Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese: If you have leftover Ricotta Cheese or bought a pack in a sale you might be wondering what to do with it. Then this article is for you as we have covered everything on Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese, and the Procedure on How to do it.
We did our part of the research and mentioned whether it is okay to freeze or not, how to defrost the Ricotta Cheese, and Tips to use both thawed and frozen ricotta cheese in the further modules of the article. Look no further and let’s get started to know more in detail.
- Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese?
- How to Freeze Ricotta Cheese?
- How Long Can You Freeze Ricotta?
- How to Defrost Ricotta Cheese?
- Tips to use Frozen and Thawed Ricotta Cheese
- How to use Thawed Ricotta?
- What happens when you freeze Ricotta?
- Can you use ricotta cheese after it’s been frozen?
- Is Ricotta Cheese healthy?
Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese?
Yes, you can freeze Ricotta Cheese. However, there will be a difference in texture and it is still okay to use after thawing. It works well in cooked and baked dishes. You can use Frozen or Thawed Ricotta Cheese in dishes like Pancakes, Pasta Filling, etc.
Defrosted Pasta isn’t as bad as many people think and it is okay to use. However, you will notice some liquid floating on the surface after thawing.
How to Freeze Ricotta Cheese?
Freezing Ricotta Cheese is pretty much simple. All you have to do is follow the below-listed steps to freeze Ricotta Cheese well. They are along the lines
- Decide in the initial phase itself like how you are going to use the thawed Ricotta Cheese. If needed split them into portions so that you don’t have to face the problem of leftovers.
- Remove excess whey as it might end up forming ice crystals and leading to a layer of liquid after thawing. Remove the whey using a teaspoon or paper towel.
- Take as many containers as you need and pour in them. Take a teaspoon and level it out in every container.
- If you don’t have transparent containers make sure to add a label to them mentioning the date.
How Long Can You Freeze Ricotta?
Ricotta Cheese can be frozen for up to 3 months and after that taste and texture begins to deteriorate. The longer the cheese lasts in the freezer the lesser the quality.
There is nothing to say that you need to discard the Ricotta Cheese after this 3-month mark it’s just that it will start to decline in terms of quality. This is the reason we advise you to consume frozen ricotta cheese as early as possible.
To learn about similar kinds of cheeses you can refer to our article Can You Freeze Mozzarella Cheese to get a complete idea of the process and all.
How to Defrost Ricotta Cheese?
There are different ways by which you can defrost the Ricotta Cheese and they are explained below. Choose a method that you are most convenient with and make your defrosting process easy.
In the Fridge: One of the best ways to defrost the ricotta cheese is to keep it in a cool or lukewarm water bowl and leave it in the fridge. Doing so will speed up the process of defrosting process. It takes around 4 to 8 hours to defrost the Ricotta based on the size. Thus, you can start this process in the evening itself.
Leaving on the Counter: Whenever you are running out of time we advise you to leave the ricotta cheese on the counter. This way, you can finish the thawing or defrosting process in about 2 – 3 hours. But we don’t recommend this method. However, when there is no option left you can go by this method in the least case.
Tips to use Frozen and Thawed Ricotta Cheese
Here are some of the tips by which you can use your Frozen and Thawed Ricotta Cheese. They are listed below:
- Use it in the Recipes You Know: Ricotta Cheese freezes pretty well and you can use it in dishes that you are familiar with. Things can go wrong when you are preparing the dish for the first time. Prepare the ones that you know already.
- Pay Attention to Texture: Look for changes in the texture if any. If you notice any changes you can fix the texture by adding ingredients like flour or any liquids.
- Cook the dish and Freeze It Instead: Prepare a dish with thawed ricotta and then freeze it. This way you don’t have any leftovers nor need to store the Ricotta Cheese for months in Freezer.
How to use Thawed Ricotta?
Not all cooked dishes will be great when you use Frozen Ricotta. You will find this helpful
- You can use Ricotta in dishes like Lasagna, Ravioli, Mac, etc.
- Ricotta can be used in savory dishes such as Pizza or Calzone.
- Cheese Filled Cookies and Cheesecakes can be great options to go for when it comes to thawed Ricotta.
- You can use the Ricotta Cheese thawed in Pancakes too.
Read More: Freeze Cottage Cheese
FAQs on Freeze Ricotta Cheese
1. What happens when you freeze Ricotta?
When you freeze Ricotta the water in it becomes ice and gets frozen thus leading to a texture change.
2. Can you use ricotta cheese after it’s been frozen?
Yes, you can freeze ricotta cheese after it’s been frozen.
Yes, Ricotta Cheese is a healthier choice compared to other cheeses as it contains less salt and fat content.
Final Words
We hope the knowledge shared on our page about Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese has enlightened you. For any further clarification do write us in the comment section so that we can get back to you. Stay in touch with us to learn more about various kinds of cheeses and their freezing methods.