Differing Opinions

• The USDA says soft cheeses, such as ricotta and cottage cheese, are not good candidates for freezing. Ice crystals that form during the freezing process destroy their texture, making them runny after thawing. The North Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service says that ricotta can be frozen for as long as a month and is best used in cooking. The Kitchn recommends using whole-milk ricotta in recipes; ,skim or part-skim lacks the milk fat that results in creamy curds.

The Container is Key

• Pack ricotta cheese into a container approved for freezing food. An original store container is intended for refrigerator temperatures, not freezer temperatures. Foods lose water in the cold dry environment of a freezer, encouraging the formation of ice crystals. Plastic freezer containers and canning jars designed for the freezer keep foods from drying out. Fill the containers as full as possible, but allow some room for the contents to expand. A half-inch is sufficient. As an alternative, pack the part-skim ricotta into a specially designed vacuum-sealed bag and remove the air before freezing.

Freeze It Fast

• Freeze part-skim ricotta cheese as quickly as possible to discourage the formation of ice crystals. Check the freezer's internal temperature, which should be 0 degrees or below, according to food safety guidelines. Turn the freezer thermostat lower if necessary. Place full freezer containers of ricotta cheese in the coldest part of the freezer, usually on the bottom and against the rear wall. When you're ready to use it, thaw the container of ricotta slowly in the refrigerator to retard bacterial growth and to maintain the best texture.

Considerations.

• Experiment with a small quantity of part-skim ricotta so you can evaluate the results. Strain off excess whey through a colander lined with paper towels or coffee filters before freezing the ricotta. Frozen part-skim ricotta that has been thawed is usually fine in cooked dishes, such as lasagna. It may not be as tasty as fresh in a dessert that does not require cooking. For more reliable results, prepare a dish with fresh ricotta, then freeze it the entire dish.