Can You Freeze a Cheese Ball? Yes, But You Have to Follow the Rules
Cheese balls are absolutely delicious and they’re so versatile for parties as all your guests can have a serving. If you have too many cheese balls and want to keep one for another day, freezing it will work.
With cheese balls being so delicious, there are so many reasons why we should be keeping some in the freezer.
Can You Freeze a Cheese Ball?
We’re not the only ones who love this type of cheese balls. They may be massive, but they’re the centerpiece of the party. We received a message from one of our readers regarding this exact situation.
I bought two cheese balls for a holiday party and only ended up serving one of them. The other one is still sitting unopened in my fridge. I’m not personally a huge fan of cheese balls, and only use them for large family gatherings, since everyone else really enjoys them.
I would like to keep the extra one for the next family get-together, but that won’t be for a few months. I don’t want to throw it out and have to buy a new one, but I don’t know if it will dry out and go crumbly after freezing. Can you freeze cheese balls?
Yes, you can freeze cheese balls, with some caution. Cheese does have a tendency to dry out after having been frozen, but that doesn’t mean your frozen cheese ball will be a fail. It is important to freeze it carefully to avoid freezer burn, and then to allow enough time to let it thaw before serving.
How to Freeze a Cheese Ball?
If you want to keep your cheese ball and save it for the next get-together, you have to go through a few steps.
- To freeze cheese balls, first make sure that there are no dry spots on the cheese ball.
- Then, wrap the entire cheese ball tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap.
- Double-check to make sure that no part of the cheese ball is exposed to the air, as this will cause freezer burn once in the freezer.
- Place the cheese ball into a freezer-safe bag. Seal the bag, and then label and date it.
- If you are worried about the cheese ball getting squished accidentally in the freezer, place the bag in a hard-sided freezer-safe container.
How to Thaw the Cheese Ball?
When you know you’re having your next get-together, you should plan ahead so you can thaw the cheese ball. Here’s what you have to do.
- To use the frozen cheese ball, remove it from the freezer 1-2 days before you plan to use it.
- Cheese balls cannot be thawed on the counter due to their milk content, and cannot be microwaved or they will lose their shape.
- They must be thawed in the refrigerator so that the temperature remains stable. This can take several hours or more, depending on the size of the cheese ball.
- Thaw the cheese ball in the plastic wrap to keep as much moisture in the cheese ball as possible.
- To check if the cheese ball is completely thawed, unwrap it and insert a toothpick into the center. It should go through the cheese ball without any resistance.
- Once thawed, it can be placed at room temperature for up to an hour before serving.
- If the outside of the cheese ball isn’t even, it can be rolled in herbs or crushed nuts before serving.
Cheese Ball Recipe
If you’re thinking about making your own cheese ball, you’re going to need a bit of time.
For pretty much any cheese balls, you’ll be using different types of cheese.
Cheese Ball Ingredients
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Cheddar cheese
- Green onions
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Pepper
- Pecans
Instructions
- Mix the cream cheese, the sour cream, and the powdery ingredients with a mixer.
- Add the grated cheeses and mix all the ingredients.
- Place the cheese mixture in the fridge and allow it to chill for an hour.
- Shape the ball using a spatula and your greased hands.
- Roll the cheese ball in pecans so it is covered completely.