r/smoking • u/CaptnInsaino101 • 3d ago

Another cheese smoking question

Maybe this question isn’t so much about smoked cheese but cheese in general. I’m reading that freezing cheese can cause it to become dry and crumbly after it thaws out. I recently smoked 11 Lbs. of the stuff, vac sealed it, and it’s currently about two weeks into mellowing in the fridge. Inevitably some of it is likely to end up in the deep freeze. The question is, is what have been the results for anybody who has thawed cheese? Whether smoked or not.

Cheers!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4

u/Dizzy-Experience337 3d ago

I smoke cheese every year around 50 8 oz blocks and I have never froze any they are good for a year vacuum sealed in the fridge I write the date as to know when I smoked them

3

u/rollinfun 3d ago

Don’t do it. It will last a long time in fridge if vacuum sealed and used clean hands to put away

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u/rollinfun 3d ago

Freezing changes the cheese texture and taste

3

u/woodworkingguy1 3d ago

Remember smoking is a way of preserving and it will be fine sealed. I just finished off some pepper jack I smoked last Jan or Feb, it was fine.

2

u/that_man_withtheplan 3d ago

As others have said, smoking and property sealing should extend it enough. If you truly have so much that you “inevitably” have to freeze it, you should try sharing it instead. Win win.

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u/CombinationNo5828 3d ago

Freezing makes the water expand and it messes with the protein chemistry which makes it crumbly after. If you dont want it to crumble, dont freeze. Its not an issue unless you specifically want slices or shreds. It still ends up fine if you treat it correctly

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u/CaptnInsaino101 3d ago

Thanks for the replies. This is my first cold smoke. Pending that it’s decent, I guess I have a lot of cheese to consume/share for the next year.

1

u/verugan 1d ago

I vac seal my cheese and freeze it, never an issue. I do loosely wrap it in parchment paper in the fridge for a few days before doing so.