When I crave some fancy and delicious cheese, my mind always wanders to the famous French, one-of-a-kind camembert cheese. Nothing can ever beat its dense, creamy, and sticky texture that melts over some roasted potatoes and ham!
Whenever I search for any Camembert cheese recipe, I always come across this question “Can I freeze camembert cheese”. Simply because risking the spoilage and rotting of this precious and expensive cheese because of improper storage in the fridge is a risk nobody is willing to take. And on the rare occasion of finding Camembert cheese on sale and buying it in bulk, you would want to know how to properly store it.
I am here to tell you that, yes, you can easily and efficiently keep your amazing Camembert cheese intact without spoilage for up to 3 months, and also share with you all the details you need to do so. However, I need to warn you that over time it does lose a bit of its texture and flavor, so it is advised to use it as early as possible.
How to Freeze Camembert Cheese:
Before I go on with the exact steps of freezing the cheese. Two things you need to bear in mind, which are the quality of the cheese and its ripeness. Always go for the high quality Camembert cheese; don’t just buy any type. Also, if it is still soft and has not ripened enough, then let it toughen up a bit in the fridge before you freeze it.
Steps of freezing:
- Cut your Camembert cheese wedge into portion-sized pieces according to the portion you usually need, so that when you wrap each one separately it is easier for you to just take it off the freezer. I prefer 200-gram portions.
- Tightly wrap each portion with aluminum foil first, then another layer of plastic or cling-film wrap. That’s to prevent any cheesy smell from escaping the wrap and affecting the other food around it.
- If you want to preserve the cheese for longer in the freezer, then you should place the wrapped portions in a freezer bag, vacuum seal it so that there is no air inside, label it and place it in the freezer.
If you are going to cook the whole Camembert cheese wedge, then it is even better to freeze it in its original package than to unwrap and re-wrap it again.
Using a vacuum sealer is way more efficient than trying to release all the air using your hands. It will really guarantee a bag with no air at all.
Extra tips for freezing Camembert cheese:
- Remember, freezing doesn’t stop the fermentation of the cheese; it just slows it down, so don’t keep the cheese wedge for too long in the freezer. Better yet, don’t freeze it at all if you don’t have to.
- It is better to incorporate the frozen cheese in a dish than to eat it as such.
- The sooner you cook the frozen cheese and the less time it is left outside the fridge, the better it is going to taste.
How do you defrost camembert cheese?
Patience is the key to deforesting the delicious Camembert cheese wedge. Unfortunately, there is no way you can rush the process of defrosting the frozen cheese, even adjusting the microwave on the “defrost” setting can have a negative effect on the taste and texture of the cheese instead of successfully defrosting it. That’s why your only option is just to let it defrost on a counter for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.
You certainly have to be ready beforehand when you want to use your frozen cheese for a meal, or else the results won’t be as satisfying as you need it to be.
The defrosted cheese can stay for up to 3 days in the fridge after defrosting.
Can you freeze breaded camembert cheese?
Time to share with you one of my absolute favorite recipes using a frozen camembert cheese.
Ingredients:
- One large frozen -for at least an hour- Camembert cheese round.
- 25 grams of plain flour
- 1 tablespoon of water
- 1 large egg
- Breadcrumbs
- 50 ml of sunflower oil
- Cranberry sauce or raspberry coulis for garnishing
Steps of making:
- Allow your oven to preheat to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6.
- While the oven is preheating, cut the large cheese into approximately 80g/3oz wedges after removing it from the freezer.
- Remove the white skin of the cheese wedges from the top and leave the sides and the bottom. Throw the wedges in a bowl containing flour and coat the whole wedge in the flour.
- Remove each wedge from the flour and dip it in a beaten egg mixture with a tablespoon of water. Make sure each wedge is well coated with the eggs.
- Transfer each wedge from the egg mixture to a bowl containing bread crumbs. Carefully coat the wedges with the breadcrumbs; ten re-transfer them from the bread crumbs to the egg mixture, and then back to the breadcrumbs mixture to make sure they are completely sealed in breadcrumbs.
- Allow the coat to hold by placing the wedges in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Place a pan filled with the sunflower oil over medium heat. Wait for the oil to heat completely before you carefully start to place each cheese wedge. Fry on each side for a minute or until they turn into a beautiful golden brown. It shouldn’t leak if it is coated well.
- Align the fried cheese wedges in a baking tray, then transfer the tray to the preheated oven. Let them bake for 5 – 10 minutes until they buff up a bit from the top.
- Serve with any of the sauces you like and enjoy!
Frequently asked questions:
How to deal with the thawed Camembert cheese?
While the Camembert cheese is thawing, it might ooze some floury solution from any cracked part. The longer the cheese stays in the freezer, the higher the chance it will ooze this liquid. But, don’t worry, it is not bad or anything. However, you might notice that the texture is slightly off; that’s why you can use it for the “camembert rôti” dish instead of eating it as such. You can also stuff some pancakes with it.
Can You Refreeze Camembert Cheese?
Don’t ever attempt to refreeze your Camembert cheese. Or else you will be officially declaring the complete loss of its amazing and sticky texture. Enough damage to the texture is already done by freezing it once, so don’t do it again!
Can you cook camembert from frozen?
We recommend slowly thawing the Camembert in the fridge overnight before preparing it. This will prevent the inside from freezing while cooking.
What Other Cheeses Freeze Well?
Indian paneer, cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan are the best freezer-friendly types of cheese out there. Usually, soft cheeses like Camembert and cream cheese are not the most ideal ones for freezing as they tend to separate upon thawing.
Does camembert cheese freeze well?
Generally speaking, it is not the most ideal when frozen. However, it really does depend on your reason for freezing. If it is just to preserve it to, later, melt it and make a dip dish, then go right ahead, it will be perfect. But, don’t expect it to retain its taste and texture 100%.
Hi, I’m Julie, the passionate foodie and founder of Juliesfamilykitchen.com. I created this blog out of a drive to prove someone wrong, and then I realized how much I truly enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. In my free time, when I’m not running around after my kids or spending quality time with my partner, you can usually find me in the kitchen experimenting with new dishes.