Can Provolone cheese be frozen? - The complete guide

Provolone is a popular and versatile cheese that can be used in many ways. It’s a classic in Italian Club sandwiches, creamy when melted, and a great addition to any charcuterie board. However, if you find yourself with too much of this delicious dairy product, you don’t have to worry about it spoiling.

You may be wondering if provolone cheese can be frozen.

Yes, you can freeze provolone cheese. It should be properly wrapped to maximize freshness, and once thawed it won’t be exactly the same as fresh provolone, but freezing provolone is a great way to extend its shelf life. 

Read on for everything you need to know about freezing provolone cheese. We’ll also provide background information and nutritional facts on this popular cheese, and answer some of the most common questions that arise when freezing and using provolone cheese.

Where does provolone cheese come from?

Provolone is an Italian cow’s milk cheese originating in southern Italy.

Today, it is mainly produced in the Po Valley region of Italy, which includes Veneto and Lombardy, although it is also produced in North America.

How Provolone Cheese is Made

Provolone is a stretched pasta cheese that is made from cow’s (or sometimes buffalo’s) milk, and is produced using a process similar to that of mozzarella.

Simply put, to make provolone cheese the curds and whey are separated, and the curds are stretched twice while hot.

Next, the provolone cheese is bathed in brine and a wax or plastic rind is applied to it. At this point, the cheese is aged for at least two months.

Traditional provolone is made with all-natural ingredients and should not contain preservatives. However, industrially produced provolone is much more likely to contain additives.

Provolone Cheese Nutrition Facts

Although provolone is not as healthy as other cheeses, such as Swiss or cottage cheese, it is a relatively nutritious dairy product.

In an ounce of provolone cheese there are only 100 calories, 8 g of fat, 19.6 mg of cholesterol, less than 1 g of carbohydrates, 7 g of protein and more than 20% of the recommended daily value for calcium.

Recipes with provolone cheese

Provolone is an incredibly versatile cheese that can be used in a myriad of dishes.

First, it’s a very common sandwich cheese when sliced thin, and it completes any Italian Club or Hoagie sandwich. It also pairs well with smoked turkey or, for a light vegetarian option, with fresh tomato.

Provolone can be grated into salads, such as an antipasto, and it’s also a great addition to any cheese board.

If you incorporate it into a sausage, combine it with strong or spicy seasonings, such as olives, roasted red peppers or jams and spicy chutneys.

Finally, provolone is an excellent cheese to melt. It can be baked plain and served with crackers or fresh bread for a rich and delicious appetizer, or melted into a variety of dishes to add a rich, creamy layer.

Melt Parmesan over grilled chicken cutlets, fold it into baked pasta, serve it on a Philly cheese sandwich, or use it to enhance your macaroni and cheese.

Provolone goes great on grilled cheese, or level up your sandwich with roasted eggplant and sun-dried tomatoes. The options are endless when cooking with provolone!

How to freeze provolone cheese

If stored properly, a piece of provolone cheese or sliced provolone cheese will last 2-3 weeks in the fridge.

To maximize freshness, the cheese should be wrapped in parchment paper and then in plastic wrap.

Fortunately, provolone cheese freezes well if you follow the proper steps. You have three options when it comes to freezing provolone cheese: block, sliced, and shredded. 

1. To freeze blocks of provolone cheese , you need to make sure they are not too large (½ pound maximum). Divide the block of cheese into smaller blocks, wrap in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and place in airtight freezer bags.
2. You can also freeze provolone cheese slices . We recommend individually wrapping each slice in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, which makes it easy to pick up one and thaw for convenient use, although multiple slices can be wrapped together. Freeze the provolone slices tightly wrapped in airtight bags.
3. Finally, you can also freeze the shredded provolone cheese. To do this, place the shredded provolone cheese in an airtight freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. It is very important to remove any excess air, as failure to do so runs the risk of freezer burn.

Freezing provolone cheese is the best option for long-term storage , as it will last a long time (more than a year), but it retains its highest quality during the first 8 months of freezing.

Although there are no health risks associated with freezing provolone cheese, freezing it will likely suffer from its quality.

When thawed, frozen provolone tends to become crumbly and less soft than when fresh. However, you will not be able to notice these defects when provolone that has been frozen and thawed is melted.

How to Thaw Provolone Cheese That Has Been Frozen

The best way to thaw provolone cheese is to transfer it to the fridge and wait for it to thaw overnight.

Shredded and sliced provolone will thaw more quickly than block frozen provolone, which can take up to 24 hours to fully thaw. Provolone that has been thawed in the fridge should be used within 3-4 days.

You can also thaw the provolone on the counter, but only if you plan to use it immediately and the room temperature is between 65 and 72 degrees F.

When you thaw the provolone on the counter, transfer it to the fridge as soon as it is completely thawed.

How to use frozen provolone cheese

Although very convenient, freezing cheese can have a significant impact on its texture, and provolone is no exception.

Not to worry though, as frozen thawed provolone cheese is practically as good as fresh provolone when melted.

If you’ve frozen sliced provolone, add it to grilled cheese or melted burger patties, or place it on top of breaded chicken and grill for a few minutes.

If you’ve frozen shredded provolone, it can be successfully incorporated into almost any hot dish, such as baked pasta, French onion soup, scalloped potatoes, or stuffed peppers.

Finally, if you have frozen the provolone in block, cut it into slices or crumble it once thawed. You can sprinkle a piece of larch with herbs and bake it, making a delicious, creamy pastry to serve on toasted French bread with jam or chutney.

Related questions

How do you know if provolone cheese is bad?

Like all cheeses, provolone molds when it’s gone bad, which is a sure sign that it’s no longer safe to eat.

If your provolone darkens, develops a hard texture, or emits a strange odor, it’s likely spoiled.

What other cheeses freeze well?

Aside from provolone, there are many other cheeses that hold up well in the freezer. First, industrially produced cheeses, such as some cheddars and Colby-jacks, will experience little change in texture and quality after freezing.

Other hard and semi-hard cheeses that have a similar texture to provolone, such as Swiss, Gouda, Havarti, Emmentaler, Mozzarella, and even softer cheeses like feta and blue, are great candidates for freezing.

In general, you should never freeze soft cheeses (brie, queso fresco, paneer, camembert, stilton, cream cheese ) or curdled fresh cheeses (cottage cheese, ricotta, quark), as their quality suffers considerably when frozen and they will not be very edible after thawing.

An exception to this rule is Boursin cheese.

Although you can freeze very hard cheeses, such as Parmesan and Pecorino Romano, the most logical thing to do is to store them in the fridge, where they will last for months.

What is a good substitute for provolone cheese?

Provolone is most often used in sandwiches and tends to melt, so when finding a substitute, look for a cheese that can be sliced thin and melts well.

Mozzarella (not fresh mozzarella, but sliced mozzarella) or muenster are good substitutes for provolone for sandwiches .

Fontina cheese also has a similar flavor and great melting qualities that so many people value in provolone.

What does provolone cheese taste like?

Provolone, although it is also produced in North America, is a mild Italian cheese, so it goes very well with Italian cured meats such as salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, capocollo or mortadella.

However, it goes well with a wide variety of meats, such as beef or pork, and is even a great complement to chicken dishes.

What wines pair well with provolone cheese?

Most provolones are hard cheeses with a bit of a nutty flavor, so they shouldn’t be paired with too strong a wine.

Provolone goes great with sparkling wines like champagne, cava, and prosecco, along with just about any white wine. It goes well with light-bodied reds, such as Pinot Noir, and with medium-bodied reds, such as Cabernet Franc.