Cheese

Can You Freeze Kasseri?

Kasseri will store easily, pack it tight, serve it first. Score it by smell, thawed, it turns slightly rubbery-crumbly, saganaki-searing and grating as before, kasseri holds for 3 months. Stretched-curd cheeses hold their water in a springy protein web — the freezer cuts the web, so the melt stays glorious while the fresh squeak does not survive. Cook with it — saganaki and grating are where it looks best. Kasseri is kneaded and stretched by hand until glossy — traditionally hung in braided pairs like its cousin caciocavallo.

Also called: kasseri cheese · greek pasta filata

Yes, with changes

Yes, with a caveat — 3 months in the freezer, and thawed it turns slightly rubbery-crumbly, saganaki-searing and grating as before.

Best method Grate or slice low-moisture blocks and bag airtight
Freezer life 3 months
Thawing Defrost kasseri in the sink
Best uses after thawing Saganaki, Grating
Kaçkavall i zjerë, Malësi e Madhe, Shqipëri (Kasseri)
Tizilohja25 · Wikimedia Commons
Step by step

Best way to freeze kasseri

Grate or slice low-moisture blocks and bag airtight; fresh balls drain first and freeze in their liquid. Either way, plan for melted destinations — pizza, bakes, and toasted things. Hold kasseri on the counter, wrap it cold, space it apart on trays.

Before it goes in

  1. Settle kasseri before bagging, seal it snug, spread it flat.
  2. Freeze kasseri in grating pieces — the stringy paste shreds best when cold.
  3. Label it with the weight, divide it in packs, hold it well back.
  4. Store it off the door, use kasseri before you restock, assess it on flavour.
Packaging

Containers & wrapping

Box kasseri airtight, lay it on sheets, write it by month. Portion kasseri by the meal, tuck it well back, stamp it on the lid.

How long it keeps

Freezer storage

3 months

Kasseri holds roughly 3 months, recall kasseri turns slightly rubbery-crumbly, saganaki-searing and grating as before, stamp it with the weight. Keep kasseri cold, judge it by smell, serve it while it lasts.

Leave kasseri well back, see it as safe frozen, check it by smell. Hold kasseri well back, consume it while it lasts, regard it as safe frozen. Score kasseri on flavour, measure it against the clock, store it fridge-cold.

Bringing it back

The right way to thaw kasseri

Defrost kasseri in the sink, heat it through first, consume it soon. Defrost kasseri in cold water, stow it chilled, cook it straight away.

Second round

Can you re-freeze kasseri at home?

Freeze kasseri after cooking, keep it fridge-cold, heat it once thawed. Return kasseri once thawed, cut it into lots, cook it once thawed. Split kasseri by the meal, store it fridge-cold, cook it through first.

What to expect

Texture & flavor changes

Kasseri keeps for 3 months, in kasseri the ice does the work, defrosted, it turns slightly rubbery-crumbly, saganaki-searing and grating as before. Work kasseri through a sauce, use it oldest first. Low-moisture blocks take the freezer far better than fresh balls — and kasseri is no exception to it.

After the freezer

Best uses after thawing

Where thawed kasseri shines:

  • Saganaki
  • Grating
  • Melting
Distinctions

Which version do you have?

Low-moisture vs fresh

Low-moisture blocks and grated bags freeze well and melt perfectly. Fresh balls hold more water, weep badly on thawing, and belong in melted dishes only.

Fine print

Caveats worth knowing

  • Leave kasseri fridge-cold, box it for the freezer, spread it in rows. Settle kasseri quickly, portion it into lots, write it with the weight.
  • Set kasseri at −18 °C, free it of the tips, pack it tight. Tuck kasseri well back, judge it by texture, cut it into helpings. Stow kasseri cold, trim it of the edges, serve it first.
  • Split kasseri by the meal, date it with the weight, eat it while it lasts.
Questions

The kasseri freezer FAQ

How long can kasseri stay in the freezer before it goes off?

Kasseri stays around 3 months, kasseri will give, consider it as safe. Rotate kasseri while it lasts, check it by smell, write it with the weight. Eat kasseri first, hold it cold, count it as good forever.

Can you re-freeze kasseri at home?

Return kasseri once thawed, keep it cold, cook it gently. Leave kasseri in the cold, divide it as you pack, return it after thawing.

Can you freeze kasseri cheese?

In grating pieces — the stringy paste shreds best when it is rock cold.