Short answer, yes you can freeze paneer. Longer answer, it’s worth knowing what happens to it along the way.
Freezing works best for anything that ends up in a sauce, think curries, saag, or paneer simmered through a dish. That’s because the ice crystals that form while it freezes break down some of the protein structure, so it can go a touch more crumbly once thawed. That’s just physics, not your paneer going off.
How we’d do it
If you’ve got a block you won’t get through in a few days, wrap it tightly (cling film or an airtight container both work) and get it in the freezer sooner rather than later. When you’re ready to use it, let it defrost slowly in the fridge overnight rather than at room temperature, it holds together far better that way. And it’s best saved for cooked, saucy dishes after freezing rather than frying or grilling, where texture is doing all the work.
Why fresh still matters, even before the freezer
Ours is made fresh, by hand, using 100% British milk, because that’s genuinely how we’ve always done it, still just the three of us most days. Most paneer sold in the UK is either imported, or made here using imported milk, Danish milk is common. That doesn’t change whether paneer freezes well, but it does affect the flavour and texture from day one, so it’s worth knowing what you’re buying whether it’s headed for the freezer tonight or the pan.
If you’re new to paneer altogether, think of it as pressed cottage cheese, mild, and it holds its shape when you cook it. Freezing is really only worth doing if you’re stocking up or batch cooking. Fresh will always give you the better texture.
The short answer
Yes, you can freeze it. Best used in cooked dishes after thawing. Defrost slowly in the fridge, not on the counter. That’s it, that’s the answer.
Got a question about All The Aunties paneer we haven’t answered yet? Get in touch at hello@alltheaunties.co.uk, we read everything.
