It’s a soft creamy cheese that can be a versatile ingredient in lots of dishes, but can you freeze burrata? Or will that affect its texture and smooth milky flavor? Here’s the answer.
If you’re a fan of soft, Italian cheeses, you may already be familiar with Burrata. It’s popular in all sorts of dishes, from salads to pizza. And it’s delicious with grilled bread, pasta, or roast vegetables.
But can burrata be frozen? First, let’s look at how burrata is made to see how freezing may affect it.
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What is burrata?
The word “burrata” comes from the Italian word burro, which means butter. And it’s this buttery texture that this fresh cheese is known for. It’s made primarily in the Puglia region of southern Italy.
This soft Italian cheese is made from three main ingredients:
Mozzarella – A soft, white cheese made from Italian buffalo milk or cow’s milk used as an outer shell for burrata.
Mozzarella curds – Fresh curds of mozzarella soaked in hot water and pulled into strands.
Cream – Fresh cream that’s stirred together with the stretched mozzarella curds until the cream is absorbed and you get a smooth, gooey consistency.
The mixing of the mozzarella curds and the cream results in what is called Stracciatella. This is the creamy, smooth cheese center of burrata.
To make burrata, an outer layer of solid fresh mozzarella cheese is filled with stracciatella and formed into a soft pouch that’s sealed at the top.
The combination of ingredients results in a velvety cheese that is unusually creamy and indulgent.
Should you freeze burrata?
Because of the way it’s made and the loose texture of the inside of this delicate cheese, it’s best enjoyed at room temperature. You should not freeze burrata, as the thawing process will remove a lot of the creamy texture of the cheese and its delicious flavor.
Burrata has a high moisture content and freezing burrata, then thawing it out, releases that moisture from it. That can leave the inside of the cheese dry and mealy and the outside a bland, watery mess.
So, the freezing process will eliminate one of the cheese’s most appealing features, the creamy texture of burrata.
How do you store burrata?
What’s the best way to store burrata you’ve just bought from the grocery store — or any leftover burrata you may have?
It’s best to store fresh burrata in your fridge until you’re ready to eat it. Remove it about 30 minutes beforehand to let it come to room temperature and so it can soften a bit more. Then use it in your favorite dishes — or serve it as an appetizer with some fresh tomatoes and olive oil.
Note: since burrata is best when it’s freshest, it’s a good idea to eat it no more than a few days after buying it. Keeping it in the fridge for too long, especially after its best-by or sell-by date, will affect its soft texture and flavor.
If you have leftover burrata, move it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge. The shelf life of burrata is fairly short, so it will only keep for a couple of days.
Ways to tell if burrata has gone bad
If you open your package of burrata and notice a sour smell, that’s a sign it has started to rot. It will be similar to smelling milk that has started to go bad.
If you notice a yellow film on the outside of the burrata, this is another indication that the cheese has started to turn. In either case, it’s best to simply discard it.
Best ways to use burrata
So, you’ve just picked up some burrata at the store but aren’t sure how to use it. Here are a few good ways to use this fresh Italian cheese.
One of the easiest ways to enjoy burrata is to keep it simple. Cut burrata into slices and serve it with fresh tomatoes and basil — and a drizzle of olive oil, flaky sea salt, and black pepper. This makes a great colorful salad. Like the traditional Caprese salad, the red, white, and green colors of the ingredients in this version resemble those of the Italian flag.
Another great way to use burrata is to add it to pizza or flatbread for some extra creamy flavor and a twist on traditional mozzarella.
Or serve this type of cheese with fresh summer fruits like berries or melon balls, alongside some prosciutto, crusty bread, and crackers. This makes for a great appetizer for a party or small get-together with friends.
You can also add pieces of burrata to pasta to provide more depth of flavor and give your dish some added creaminess.
Or put a ball of burrata in a bowl of hearty soup. The creamy center will thicken the soup up a bit and give it a more velvety feel.
FAQ
About 30 before you’re ready to eat burrata, remove it from the fridge and let the cheese come to room temperature. This will help it soften a bit more and give you an even creamier texture.
Yes, you can eat the outer layer of burrata. It’s simply made from mozzarella, so it’s perfectly edible.
More food storage answers
Wondering what other foods may or not freeze well? Here are some more posts to help answer your questions.
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