Cottage cheese is a very popular food item that is also a healthy snack full of proteins and other necessary nutrients. It is a low-calorie cheese that has a mild flavor. It is also advisable that you include this as part of a healthy diet. With this, it is widely popular with athletes; as well as for people who have weight loss plans.
If you have a carton of cottage cheese, you might ask this very question: Can cottage cheese be frozen? In this post, I am going to shed some enlightenment about its proper storage, when to freeze it and when not to freeze it. In addition, I will give you some tips on how to tell if the cottage cheese you have has already gone rancid.
Can Cottage Cheese Be Frozen?
Cottage cheese is made from the curds of cow’s milk, which can be mixed with a variety of milk levels such as reduced-fat, non-fat, and regular. To add, it is also available in different forms such as sodium-free varieties, lactose-free, whipped, and creamed. With this, you will be able to enjoy this versatile cheese as an ingredient or by itself.
Freezing cottage cheese is a great method to save money, as it permits you to stock up on it whenever it’s on sale. So if you have a sudden craving for it, you can just walk to your freezer. However, all food items do not freeze the same and some you just cannot. Can cottage cheese be frozen? The answer is yes.
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Cheese is something that will be perfect for freezing. Cottage cheese is a very soft cheese and because it can be frozen, its texture may be affected negatively when you defrost it. It is a great addition to baked dishes once it thaws which makes it perfect for freezing. You just have to know when you can and cannot freeze cottage cheese.
If you were planning on using cottage cheese as an ingredient for a wide range of recipes, then it would be recommended that you freeze your cottage cheese. If you intend to place your cottage cheese in the freezer, choose the dry, uncreamed and whole fat cones. The reason is that they freeze better than creamed, low-fat, and zero-fat cottage cheese.
It is important to note that the taste might be affected negatively once you freeze cottage cheese. In addition, its texture may not be the same once you thaw it. With this, it is not advisable to freeze cottage cheese if you will serve it as a dip or spread or if you are plainly very particular with the taste of the cottage cheese.
How Do You Properly Freeze Cottage Cheese?
Cottage cheese can be frozen using its original container. However, you should be aware that this particular type of cheese could absorb flavors from other food items. With this, it is recommended that you double wrap it first before placing it in the freezer. Another method is that you can transfer it to a freezer-safe plastic container.
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Before you freeze cottage cheese, it is advisable that you stir it quickly so that the entire ingredients will be blended completely. Doing this will not give you a hard time when you defrost it. When it comes to thawing, you can leave it overnight or for a couple of hours. Be sure to thaw inside the refrigerator and not on the kitchen counter.
It is also interesting to know that unopened cottage cheese when frozen can get an extended shelf life. It can give you another 3 to 6 months beyond the sell by date. Opened ones, however, will last for 2 to 3 months. Most importantly, if you keep it in the freezer for a longer period of time, you should expect the taste to be a little different.
If you need quick recipes using cottage cheese, click the video link below:
How Do You Tell If The Cottage Cheese Has Gone Bad?
There are a lot of ways on how to tell if the cottage cheese you have has already gone rancid. It would definitely not require a lot of effort to check for the obvious signs and you can absolutely do it on your own. You just have to be a little observant when it comes to looking out for the signs.
If your cottage cheese has been frozen or not, if it has turned yellow and damp, or if it gives off an odd smell and a sour taste, it might be best that you throw it away immediately. A fresh cottage cheese can be described to have a clean smell and taste with a consistent texture.
If you have leftover cheese, you might want to press and drain it to be able to convert it to a longer lasting cottage cheese. Doing this will result to pot cheese that can be converted later on into farmer’s cheese with a little more pressing. It is very important that you know how to tell if cottage cheese has gone bad to prevent foodborne illness.
Conclusion
Can cottage cheese be frozen? Yes and no. Yes, if you are planning to use it for later use and no if you wish to consume it right away. In addition, you might not want to freeze it if you are very particular with its taste. Here are some of the important points discussed above:
- Cottage cheese can be frozen and it will be able to give you another 3 to 6 months of extended shelf life.
- Proper storage includes transferring it into freezer-safe plastic bags or containers. It should be noted, however, that freezing cottage cheese for a longer period of time would definitely alter its taste.
- If the cottage cheese turned yellow, is damp, gives off a very sour smell and taste, you have to discard it to prevent foodborne illness.
