Should You Refrigerate High Temp Cheese [Let’s Find Out!]

What is high temp or high-temperature cheese? As the name suggests, high-temperature cheese has a higher melting point than other kinds of cheese. Because of this, it doesn’t melt quickly. 

Most cheeses melt on being cooked. However, high-temp cheese retains its original form even after being cooked.

If you’re here, you must wonder how to store high temp cheese. Well, don’t worry. We are here to answer your questions! 

Should you refrigerate high temp cheese?

The answer to this depends on when you plan on using it. Refrigeration for high temp cheese is only required when you’re planning to store it for a long time. If you plan on using it soon, there is no need to refrigerate it. You can also freeze high temp cheese if you want to store it for extended periods.

There is more you need to know about high temp cheese. And we are here to tell you precisely that!

Continue reading our article to find the answer to the question, “Should you refrigerate high temp cheese?”

High Temp Cheese Features 

As we discussed earlier, high-temperature cheese has a melting point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This quality doesn’t let it melt during standing cooking processes.

Regular cheese cannot withstand the average cooking temperature as high-temperature cheese does.

High-temperature cheese is excellent to work with when you want your cheese to retain its form while cooking. All other kinds of cheese progressively start melting through the cooking process and spread around.

High-temperature cheese tastes remarkable with meat. You can add high-temperature cheese to a variety of meat-based dishes.

Are you wondering how much high temp cheese to add? The ideal high-temperature cheese to add is 10% of the total meat.

For every 10 pounds of meat, you can use 1 pound of high-temperature cheese.

Do you want some direction for choosing a high temp cheese? Well, we are here to help you!

Check out our top recommendations for high-temperature cheese.

Product	Price
High-Temperature Cheddar Cheese	Order Now!
High-Temperature Pepper Jack Cheese	Order Now!
Local High Temp Cheddar Cheese	Order Now!

These recommended picks will pair fantastically with meat!

High Temp Cheese Shelf Life 

It is crucial to learn how to store high temp cheese because it affects its shelf life. Don’t you want to extend your cheese’s shelf to use it for longer?

There are three ways you can store high-temperature cheese. Please continue reading to find out what they are!

In the refrigerator

Refrigerating is an excellent way of storing high-temperature cheese. How you store your cheese depends on how long you plan to use it. 

If you want your cheese to last 60 days, you can refrigerate it at about 40 degrees F. The ideal temperature to store cheese is generally below 40 degrees F. 60 days is also the ideal duration to store cheese. 

In the freezer

The following situation is when you have lots of cheese left. You have no plans on finishing it within 60 days. What then? In such cases, your best option is to freeze it. Freezing cheese can extend its shelf life from 6 to 12 months!

Pop your cheese in your freezer, and you can thaw it months later to enjoy it with your meals. High-temperature cheese can last in the freezer for about 1 to 1.5 years.

While high temp cheese lasts long in the freezer, it is not wise to use it repeatedly. Frozen cheese shouldn’t be thawed too often as it affects the quality of the cheese. Continuous freezing and thawing will decrease the lifespan of the cheese.

Without refrigeration

Now, what if you don’t refrigerate or freeze at high temperatures? High-temperature cheese lasts for about 2 weeks without cold storage. You can leave the cheese outside if you plan on using the cheese within a week or two. 

Melting cheese is a science that we should know while cooking it. So, are you planning on leaving your cheese out?

You can store your cheese for up to 2 weeks by storing it correctly. Use airtight containers such as Ziploc bags to store the high-temperature cheese.

Another point to remember while storing cheese is never to mix it with other foods. Cheese has its best shelf life when it has not been mixed with other substances or ingredients. Otherwise, you may risk the cheese’s lifespan significantly decreasing.

High-Temperature Cheese Uses 

When you’re cooking at higher temperatures and want your cheese to remain intact, high temp cheese is the way to go. 

High-temperature cheese can be used for summer sausages and burgers, as the cheese won’t lose shape while cooking at high temperatures. Regular cheese can become runny and make a mess.

Some regular hard cheeses like Parmesan can tolerate up to 180 degrees. You can use these hard cheeses as alternatives to high-temperature cheese. 

High-temperature cheese can be deep fried and smoked as it has a high tolerance to heat. Let’s take a closer look at each:

Deep Frying

Of course, deep-frying is done at very high temperatures. Deep-fried food is cooked at a temperature of 350 to 375 degrees F.

So, if you want some delicious, deep-fried cheese, high-temperature cheese is perfect. It doesn’t become runny and retains its shape while being fried. Regular cheese spreads and creates a mess. 

Smoking

High-temperature cheese is also great for smoking. You can use this cheese while smoking summer sausages on a grill.

Are you confused about what cheese to use? This depends on the temperature at which you’re planning on cooking. It would be best if you also kept in mind the duration of the cooking process. 

If your cooking temperature is about 180 degrees, regular hard cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano will do the job. If your cooking temperature exceeds 180 degrees, high-temperature cheese is the perfect fit. 

As high-temperature cheese has a melting point of 400 degrees F, you can use it for cooking at exceptionally high temperatures. Cooking regular cheese at such high temperatures will become runny and spread around. 

Therefore, if you’re smoking meat, please use high-temperature cheese.

Where can you find high-temperature cheese?

You can find it in local grocery stores if you’re wondering where you can get your hands on some high-temperature cheese. Outlets like Walmart and Costco are sure to have a collection of high-temperature cheeses. 

If you don’t have the time to go shopping, you can always hop on Amazon and see the available options. Finding high-temperature cheese is not difficult, but make sure you pick a quality brand. We recommend checking out Blackwood high temp cheese as it is one of the top products in the market today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there more fat in high temp cheese?

No, high temp cheese doesn’t contain a large amount of fat. In fact, it contains less fat than regular cheese. For example, regular cheddar contains 45g of fat in every 128g. On the other hand, 128g of high temp cheddar or mozzarella contains 45g of fat.

What kinds of high temp cheese are on the market?

You can find a variety of high-temperature cheese in supermarkets. Some popular options include high-temperature mozzarella, cheddar, swiss, sriracha, and hot pepper. You can find these in many grocery stores. You can choose the packet size too; for example, 1lb, 2.5lb—5 lb, etc.

Is high temp cheese expensive?

Yes, we can say high temp cheese is expensive as it is significantly pricier than regular cheese. For instance, 1 pound of regular cheddar costs $5.5, whereas a pound of high temp cheddar sells at $13.5. As you can see, there is a giant leap in the prices from regular to high temp cheese.

Final Words

We’ve finally reached the end of the post! We hope our article “Should you refrigerate high temp cheese?” helped you out.

Our advice is not to give you advice not to buy cheese in bulk. Although it lasts a considerable amount of time, it is best to buy it in small quantities. You can store high temp cheese in refrigerators and freezers or leave it on the counter. Your choice depends on when you’re planning to use it.

Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for our next post!