Can You Freeze Paneer?

The grocery store can be a dangerous place sometimes, and we often end up with far too much cheese than we would have liked to bring home!

Fresh cheeses like paneer can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or two, but what if you want to enjoy leftover paneer much later in life?

The best way to preserve fresh paneer that will not be eaten right away is to freeze it. However, it is important to reduce its exposure to moisture and air to avoid affecting its texture and flavor. To keep paneer at its best, it is best to flash fry it before freezing.

It is possible to store paneer by freezing it, but it must be done correctly to preserve it.

You can preserve fresh cheese such as paneer for longer if you have a load nearing its best-before date.

What Is Paneer?

Indian paneer cheese is firm and soft at the same time.

Light and spongy, with a slightly squeaky feel, it is white in color and has a mild, cheesy taste.

Paneer is unusual in that it doesn’t melt or soften when heated.

Since it is a great source of protein, it is commonly used in Indian dishes such as curries.

The process of making paneer is very quick and easy, and a batch can be ready for consumption in just a few hours.

The easiest way to make paneer is with fresh milk and lemon juice, and you’ll have a delicious dinner ready in no time!

Many specialty food stores now sell fresh paneer as an alternative.

In contrast to rennet-based cheeses, paneer is made by heating cow milk or buffalo milk and adding an acid, like lemon juice, to make it curdle.

Using cheesecloth or muslin, the mixture is strained to gather the curds, while the liquid whey is saved for flatbread.

After washing, the curds are pressed into a round mold for 1-2 hours until they stick together and the excess liquid drains away.

The spongy texture of paneer makes it absorb sauces and marinades well. It can be eaten raw, but is most commonly cooked and added to other dishes.

Cooking it for too long can cause the texture to become rubbery, but it can be simmered, fried, or grilled without losing its shape.

Can You Freeze Paneer?

This type of cheese is known as fresh cheese because it does not undergo an aging process. Unlike mature cheeses, fresh cheeses are meant to be consumed immediately.

Paneer made at home has a very short shelf life – it should be eaten within 1-2 days to prevent food poisoning.

It is generally vacuum-packed and has a best-before date of around two weeks. However, once it has been opened, it should be consumed within a few days.

What if you have a large quantity of paneer that won’t get eaten within the next couple of days? Can you freeze it or will it need to be discarded?

By following just a few simple steps, you can freeze paneer and have it ready to use whenever you want!

When it’s unlikely that you’ll finish the open packet of paneer the next day, you should prepare it for freezing instead.

Paneer is not as straightforward to freeze as you might think. Large lumps of paneer, when frozen, can have a rubbery texture once defrosted.

Therefore, it’s best to flash-fry this fresh cheese before freezing, which will also help you use your defrosted paneer later on.

When paneer is diced into cubes and frozen, the flavor will lose faster, but the texture will remain.

How To Freeze Paneer

You’ll need to choose whether to freeze leftover paneer raw or cooked when freezing leftover paneer.

Raw paneer can be successfully frozen and defrosted, but cooking it first preserves its flavor and texture.

We’ve already discovered that cutting the paneer into cubes prevents it from becoming rubbery and unpleasant.

Since paneer is normally consumed as cubes, cutting it into cubes before freezing it makes perfect sense.

How To Freeze Cooked Paneer

This flavorful cheese retains its texture best when lightly fried in oil. Here’s how:

1. You can add flavor to the paneer cubes by dusting them with a blend of dried and ground spices.

2. On the stovetop, heat a small amount of mild-flavored oil (such as peanut oil or sunflower oil).

3. Fry the paneer cubes for 1-2 minutes on each side until they are golden brown.

4. To absorb any excess oil, lift the cooked paneer from the pan and place it on a paper towel.

5. After the paneer has cooled, flash freeze the cubes for 3 hours on a baking tray. Make sure the cubes are in a single layer to prevent them from sticking.

6. Expel as much air as possible before sealing the zip-lock bag with the frozen cubes.

7. Place the bag in the freezer and label it with the contents and the date.

Although this method may take longer than freezing raw paneer, it is worth the effort to keep the cheese fresh.

How To Freeze Uncooked Paneer

You can freeze raw paneer for use in salads and cold dishes by following these steps:

1. Slice or cube the paneer into bite-size pieces.

2. Lay out the paneer pieces in a single layer on a lined baking tray.

3. The paneer should be frozen on the outside after 3 hours in the freezer.

4. After putting the cubes into a zip-lock bag, expel as much air as you can before sealing it tightly.

5. Place the bag in the freezer and label it with the contents and the date.

Raw paneer does not stick together when defrosted this way, so you can take out just enough at a time rather than defrosting everything at once.

How To Freeze A Package Of Paneer

It is possible to freeze paneer that you won’t be able to eat before its best-before date:

1. Place your store-bought paneer in its original unopened package inside a ziplock bag to prevent freezer burn.

2. For extra protection against moisture and air, wrap the cheese in plastic wrap after it has been opened.

If you’re in a hurry, you can freeze the paneer whole if you don’t want to chop it and freeze it.

There is, however, a risk that the texture will turn rubbery, and you’ll have to defrost the whole paneer at once.

How Long Can Paneer Stay Frozen?

In the freezer, paneer does not have a long shelf-life due to its high moisture content.

• When frozen in its original packaging, store-bought paneer will last an additional 6-8 weeks after its best-before date.

• It is possible to freeze diced, pre-cooked paneer (either homemade or purchased) for up to 6 months, but the flavor may diminish over time.

• You should consume raw paneer cubes within three months if they have been frozen.

How To Defrost Frozen Paneer

You can defrost frozen paneer overnight in the refrigerator to preserve its delicate spongy texture.

1. Put your paneer in an airtight container after removing it from the freezer. This will help prevent it from absorbing other flavors and odors.

2. Keeping the container in the fridge overnight will help the cheese retain its original texture and minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.

When you dice your paneer before freezing it, you can take out just enough for your recipe, and keep the rest in the freezer for another day.

Paneer can be defrosted at room temperature or in a warm water bath if you’re in a hurry. However, be aware that this may cause it to become rubbery, crumbly, and generally unappealing.