Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese?

I’m sure you know this situation: you’re planning to make a tasty cucumber pasta salad for your next summer party and discover that the only thing standing between you and mouth-watering goodness is one container of ricotta cheese.

Let me tell you something. Next time you see this coming, just pop that ricotta into the freezer to have it on hand when you need it.

To answer your question about can you freeze ricotta cheese, yes you can.

Let’s go a bit more in-depth on how to freeze and thaw ricotta cheese, shall we?

Is Freezing Ricotta Cheese a Good Idea?

Before getting into how to, you should consider if it’s a good idea to freeze ricotta cheese.

While freezing doesn’t make food dangerous, it compromises the quality of the food. The texture of frozen ricotta cheese will differ from fresh ricotta or thawed ricotta after being frozen.

This is because ricotta has a lot of moisture in it and frozen water expands, causing the ricotta to change texture. A similar effect also occurs when you freeze cream cheese, for example.

How to Freeze Ricotta Cheese

There are a few ways to freeze cheese. Here are three common methods I want to show you.

1. Freezing in the Original Container

This is the easiest way to store ricotta cheese. It is also my least favorite because it doesn’t offer much protection from freezer burn.

To freeze ricotta this way, follow these steps:

• Place original packaging into a resealable plastic bag or airtight container such as a freezer-safe container.
• Label the container with the date it’s frozen.

2. Freezing in a Freezer Bag or Container

This is my favorite way to freeze ricotta because it offers excellent protection from freezer burn. To store your ricotta this way, follow these steps:

• Put the ricotta into a resealable plastic bag or freezer-safe container.
• Remove air from bag or container before sealing to avoid freezer burn. Freezing with less air in the bag or container allows for less moisture to form during the freezing process.
• Place in freezer and wait for it to completely freeze before removing from the package.

3. Freezing Ricotta in Cubes

This method works well if you plan to use your frozen ricotta for cooking.  

• Put about 1/2 cup of ricotta into an ice cube tray.
• Fill each cube with ricotta until it is about to overflow.
• Place tray in the freezer and wait for the cubes to freeze completely before removing from the tray.
• Store the cubes into a resealable plastic bag or an airtight container if you plan on using them later.

How to Thaw Ricotta Cheese

When it’s time to eat and you’re ready to use your ricotta, how do you go about thawing it?

Here are three common ways:

1. Thaw at Room Temperature

This is the easiest way to defrost ricotta cheese because there is no need for planning ahead of time. Just take it out of the freezer and leave it at room temperature until thawed.

Be sure to place a damp towel on top of the ricotta to prevent from drying out while it is defrosting.

2. Thaw in the Refrigerator

If you have some time ahead of time, this method works well. To use this method, simply move the ricotta to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.

3. Thaw in the Microwave

This is my least favorite method because it tends to heat up the ricotta, making it hot. To use this method, place your container of ricotta on a plate or microwave-safe dish before heating it. Heat for 30 seconds or until warmed.

How Long will Ricotta Cheese Last in the Freezer?

Ricotta cheese can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.

After that time, the cheese may lose too much of its flavor and texture, making it undesirable to eat.

But it also depends on some other factors, such as how carefully you prepared it and so on.

Always check the quality before adding it to a recipe or eating it. If the cheese is still in good condition, use it. If not, don’t hesitate to throw it away.

Ricotta Cheese Recipes

You need some ideas and inspiration for what to do with frozen Ricotta Cheese?  Here are some delicious food creations to get you started.

1. Ricotta Ice Cream

This recipe for ricotta ice cream combines the sweetness of strawberries, honey and vanilla flavors with fresh ricotta cheese.

2. Cannoli with Ricotta cream

These little roles are filled with ricotta cream for a yummy dessert or snack.

3. Banana Cream Pie Cake

This banana cream pie cake is made with layers of buttery pound cake, bananas and sweet vanilla pudding with a layer of homemade whipped topping in the middle.

4. Ricotta Pancakes With Honey Figs And Pistachios

These pancakes are made with ricotta cheese along with honey, orange juice, eggs, and vanilla.

5. Lumaconi filled with ricotta and spinach

Lumaconi is a pasta variety that you don’t exactly encounter on every street corner. But you should be able to find it in any well-stocked Italian supermarket. If not you can also use cannelloni as a replacement.

6. Ravioli stuffed with spinach and Ricotta cheese

This is also a classic Italian combination.

By the way, you can also freeze Ravioli.

FAQs

The verdict: Is freezing ricotta cheese recommended?

Freezing ricotta cheese is a good way to keep it for later or have it on hand when you need it.

It may lose some of its flavor and texture, but there are many recipes that work well with frozen ricotta cheese.

That being said, I hope that these tips about how you can freeze ricotta cheese were helpful for you and that you enjoyed reading this article.

Ever wonder what you can use as a substitute for ricotta cheese?

Thanks for stopping by!