Freezing is the best option if you want to preserve your leftover ricotta for longer than two days. Can you freeze ricotta cheese?
The short answer is that you can freeze ricotta, which will keep its quality for at least three months. The cheese will separate slightly once it has been defrosted, but you can still strain the liquid and use the remainder. It is best to use thawed ricotta in cooked dishes but it can also be used in other recipes.
Perhaps you have a container nearing its expiration date and know that you won’t use it soon. It would be a good idea to freeze it.
You would find a lot of people saying that freezing ricotta can be okay. However, others say it will ruin the texture and taste . As usual, the truth lies somewhere in-between.
This is why I created this guide on freezing ricotta. It contains:
- How freezing affects ricotta, and how important it is
- How to freeze it, if you choose to do so
- There are several ways to thaw frozen ricotta
- Here’s a list of recipes that freeze ricotta well.
- Here are some tips for working with ricotta once it has thawed.
Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese?
You can freeze ricotta cheese. It freezes very well. While there will be liquid separation on the surface of the cheese, the overall texture is not affected.
The ricotta can be frozen and thawed and used in baked and cooked dishes. It is also great for eating by the spoon.
This is the basic idea. Let’s get into it a little more.
The producers’ take
Ricotta is a dairy product that producers can’t agree on whether to freeze.
Although most cheesemakers discourage you from freezing your products, there are a few that say you can freeze their Ricotta.
Here are some words from Sargento about freezing ricotta.
Sargento Ricotta cheese may also be frozen up to 2 months. However, freezing can affect the texture.
This information is crucial because freezing can alter the texture of ricotta. That’s true.
Texture changes
After ricotta has been defrosted, some liquid will separate and the texture may be altered.
Here’s how defrosted ricotta cheese looks like:
You can see that there is some liquid separated, but not much. This is because you end up with less liquid when you freeze heavy cream.
You can strain the liquid or mix it back in to the cheese . The latter is what I prefer, but it’s up to your preference.
Using defrosted ricotta
It doesn’t seem to make a huge difference in texture, but I’m not sure what it is. Here is how fresh ricotta compares with a frozen or thawed version:
Fresh vs. thawed Ricotta cheese
As you can see, the difference in frozen sourcream is not nearly as noticeable.
However, some people might not be able tell the difference between fresh and frozen ricotta. Some brands may freeze better than others.
Many people recommend that you freeze ricotta only when you intend to use it in baked or cooked dishes. This is a great tip if you are a ricotta expert.
Here’s how my ricotta cheesecake looked like right before baking:
Thawed ricotta cheesecake ready for baking
It looks perfectly normal, right? The cake came out perfectly (there are a few photos later in this article).
It’s up to you and your preference as to whether you want to eat defrosted ricotta with a salad, a dessert, or by a spoon.
You are welcome to give it another try. However, it is best to do so when the stakes seem low. It should be acceptable for things to go south in taste, without you having to throw out the dish. You can also eat it with a sad expression, like I do sometimes when I make a mistake in the kitchen.
How To Freeze Ricotta Cheese
It only takes a few minutes to complete the whole process, so there’s no reason not to. Grab the cheese and start working.
Tip: When you freeze large amounts of ricotta, consider how you will use it once it has thawed. Choose the portion that is most appropriate for you .
- Prepare the cheese. Let the cheese drain on a towel. If necessary, slice it into smaller pieces.
- Make sure to pack the ricotta in freezer bags or airtight containers. Make sure the bags are not punctured if you choose to use them. The containers are easier to clean (e.g., I don’t like washing freezer bags). You might find it useful to add labels so you can see what is inside and how long the container has been in there.
- Place the ricotta in the freezer.
Tip: Double wrapping is a good idea if you plan to keep the ricotta frozen for a longer period of time, such as more than one month. For extra protection, you can pack the portions in freezer bags and place them in containers.
Sargento claims that you can freeze their Ricotta for up two months. However, I think ricotta in general should be fine for at least half a year.
How To Defrost Ricotta Cheese
So you have a frozen ricotta bag or container and want to thaw it. These are your options.
Keep it in the fridge
It is easiest to thaw ricotta cheese by putting it in the refrigerator overnight in a bowl of warm or cold water. This will speed up the process of defrosting.
This method can take between 4 and 8 hours depending on how much ricotta you use. It is best to begin it in the evening.
There is one downside to this: You need to plan ahead for when and how you will use your ricotta cheese.
The counter
You don’t have to forget that your ricotta needs to be thawed within a few hours if you are eating breakfast.
Instead of putting the bowl in the refrigerator, place it on the counter. You change the water every hour, or whenever it becomes ice-cold.
This method doesn’t work and I don’t recommend it.
However, I am sure you have had times when you were forced to quickly thaw food and didn’t want it to defrost in the fridge.
If this is the case, you might need to thaw on the counter.
It still takes 2 to 3 hours to melt the frozen ricotta. It won’t work if you need it within an hour.
Warning: This option is not recommended. Ricotta cheese should be heated to kill bacteria and reduce the chance of getting sick.
Recommendations: Thaw ricotta in the refrigerator and use this method only as an emergency.
How to Use Thawed Ricotta
Most, if not all cooked foods can be frozen or defrosted with ricotta. These are some suggestions that you might find useful:
- Pasta dishes. Most people use ricotta in pasta dishes either way. You can make lasagna, ravioli or mac and cheese.
- Savory dishes like pizza or calzone.
- Cookies and cakes. Cheesecakes.
- Pancakes. You’re right, ricotta is also possible to be used in pancakes.
I made pancakes from the ricotta after it had thawed. (Here’s my article on how to freeze cottage cheese. Here’s how they came out:
Although they may not seem like much, I found them to be very enjoyable.
I made a cheesecake using the frozen ricotta when shooting extra footage for this article. Here’s how it turned up:
Tips for Using Thawed and Frozen Ricotta Cheese
It can be used in recipes you already know.
Although ricotta cheese can be frozen quite well, it is best to only use it in recipes that you are familiar with.
It’s obvious that everything can go wrong when you try a new recipe. Your chances of success are lower if you use frozen ricotta.
It is best to stick with recipes you are familiar with and have used before.
Pay close attention to texture
Although the texture difference in ricotta may not be as obvious as frozen buttermilk, it is still noticeable. This slight change is not something to ignore in certain dishes, such as pancakes or the like.
You can strain the liquid or stir it in, depending on which method is best for your recipe.
If you need to change the texture, you can add more solid ingredients (e.g. flour) or liquids like milk.
You will know what to do if the recipe isn’t working.
Instead of cooking the dish, you can freeze it.
Many dishes made with ricotta can be frozen well. Cheesecake is one great example.
I don’t know if you’re as likely to grab some cheesecakes from the freezer than defrost ricotta cheese, then bake that cheesecake. It’s not even close.
If you are like me, you might think about cooking the dish you had planned to make with the thawed Ricotta and then freezing it or the leftovers. This assumes that the ricotta freezes well.
You can both use leftover ricotta, and you won’t let a frozen container of ricotta sit in the freezer for several months. This is a win for me.
