a wide variety of forms.

You will see the blue interspersed in the gorgonzola cheese from its preparation. This type of cheese can also be quite salty to taste.

How Gorgonzola cheese is made

For the most part, any gorgonzola cheese you buy at the store will be produced through some type of manufacturer that makes massive quantities of the cheese. Even if you buy it from a local deli, chances are it went through some sort of factory process to create it.

Normally, gorgonzola cheese is made with hot milk and penicillium roqueforti . If you’re unfamiliar, these are mold spore-initiating bacteria.

Don’t worry, you’re not eating moldy, rotten cheese. The entire process is highly controlled in terms of temperature and bacteria containment.

From this point on, the mixture is shaken vigorously. In a factory, it would be removed in bulk. The milk begins to curdle. The curds are removed to begin creating wedges and wheels of cheese.

From there, the cheese is covered in sea salt and set aside to age. After the initial aging, they are moved to another area. This is a painstaking process that even includes drilling holes in the wheels to allow mold to grow.

As the cheese runs out, it is closely monitored and regulated. When it has aged to perfection, it is processed into slices, wedges, wheels, crumbles, and any other variety of cheese that is used for gorgonzola cheese.

If the thought of mold growing on cheese worries you, rest assured that this has been going on for many years. When done correctly, mold isn’t some nasty bacteria, but rather a tasty addition to the mix.

Use of Gorgonzola cheese

Gorgonzola cheese can be used for many things. Whether you’re entertaining and wanting to prepare a cheese platter or cooking, there are many uses for gorgonzola cheese.

Don’t limit yourself to a specific category when contemplating what to do with your gorgonzola cheese. There are many possible functions for this cheese and you can get creative and use it for just about anything.

Here are some concrete ideas for using your gorgonzola cheese. 

• Add it to any pasta sauce of your choice.
• Fill pasta (such as ravioli, gnocchi, or risotto)
• Crumble it on top of salads
• Accompanies the fruits
• Add to a cheese platter
• Accompany with wine - great with red or white wine
• Combine with nuts
• Use it as a pizza topping
• Add to paninis or hot sandwiches
• Mix it in stews
• make sauces

Gorgonzola cheese can easily fulfill a wide range of functions. You can use it hot or cold. You can also use different types of gorgonzola cheese for different things.

For example, creamy gorgonzola cheese is usually sweet, while hard blocks can be bold or spicy.

freeze gorgonzola cheese

Almost any type of cheese can be frozen and stored. The same goes for gorgonzola cheese. It is quite common to freeze cheese to extend its shelf life. For most types of cheese, this is the best option available.

In the case of gorgonzola cheese in particular, it is not recommended to store it at room temperature.  This is due to the growth of mold that is used in the cheese making process.

You can leave it at room temperature for 1-2 hours straight.

Gorgonzola cheese can easily be stored in the fridge if you plan to use it within 7 days . If you need to extend the life of your gorgonzola cheese, the freezer is ideal for doing so.

Here are the steps to freeze gorgonzola cheese:

1. For freezing, we recommend dividing the gorgonzola cheese into portions that are ½ pound or less.
2. Wrap the cheese in freezer paper or aluminum foil.
3. Place the wrapped cheese in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
4. The recommended storage time in the freezer for gorgonzola cheese is up to 6 months.

What to know about gorgonzola cheese

We’ve covered a lot of ground here regarding gorgonzola cheese, but there are still a few more things you need to know.

Gorgonzola cheese mold

First of all, gorgonzola cheese can grow unhealthy mold. Yes, we know it has mold, technically speaking, but it’s not the same thing.

If you notice white, gray or blue mold growing on your cheese, it may be salvageable. You can cut the affected area and throw it away. This will save the rest of the cheese that has not been affected or damaged by the mold stain that you have cut.

However, if you see mold directly on the container, you should probably throw out the entire package.

Use of gorgonzola cheese after freezing

When you are ready to use your gorgonzola cheese after freezing it, you can use it straight from the freezer. Do not store it at room temperature. Transfer the cheese from the freezer to the fridge.

If you need to, you can thaw the cheese in the microwave or even in cold water to use right away. However, you can use it frozen unless you are going to eat the cheese slices directly. 

Once thawed, the cheese should be usable for another 7 days.  We do not recommend freezing, thawing, and refreezing Gorgonzola cheese. This is another good reason to portion cheese before freezing.

Potential Risks of Freezing Gorgonzola Cheese

Lastly, there are potential risks in freezing your cheese. You most likely won’t have to worry about any adverse effects, but there is a chance that some portions of the cheese may crumble after freezing.

If this happens with your cheese, you can simply use that portion for cooking or crumble it over a salad.  The entire block of cheese should not crumble.  This doesn’t always happen, but when it does, it only affects the outer edges of the cheese.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide to freezing gorgonzola cheese a valuable resource. Although freezing gorgonzola cheese is first and foremost a simple process, there are many little things to know about the process.

We are sure that you will be able to carry out the process with ease. You are sure to succeed and get to enjoy that gorgonzola cheese for some time.

In the next section, you will find additional information on questions and answers. Take a look and see if any of it can be useful to you.

Can you tell if gorgonzola cheese goes bad?

Since gorgonzola cheese has bacteria inside it, there are other factors you can look at to see if it has gone bad.

If the cheese becomes hard all over or develops a sour milk odor, you should throw it away. Also, spoiled gorgonzola cheese sometimes darkens its color considerably. 

What is a good alternative to gorgonzola cheese?

Gorgonzola cheese substitutes can vary depending on their use. For example, if you want a creamy cheese alternative, you can try goat cheese.

If you want a crumbly alternative, we recommend feta . Neither will be exactly the same, but they will produce similar results.