Why cheese curds are a durable delicacy that should never go to waste.

Cheese curds are the delicious dairy products which are used to make dishes such as poutine, burgers, stuffed meatballs, fried cheese curds and many more. If they are stored properly, you can preserve them for a while and use when needed. However, many people are still unaware of the potential of this hidden treasure. 

Although cheese curds have cheese in their name, they are different compared to regular cheese. Cheese curds are pieces of curdled milk, that are made as a result of the cheddar making process. They have a mild and cheddar like flavor. You might have also heard people refer to them as ‘squeaky cheese’. They have a rubbery texture, and if the cheese curds are fresh, they squeak against your teeth when bitten – this is why they are also known as squeaky cheese.

While manufacturing cheese curds, the milk is clotted, and water is removed to form a cheese-like tough structure. The protein mesh held together with calcium, makes the cheese curds tough. When you take a bite of a cheese curd, the tough mesh resists with your teeth, causing it to squeak. The sad part is that in less than a week, the calcium starts dissolving from the protein, and the cheese curd will become softer. So, you won’t get that authentic squeakiness of the cheese curd. 

However, if you microwave the cheese curds for a few seconds, it can help them to regain their squeak, but you will not get the same taste and texture as when it was fresh. Some people think that once the squeak is gone it is time to throw away the cheese curds, but this is not true. So, how can cheese curds be a durable delicacy that never goes to waste? 

So, here is the solution. We all know freezing has been one of the best ways to preserve food and increase shelf life, so this is the best way to also preserve cheese curds. 

Freezing is the key to extending the life of cheese curds and maintaining its squeakiness. If you refrigerate the cheese curds, you will get the same taste and texture for at least a week. 

If you have lots of leftover cheese curds freeze them in multiple small portions so that you can defrost and use them in smaller portions. The more you freeze and defrost cheese curds, the more likely they are to lose their texture. So, freezing in smaller portions will help you to defrost only the portion you need at a time. 

Don’t forget to take your cheese curds out of the freezer and let them rest at room temperature before you eat them. While freezing is a great way to preserve cheese curds, how can some dairy companies, like Pure Dairy, keep their cheese curds fresh for 21 days – up to four months? 

The secret is an advanced freezing technique, called IQF (Individually Quick Frozen). By freezing cheese curds individually and quickly, they can preserve their taste, texture and nutritional value. It helps to maintain the original shape, mild salty flavour, and squeaky texture without adding nasty additives and preservatives. 

This technique helps to improve the shelf life of cheese curds without altering any nutritional value, which means you can enjoy the fresh and healthy cheese curds for longer.

The best place to purchase fresh cheese curds in Australia, for your restaurant or venue is from Pure Dairy. To order contact Pure Dairy.