Can You Freeze American Cheese?

Sometimes, in an effort to save food, you can seal and freeze it. This is an excellent way to preserve food as it nears the expiration date, meaning that you don’t have to waste it. For some foods, it also makes it easier to work with! Now, you may be wondering whether or not food like American cheese can be frozen.

American cheese is a highly versatile food, and it can be found in a number of dishes. If you’ve bought too much of it, though, you’ll be happy to know that it can be frozen.

In this article, we’re going to be covering the process of freezing American cheese. You’ll learn about whether or not it’s a good idea to freeze it, how to freeze it, and how long you can expect it to last. We’ll also cover how to get it back to its delicious, semi-soft state. Let’s get started!

Is it a Good Idea to Freeze American Cheese?

American cheese, like other dairy products, can be a bit tricky to freeze. Most cheeses undergo a texture change when they’re frozen. Similar to freezing cream cheese, it becomes dry and crumbly. Its flavor may also change, or it may lack flavor entirely!

Now, American cheese, unlike many other kinds of cheese, is made with a variety of different preservatives. These are what give the cheese its unique texture and flavor in the first place. Therefore, it isn’t necessary to freeze American cheese in most cases.

The Pros of Freezing American Cheese

• Preserves the cheese if it is close to expiration
• It can make the cheese easier to work with

The Cons of Freezing American Cheese

• The texture of the cheese changes, and it becomes crumbly
• American cheese loses flavor when it is frozen
• After freezing, it can only be used for cooking purposes

How to Freeze American Cheese

If you find yourself up against a deadline, American cheese can be frozen to preserve it. If you’re looking for steps on how to do that, keep reading. 

Freezing American Cheese – Single Slices

Most of the time, American cheese is sold in single-serve slices wrapped in plastic wrap. Here’s your answer if you’ve ever wondered, “Can you freeze Kraft American cheese slices?”

1. Remove the slices of cheese that you plan on freezing from the original packaging. Slices can be left in the individual plastic wrappers.
2. Layer the cheese slices neatly in a plastic freezer bag, like a Ziploc. Make sure you’re using the freezer version, as it helps reduce freezer burn.
3. When the bag has been filled with the cheese you’d like to freeze, squeeze out the remaining air. This reduces the likelihood of freezer burn.
4. Close the bag and write the date of freezing on it.

That’s it! It’s fairly simple since the cheese comes pre-packaged. Now, if you’re concerned about thawing the cheese in its plastic wrappers, you can remove the wrappers before freezing. However, this may make it harder to pull individual slices apart when you remove the American cheese from the freezer.

Freezing American Cheese – Cubed Cheese

Freezing cubed American cheese is a similar process to what’s listed above. See the steps below for how to freeze cubed American cheese.

1. Gather the cubed American cheese into freezer-safe bags.
2. When the bag is full, squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible to prevent freezer burn.
3. Seal the bag, then write the date of freezing on it.

Freezing American Cheese – Blocks

American cheese can be purchased in deli-style blocks before it’s been portioned into individual slices. Often, using this amount of cheese in a single household can be difficult to do prior to the cheese’s expiration date. As such, most of it will likely need to be frozen. Here’s how to accomplish that.

1. Slice the American cheese block into manageable sizes. These pieces should be no larger than a half-pound each.
2. Wrap the cheese tightly in plastic wrap (cling wrap). Make sure that the cheese is completely covered, and that no air is trapped under the wrap.
3. Place the blocks of cheese into freezer-safe bags, squeezing out any excess air.
4. Seal the bag, then write the date of freezing on it.

Freezing American Cheese – Grated Cheese

Larger blocks of American cheese can be grated. This is a great way to portion cheese before freezing it. It also makes the cheese easy to use after freezing, as it’s only to be used for cooking after being thawed.

1. Grate the portion of cheese you’d like.
2. Spoon grated cheese into freezer-safe bags, squeezing any excess air out once the bag is filled.
3. Seal the bag, then write the date of freezing on it.

How Long Does American Cheese Last in the Freezer?

As with many other cheeses, American cheese is going to stay good in the freezer for about three months. However, it can last longer if stored properly in airtight containers, which prevents freezer burn. It is best to use the cheese as quickly as possible though, so that flavor is retained.

This might also be interesting for you: Can you freeze cheddar cheese?

The Best Way to Thaw American Cheese

The best way to thaw American cheese is by transferring it to the fridge overnight, allowing it to warm up gradually. This is going to prevent additional texture issues, as well as any extra moisture being added to the cheese as it thaws.

What to Do with American Cheese

American cheese can be used in a number of different ways, rather than just on a sandwich or a cheeseburger. Here are some of the ways it can be used:

• Casseroles: American cheese can be added to the top of casseroles as they bake, adding great color and flavor.
• Soups: Rich and creamy broccoli cheddar soup is an excellent use of American cheese.
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese: American cheese adds a delicious, cheesy layer and flavor to a baked mac and cheese dish.

FAQs

Conclusion: Is Freezing American Cheese a Good Option?

For the most part, no, freezing American cheese is not a good option. In most cases, even American cheese from a deli will last long enough to circumvent freezing. However, if you’ve bought your American cheese in bulk, it can be frozen if necessary. After freezing, though, it should only be used for cooking.