Can You Freeze Mozzarella Balls? Does It Freeze Well?

Mozzarella cheese is one of Italy’s main contributions to humanity and it’s a fixed ingredient to one of the most popular meals in the world: pizza! Pizza is not the only meal it’s used on, though. It’s also used on Caprese salad, sandwiches, pasta, and other assorted dishes. Being a fresh cheese, mozzarella is very versatile when it comes to use cases! Now, if you live in a place where mozzarella can be on the pricier side, whenever you notice a discounted price tag, you’ll probably be tempted to buy lots of it. At the same time, you might also worry that all that supply of cheese might go to waste if not eaten quickly, defeating the whole purpose of buying weekly or monthly provisions of it. So, you start thinking of these questions. Can you freeze Mozzarella balls? Does it freeze well? How long can Mozzarella balls last in the fridge?

Can you freeze mozzarella balls? Does it freeze well?

Freezing cheese is tricky. In contrast with many other types of raw food like meat or even most vegetables, cheese can be affected heavily in the freezing process. Mozzarella cheese is no exception, and particularly mozzarella balls, compared to mozzarella blocks or shredded, are very sensitive to freezing, as they’re prone to losing their “juice” and turning dry.

So, in summary, it’s not impossible, but you should be able to live with a lesser-quality mozzarella ball. Once that’s out of the way, then it’s safe to go ahead and freeze.

How to freeze mozzarella balls?

First, you should drain the liquid from the cheese and use paper towels to get rid of as much moisture as possible. The ice crystals that form in the water are known to destroy the texture and overall composition of most solid foods,

You can then slice the cheese balls at will and package the pieces or portions with plastic wraps, in a way that avoids any gaps (and consequently the annoying freezer burns). Finally, place them in a freezer bag and seal them airtight. You can also use Ziploc bags instead of wraps, but make sure no air is left in the bags as you seal them.

Will freezing affect the taste of mozzarella balls?

Yes. As stated earlier, the freezer will definitely affect the way the cheese feels and tastes, though it’ll still be edible, it’s just not the same as fresh mozzarella from the fridge. That’s because fresh cheese, and especially mozzarella, is known to contain high amounts of water and liquid in order to maintain its soft and delicate texture (it is actually stored in liquid for that reason!) Mozzarella from the freezer will appear much rougher and generally unappealing in comparison.

Can you refreeze mozzarella balls?

If freezing it is bad enough, though they won’t necessarily spoil, refreezing them will definitely degrade them to the point of completely losing their flavor, thus I would advise against refreezing mozzarella balls or portions (unless the portions are sufficiently small). However, if cooked or baked, there should be no issue whatsoever.

How long does mozzarella balls last in the fridge?

Fresh mozzarella balls should be able to last 5 days or even 1 week in a refrigerator at a temperature equal to or lower than 40º F.

How long can you keep mozzarella balls in the freezer?

If frozen in the freezer, mozzarella balls could last up to 8 months at a temperature of 0º F or lower.

How to defrost mozzarella balls?

To thaw mozzarella balls, you simply need to place them in the fridge and wait several hours. You should not use a microwave to thaw the mozzarella balls as they will dry up! You can also alternatively submerge the freezer bag in cold water to speed up the process.

Make sure that you thaw the portions that you are going to use and don’t leave them on the fridge for more than 3 days!

How to cook frozen mozzarella balls?

The good news is that. in most cases, you don’t even have to thaw the frozen mozzarella balls you are planning on cooking them, provided that you have them portioned correctly for whatever meal you plan to make. However, if you are planning on making fried mozzarella balls, you should try to remove the moisture and pat them dry first, so in that case, it’s recommended that you thaw.