Can You Freeze Kraft Singles?

Kraft Singles have become a guilty pleasure for us. It’s the perfect melty topping to put on a cheeseburger or to make a quick and tasty grilled cheese sandwich.

They go perfectly on variety of different meals, from chili dogs to ramen. The way Kraft Singles melt has everyone eating this popular pasteurized product. 

If you are reading this, you probably just bought a large package of Kraft Singles only to get home and realize you don’t know what to do with that amount of cheese in your household.

Don’t worry. It happens to most people, and we will share a way for you to make the most out of your purchase!

So, can you freeze Kraft Singles? The answer is yes. You can freeze Kraft Singles for about 3 months. You just need to place them in a freezer-proof bag.

Keep reading to see our pro tips for freezing Kraft Singles to preserve their texture and flavor so you’ll never bee without the most convenient savory topping.

Is It Safe To Freeze Dairy?

Take into consideration that the general rule for freezing cheese is that it will most likely change its texture. You may not notice it immediately, and the texture change becomes debatable after it’s all melted.

So, if you are going to melt your cheese after you defrost it, you are good to go. We wouldn’t recommend freezing that fancy cheese you bought for snacking while you sip wine, but with a product like Kraft Singles, you can go ahead. 

Most people are skeptical about freezing dairy products. But are Kraft Singles even real cheese? You might be surprised to learn that because of the way that Kraft Singles are made, they can’t legally be called “cheese.”

In fact, it isn’t even labeled as real cheese on the package. It turns out it’s technically “pasteurized processed cheese food.” To earn this designation, the final product must contain a minimum of 51% real cheese, be no less than 23% in fat, and have a moisture content of at least 44%. 

Kraft does exceed these minimums, as they state that 98% of Kraft Singles is in fact “real” cheese. Also on the ingredient list are whey protein concentrate, sodium citrate, emulsifiers, and preservatives.

The way Kraft Singles are produced creates a product that’s super easy to melt and has a longer shelf life than other types of cheese.

It’s no wonder they’re the go-to staple in fridges and coolers across the country for anyone reaching for a slice for a burger or a quick grilled cheese.

Processed cheese, like Kraft Singles, also usually contains a tiny amount of water. This factor allows the cheese’s flavor and texture to last longer when frozen. 

However, it’s important to note that after a significant period of freezing, Kraft Singles will start to lose its original texture. That’s why we don’t recommend freezing it for more than 3 months. 

Also, there are some factors like freezer burn that can contribute to the deterioration of the cheese’s texture, if it wasn’t properly packed before freezing. Freezing bags are your best ally in these cases. 

Step-By-Step: Get Your Kraft Singles Ready For The Freezer

First thing’s first. You should know how this product is created to be able to properly manipulate it and get the most of it.

When created, Kraft Singles American cheese slices are not made by cutting slices off a big block; each slice is fabricated individually and packed along with other slices. 

Can You Freeze An Entire Package Of Kraft Singles?

Sometimes we come across a great deal in the grocery store and end up buying way more product than we are going to be able to consume in the next few days.

If this is the case with your Kraft Singles, and by any chance you have not opened the entire package yet, you can freeze it directly in the original packaging. It will protect the cheese in the freezer. 

You can also further place the full unopened package in plastic wrap to provide additional support. By doing that, you will also block the cheese from absorbing other flavors.

Is It Ok If You Freeze An Opened Kraft Singles Pack? 

In case you have already opened the packaging, do not worry. You should know that the slices are processed to have a long-lasting life without freezing.

Therefore, there isn’t much involved in preparing them for the freezer. This simply means that the unopened individual packs of Kraft Singles American cheese slices should remain unopened for freezing. 

You can also use wax paper between each packed slice to prevent the cheese’s individual plastic wrappings from sticking to one another.

As stated before, you will need a plastic freezer or zip-top bag for this step. As a best practice, you should vacuum the air out of the plastic bag. if you have a vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealing minimizes the growth of bacteria.

This is a great investment for freezing food and assuring it will last much longer, so if you don’t own a machine like that, this might be your sign to get one (we love this vacuum sealer from Pontane on Amazon).

Why is this so important? Air contains bacteria and fungus spores that enter the food containers, and if not refrigerated or frozen, the  microorganisms will proliferate, altering and even rotting the food.

The air also allows any dormant microorganisms that survived the factory sterilization process already in the food to come back to life and proliferate.

If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, the second best thing is to use this method below:

Once you have secured the unopened packs of cheese slices inside the vacuum sealed freezer bag, you will need to write the current date on the bag with a permanent marker.

That way, you will ensure that you don’t forget how long the product has been in the freezer. 

How Can You Properly Defrost Kraft Singles American Cheese Slices?

After the Kraft Singles cheese slices have been hardened inside your freezer, you will eventually want to take them out and get creative with them in the kitchen. 

Frozen Kraft Singles can be defrosted by three different methods. These methods are also used for defrosting regular cheese. You can go for refrigerating, leaving them out on the countertop, or microwaving.

The Refrigerating Method 

If you have time and patience, this is the best method to get to eat your Kraft Singles after they have been frozen. Thawing frozen cheese slices is best done in a refrigerator.

How? You just need to get your frozen Kraft Singles pack from the freezer to the fridge and allow them to defrost gradually. 

The refrigerator is able to keep the cheese’s moist and conserve most of the cheese’s original flavors and texture. However, this method takes a longer period: we might be talking about 48 hours before you can eat your cheese.

If you plan your meals and are able to wait two entire days before using your cheese in a meal, refrigerating your Kraft Singles is the best method for you. 

The Kitchen Countertop Method 

If you are in a hurry and definitely can’t wait two days for the refrigerator defrosting, you can simply put out the cheese slices on the kitchen countertop and wait for about 3 hours for the Kraft Singles to become totally defrosted. 

However, you should know that the texture will most probably be compromised due to loss of moisture.

The Fast Microwave Method

If you are not afraid of the cheese getting a bit melted because that’s how you are going to consume it anyway, you can use a microwave oven. 

Microwaving cheese is the fastest method. Nonetheless, it’s safest with cheeses that have a harder texture.

You should try with 20 seconds or less (depending on the amount of cheese you are defrosting at a time) and gradually add more seconds if the cheese is still frozen.

Be careful with this method, because if you leave it for a longer time than needed, it will melt inside the individual plastic packaging, and it could become a mess. 

Related Questions

Why Are Kraft Singles Packed Individually?

Since cheese slices often stick together, Kraft decided to come up with a solution to prevent the consumer from having considerable difficulty in trying to separate the individual slices without tearing them.

In 1956, engineer Arnold Nawrocki revolutionized the processed-cheese world with a patent for an “apparatus for producing individually wrapped cheese slices.”

His machine was able to wrap a slicelike slab of cheese in a transparent wrapper. Kraft developed a similar technology and introduced wrapped Kraft Singles in 1965. 

Why Did Kraft Singles Become So Popular? 

Cheese was a highly demanded product, but was not easy to commercialize because of its short life.

With the industrialization of food production after World War II, if it came from a factory and was standardized, it was considered a high-quality food.

When Kraft announced pasteurized processed cheese food that has a much longer shelf life, it became very popular, and now it is one of the most consumed products in the American household. 

Related Articles

Best White American Cheese Substitutes

Can You Freeze American Cheese?

Does Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated? – Which Do & Which Don’t