Raclette – cheese originates from Switzerland and probably since the Middle Ages satisfies people’s hunger. Due to its properties, it is now often used as processed cheese and can be varied with all kinds of ingredients.
Often it happens that you simply have a good piece leftover and don’t quite know when the next time there will be a raclette delicacy.
In such a case, you would like to make the cheese somehow more preservable and prevent it from spoiling prematurely.
A good possibility is freezing, but does this also apply to raclette cheese?
We do not want to withhold the answer from you.
The short answer: Can you freeze raclette cheese?
Yes, you can freeze raclette – cheese without any problems.
We will show you below exactly how this is best done.
How To Freeze Raclette Cheese?
The process of freezing raclette cheese is the same as with any other cheese.
When preparing, make sure that the processing is as sterile as possible so that germs do not creep in.
Depending on how you want to process the cheese later, there are several options, which we will explain below.
Freezing blocks of raclette cheese
The most common method is freezing raclette – cheese in whole blocks. To do this, you will need a good-quality freezer bag and possibly an additional container.
Check out our favorite freezer bags over here: Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Bags.
First, place the cheese in the bag and seal it.
Make sure that all the air escapes.
Optionally, place the bag in a freezer container afterward.
Label the bag clearly with the most important key information such as product and date.
Freezing raclette cheese slices
This option is probably the best if you got a lot of raclette cheese. To do this, take out your block of raclette cheese and cut it into thick slices.
Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure that there is some space between each slice so that air can pass freely. Once you have them all laid out, place another piece of baking paper or aluminum foil over it and freeze for about three hours.
This way the slices won’t stick together, which you want to avoid.
Then transfer the slices to freezer bags and label them with the key dates as above.
Freezing grated or shredded raclette cheese
If you want to save space and don’t need the cheese in one piece or sliced at all, another good option is to freeze the cheese shredded or grated.
The best way to do this is to pre-freeze the block first.
To do this, place the block in the freezer for a few hours.
Then grate the frozen raclette cheese with a sterilized grater and put it in a freezer bag.
Another advantage of freezing grated cheese is that you can take out exactly the portion you need without having to defrost the whole block.
How Long Can You Freeze Raclette Cheese?
You can safely keep your frozen cheese in the freezer for up to three months without losing flavor or texture. Just make sure that it is prepared properly so that it doesn’t go bad.
Remember to always keep raclette cheese well wrapped, either in an air-tight freezer bag or in foil. Try to remove all the air from the packaging before you place it in your freezer.
Thawing Raclette – Cheese
To achieve the best result, we recommend defrosting raclette cheese slowly in the refrigerator. In this way, the cheese can acclimatize better and loses less of its consistency and flavor.
To do this, simply take your frozen raclette cheese out of the bag and place it on a plate. Then let it thaw overnight (about 12 hours) in the refrigerator.
Quick defrosting of raclette cheese in the microwave oven
You can defrost your frozen raclette – cheese faster by placing it in a bowl and pouring some water over it so that the bottom is just covered.
Put this bowl with the raclette – cheese in the microwave and defrost it on a low setting.
Remember that microwaves are different, so here you should regularly check how far it is already.
Can You Freeze Raclette Cheese Again Once Thawed?
Once you thaw your raclette cheese, it’s best not to refreeze it. Freezing and thawing can affect taste and texture, so this method might not be the most appropriate for raclette cheese.
Freezing or storing your cheese for too long can also affect its flavor and texture, which will make you lose that delicious melted cheese taste you’re after.
This might be also interesting: Best freezer alarm (to keep your food safe.)
Conclusion
Freezing raclette cheese is a great way to save it for later. You can prepare your raclette cheese in advance, freeze it and thaw it when you need to use it.
This way you don’t have to worry about having this cheese lying around the fridge until the right time comes up – which may not be any time soon.
We hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any questions, please leave a message below. We would be happy to help you out!
