Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese?
Freezing food is a great way to preserve it. But did you know that you can freeze ricotta cheese too?
Ricotta cheese is made with curds of milk that have been heated and strained. The result is a cheese that is soft and creamy.
Ricotta cheese is a wonderful ingredient in pasta dishes, soups, salads, and desserts. However, if you’ve never frozen ricotta before, you may find yourself wondering how to freeze ricotta cheese.
There are several ways to freeze ricotta cheese. You can either freeze it straight away or you can freeze it in ice cube trays.
If you want to keep your homemade ricotta cheese fresh for longer, then freezing it is a great way to do it. It is essential to consider a few things before doing so.
The first thing you need to know about freezing ricotta cheese is that the texture will change when frozen. The texture of ricotta cheese will become firmer and denser after being frozen. This means that if you have any recipes that call for this type of cheese, they may not work as well or be frozen at all once.
You can use this to your advantage by adding some extra ingredients to make up for the difference in texture. For example, if you were making a lasagna recipe, you could add more pasta sheets to compensate for the firmer texture. Another option would be to add a little bit of cream cheese or heavy cream to soften the creamy ricotta cheese back up again.
Furthermore, an important consideration when freezing ricotta cheese is the shelf life or how long you plan on keeping it stored.
Freezing leftover cheese can cause bacteria growth and spoilage. Therefore, it’s best to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Once you remove it from the freezer, you should also thaw it out completely before using it.
If you want to learn more about freezing ricotta cheese, you can read our article here. It goes through everything you need to know about how to freeze ricotta cheese correctly.
How To Freeze Ricotta Cheese
While freezing fresh ricotta cheese is simple enough, you should know a few things you need to consider when freezing ricotta.
- First, you must ensure that the milk solids are removed from the cheese to ensure a smooth texture. If you leave any milk solids in the cheese, it will affect its texture after thawing.
- Second, you should remove the excess whey from the cheese. Whey contains lactose, which could cause digestive issues for some people.
- Thirdly, you should always follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. There are different types of ricotta cheese available, so check the label carefully to see what kind of cheese you have.
- Lastly, you should never forget to thaw the cheese entirely before using it. Thawing the cheese will help to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage.
There are pros and cons to each method. Let us look at them below:
Freeze Straight Away
This is probably the easiest way to freeze excess ricotta cheese because it doesn’t require special equipment. All you need to do is put the fresh cheese in a plastic wrap to avoid ice crystals, then in a Ziploc bag, and stick it in the freezer. When you get home from work, pull it out of the freezer and pop it into the fridge.
Pros:
It’s easy to do
You don’t need any special equipment
Cons:
It can only be done once
It takes a lot of time
Freeze In Ice Cubes
This is another good way to freeze leftover ricotta cheese mixture. All you need to start off with is a tray of ice cubes. Put the cheese in a bowl and place it inside the ice cube tray. Then leave the cheese in freezer until solid. Once it has been set, transfer cubes with cheese into Zip lock bag and return your cheese cubes to the freezer.
Pros:
No special equipment required
Easy to do
Cons:
Not suitable for large quantities of cheese
It needs to be left in the freezer for quite a while
Freeze In Ziploc Bags
This is yet another great way to freeze leftover ricotta without needing any special equipment. Just cut open a Ziploc bag, add your cheese, and seal it up again. This works well for cheese in portions as it allows you to keep the cheese fresh longer.
Pros:
It doesn’t require any extra equipment
Easier than other methods
Cons:
Needs a bit of planning
It may not last very long
The Best Way To Freeze Ricotta Cheese
The best way to freeze ricotta is to use a vacuum sealer. It’s the perfect tool for freezing cheese as it leaves no moisture behind. You take a block of cheese and put it inside the machine. Please press the button and let it do its magic.
Pros:
Best way to freeze ricotta
Leaves no moisture behind
Cons:
Expensive
Requires some technical know-how
How To Thaw Frozen Ricotta Cheese
When you come home from work, you will want to defrost your frozen ricotta cheese quickly. This is why we recommend putting it in the microwave. Just follow these steps:
- Put the frozen cheese portions into a microwave-safe dish.
- Turn the microwave on high for one minute.
- Let it sit for 30 seconds.
- Repeat the process twice more.
- After three minutes, check the cheese to see if it has melted fully. If it hasn’t, continue cooking for another 15-30 seconds.
Once it has melted you’ll have smooth ricotta cheese, let it cool down completely before eating.
How long can you freeze ricotta cheese?
The amount of time that ricotta cheese lasts depends on where you keep it. If you keep it in the fridge, then it will last around five days. In contrast, if it is frozen, then it will last up to six months.
Can ricotta cheese be refrigerated for a long time?
Ricotta cheese keeps well in the refrigerator. It tastes better the longer it stays there. Depending on what kinds of cheeses you have used, you may find that it starts to separate after two weeks. We suggest that you throw it away when this happens.
Tips when freezing ricotta cheese:
Ricotta cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in so many different dishes. But if you’ve never frozen it before, you might be wondering how to do it successfully.
You can follow these five tips to get the best results when freezing fresh ricotta cheese.
Tip 1: Use a good quality ricotta cheese. If you buy poor-quality cheese, you may end up with a watery product that doesn’t freeze well.
Tip 2: Freeze the leftover ricotta cheese in small portions. When you freeze large amounts of ricotta cheese, it tends to lose its texture.
Tip 3: Make sure that the ricotta cheese is as cold as possible before you freeze it. Refrigerate it overnight before being frozen.
Tip 4: Don’t overfill the container. Overfilling the container of cheese will cause the water content to expand during the freezing process. This could cause the cheese to leak out of the container.
Tip 5: Use an airtight container. It would be best if you used containers made specifically for freezing food. These containers are designed to prevent any moisture in ricotta cheese from escaping.
If you’re looking for some great recipes that include ricotta cheese, here are ten delicious ideas.
1. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
2. Baked Ziti
3. Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
4. Spaghetti Carbonara
5. Stuffed Shells
6. Fettuccine Alfredo
7. Pasta Salad
8. Pizza Margherita
9. Creamed Corn
10. Easy Creamy Tomato Soup
Last words
We hope that you enjoyed our guide about how to freeze ricotta cheese. If anything wasn’t clear, please leave us a comment below, and we will respond as soon as possible!
