Can you freeze paneer? - Freezing Hacks

Have you found big blocks of paneer at reasonable prices in the grocery stores but don't end up buying them as you can't consume them at once? Or did you have a lot of milk and ended up making paneer but now worried about it going to waste as you can't use it for some reasons?

There is good news for you! Paneer freezes very well. So grab those large blocks and never worry again of it going to waste.

Preparation

Whole pack: An unopened pack of paneer can directly be frozen. This is a great idea for smaller packs which you can use in one go. Otherwise you will have to defrost the entire large block to use only a small portion.
Cubed: cut the paneer into cubes of around 1 cm - 1 inch, depending on how large you want.
Sliced: a large block of paneer can be cut into smaller slices or chunks. You can use one chunk at a time as needed.

How to freeze paneer

Once you have decided whether you want to freeze the whole pack, sliced, or cubed paneer, the next step is to freeze it.

Whole pack - there is no prep work needed, you can place the pack of paneer in the freezer as is. To prevent freezer burn, you can place it in a ziplock bag for double protection.
Portion: divide the chunks of paneer into smaller portions that you would use at once. I like to freeze them in 8 oz. and 14 oz. quantities.
Package: store the paneer slices or the cubes in a Ziplock bag or freezer safe containers.
Label: Mark the ziplock bags and containers with the details of the contents like "sliced paneer or paneer cubes", quantity (8 oz, 14 oz, etc), and the date.

Storage choices

Freezer-safe bags: small ziplock bags are perfect to store smaller portions of cubed paneer. Ensure that you remove as much air as possible.
Airtight containers: freezer-safe plastic, silicone, or glass airtight containers can be used. Snapware, Rubbermaid, and Tupperware are great choices.
Double layer: to prevent freezer burns, you can store a container or ziplock bag inside another container.

How to defrost paneer

Refrigerator: place the container with frozen paneer in the fridge overnight or for about 8-9 hours. This will help retain the texture.
Quick Thaw: Place the container in warm water for about 15-20 minutes. Depending on the quantity, it can take longer to thaw.

How to use frozen paneer?

Defrosted frozen paneer can be used in the similar way as fresh paneer. It can be used to make curries like palak paneer and paneer butter masala. It can be used to make appetizers like paneer pakora or paneer tikka. It can be used to make paneer pizza.

Duration

Paneer can be frozen for up to 3 months. It is advisable to consume older batches first. Also it is not recommended to refreeze thawed paneer as it will lose its texture.

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