Can You Freeze Cottage Cheese?
It’s complicated—but here's what you need to know.
DERA BURRESON / DOTDASH MEREDITH
Cottage cheese is a soft, fresh cheese known for its high protein and calcium content. It is also a versatile ingredient that can be enjoyed as a snack and an ingredient for a variety of savory and sweet dishes.
Cottage cheese has a shelf life of one week in the fridge when opened and two weeks if unopened. Since it is a perishable product, you might wonder whether it is worthwhile to stock up on it at grocery store sales and what to do with the leftovers when you have too much.
Can You Freeze Cottage Cheese?
You've probably have heard mixed messages about freezing cottage cheese. While USDA guidelines don't recommend freezing cottage cheese, some home cooks and culinary chefs disagree.
Generally speaking, cottage cheese comes in two main types: dry-curd options and varieties with milk or cream. Dry-curd cottage cheese is basically the curds without lactose, which are removed using a higher-heat cooking process. (Note: It’s similar to but not the same thing as farmers cheese.) Because dry-curd products are, well, dry, they freeze better than cottage cheese swimming in milk or cream—which is the most common variety sold in tubs at grocery stores.
Cottage cheese with milk or cream is a high-water-content dairy product regardless of how much fat it has (for example, full-fat versus low-fat products). If frozen, the liquid turns into ice crystals. And when the cottage cheese is thawed, the ice crystals transform into liquid, causing the curds to become a grainy texture. However, full-fat cottage cheese tends to freeze better than the fat-free variety due to its higher fat content, retaining a creamier texture when thawed.
So if you don’t mind the grainy texture of thawed cottage cheese, then it is perfectly fine to freeze it to enjoy later. Defrosted cottage cheese is best used for cooked dishes such as lasagna, casserole, and breads.
How to Freeze Cottage Cheese
To freeze cottage cheese in an unopened package, label the tub with the date of purchase, and place it directly into the freezer, where it can be stowed for about three months.
If you plan to use some of a cottage cheese tub and freeze the rest, we recommend transferring individual portions of it into freezer-safe plastic bags or containers. Then, label them to store in the freezer at a temperature of under 0 degrees F for about one month.
As mentioned earlier, an opened package of cottage cheese has a shelf life of seven days in ideal refrigerator conditions. So, if you have an opened package of cottage cheese that has been sitting in the fridge for a few days, it is best not to freeze it. Rather, use it as an ingredient in dishes such as cottage cheese salad or pancakes. Just make sure it hasn’t passed the one-week mark or shown signs of spoilage such as mold growth or a change in color and/or smell.
How to Thaw Cottage Cheese
When you need to defrost frozen cottage cheese to make your favorite recipes, place the container in the fridge. It may take up to 24 hours for the frozen cottage cheese to completely thaw.
You may notice that the cottage cheese is immersed in liquid, which is perfectly normal. Feel free to drain the liquid or use some of it in your recipe, depending on what consistency it calls for. For best results, use the product within two days of defrosting.
Before consuming or cooking with the defrosted cottage cheese, though, check for any signs of spoilage. Part ways with your cottage cheese if you see mold growth or a change in smell or color.
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