Can shredded mozzarella cheese be frozen?

Cheese is one of those foods that most people always have well stocked in the fridge. You can keep many types of cheese in stock for any cheese needs that may arise.

Cheese is an item that sometimes flies away and other times seems to last forever.

If you find yourself buying 3 large bags when your local grocery store has a sale, you’ll need options for storing your cheese to ensure it’s good when you’re ready to use it.

So, can shredded mozzarella cheese be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze shredded mozzarella cheese. If frozen properly, shredded mozzarella cheese keeps well in the freezer for up to 9 months. It should be stored in an airtight container.

In this guide, we will share with you everything you need to know about freezing shredded mozzarella cheese. We’ll walk you through every step of the process and share our best tips and tricks for you to successfully freeze your cheese.

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

How to Freeze Shredded Mozzarella Cheese - Complete Guide

Mozzarella is undoubtedly a special cheese. You might find it topping your favorite pizza or grated over that plate of spaghetti you love so much. There are many uses for shredded mozzarella cheese.

This Italian cheese was originally made from buffalo milk. It is processed using a method known as pasta filata. When mozzarella is produced and sold, it has to meet certain requirements to be labeled as such, and it also has to follow traditional recipes.

Any type of milk can be used, although whole milk is most often used to achieve the right texture. If you ever get a chance to try traditional buffalo mozzarella, you should! It will surprise you.

Freeze grated mozzarella cheese

Freezing mozzarella is pretty easy. Mozzarella cheese should last in the freezer for about 9 months if you take proper care to store the cheese correctly.

If you want to store your grated mozzarella for a short time, you can do so in the original container. Use this method when you are going to use the frozen mozzarella within two months.

If you need to store the mozzarella for more than two months, use the process below. You can’t go wrong with this process.

Here are our recommended steps for freezing mozzarella: 

1. Place the sealed mozzarella cheese in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. We prefer freezer bags because they are simple and easy for this type of freezing material.
2. Close the container well. Be sure to leave some extra space in the container, and release as much excess air as possible before sealing.
3. Label and date your shredded mozzarella cheese.
4. Store it in the freezer for up to 9 months. (You could keep it longer, but this is the recommended length of time for best results.)

There is nothing complicated in this process, you can have your grated mozzarella cheese in the freezer in a matter of minutes.

Advantages of freezing shredded mozzarella cheese

• you can buy in bulk
• You can keep mozzarella for a long time
• The freezing process is simple
• Cheese can be frozen up to 9 months, potentially longer
• You don’t need any complicated process or equipment
• You can freeze it in its original container for a short time
• Shredded mozzarella freezes better than fresh, uncut mozzarella.

Cons of Freezing Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

• It cannot be frozen for that long in its original packaging.
• May be dry after freezing
• Cheese may crumble more easily after freezing
• Flavor and texture may lose quality over time

The pros certainly outweigh the cons of this process, but we think it’s important to be aware of the effects freezing can have on your produce. It’s best to know ahead of time if you might run into a problem trying to freeze an item.

Proper Storage of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Now we are going to talk about storage methods before and even after using the freezer to preserve your grated cheese.

The effects of the freezer and storage media can make a significant difference in the quality of your mozzarella.

Always make sure that the container is airtight to keep it for a long time.

You can keep the grated mozzarella cheese in the fridge for up to a month.

These are the steps to keep grated mozzarella cheese in the fridge: 

1. Close the cheese well in the original container or in a plastic bag to store it. Be sure to release excess air as much as possible and seal the storage method well.
2. Store the grated mozzarella in the fridge for 2-4 weeks. Be sure to store it in a dry place in the fridge to prevent excess moisture from collecting or retaining it.

The key here, for both of these storage methods, is to make the bags airtight. It is the air that will dry the shredded mozzarella.

The best way to avoid this is to store the cheese in something that is airtight.

How to use the grated mozzarella cheese once frozen

Using the grated mozzarella once frozen is very easy.

The only thing we warn you about is that you be aware of defrosting only what you need. Be prepared to use the entire bag in a couple of weeks from the time you thaw it.

If you have purchased a large bag, you may consider dividing it into smaller sections before freezing.

When defrosting the mozzarella cheese, we recommend moving it from the freezer to the fridge the night before and letting it thaw in the fridge overnight.

However, you can also leave it at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. This method will work best for cooking the cheese on a hot plate, such as a casserole dish or on a homemade pizza.

We do not recommend using the microwave to thaw the mozzarella. This will make the shredded cheese dry and potentially tough. It will also have an adverse effect on the overall flavor of the shredded mozzarella cheese.

Related questions

We hope you found this guide to freezing shredded mozzarella cheese a valuable and informative resource.

The process is simple and there isn’t much to do to successfully freeze your shredded mozzarella for several months.

We invite you to review the following section of questions and answers for additional information that you may find useful or interesting.

Is mozzarella cheese healthy for you?

Mozzarella cheese has fewer calories than traditional full cheese options. It can also be filling, keeping you more satisfied between meals than most cheeses.

This cheese is low in sodium and also has protein. It is loaded with calcium and minerals and is nutritious for your bones and teeth.

Is mozzarella a cheese that melts?

Mozzarella melts easily and has a smooth texture when melted. It has a low moisture content, so it works well for melting or eating cold.

You can’t go wrong no matter how you choose to use this type of cheese.

Can mozzarella cheese be refrozen?

We rarely recommend refreezing products once thawed.

If the mozzarella cheese is partially thawed, you can put it back in the freezer. Once the cheese has thawed completely or has spent more than a couple of hours out of the freezer, we don’t recommend refreezing it.

If you try to refreeze it, you risk making the cheese seize up or dry out more, not to mention increasing the risk of bacteria in the cheese.