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Do you have fond memories of sitting down for a snack or a meal and enjoying that savory pimento cheese? Maybe you ate it spread on a sandwich or maybe you enjoyed it on crackers or even veggies.
No matter how you enjoyed your pimento cheese, we’re sure you know that a tub or a batch of homemade pimento cheese can last a long time. You need options for either using that pimento cheese or preserving it so you can use it later.
How can you save your pimento cheese the best? Can you freeze pimento cheese? You can freeze pimento cheese but we don’t recommend it. The texture is not so great after freezing. There are some great ways to use it though rather than freeze it.
In this guide, we will walk you through the processes for making pimento cheese and how to properly store it. While we don’t recommend freezing it, it’s still an option so we will share our tips on how to best freeze it as well.
Stay tuned to learn everything you should know about working with pimento cheese and more.
Your Guide to Pimento Cheese
Pimento cheese is a versatile spread. Pimento cheese originated from the Southern United States but since that time its popularity has spread. This mixture was put together as a spread or a dip.
Pimento cheese was originally used mostly for sandwiches or with crackers or even veggies. Over time, the uses for pimento cheese have greatly developed and people come up with new and exciting things to use it for all of the time.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. You never know what you might be missing out on. Pimento cheese is an incredibly simple product. It’s made with sharp cheddar, pimentos, and mayonnaise.
There are a lot of variations to making pimento cheese. Some of the most common pimento cheeses also add cream cheese to them because it pulls out the flavors and makes the spread more creamy and smooth.
On top of that, you can do things like personalize your seasonings or add peppers. There are tons of ways to mix it up and make it your own.
Making Pimento Cheese
To give you an idea of what we’re working with as we progress towards storing your pimento cheese, we feel it’s pertinent to walk you through a simple recipe. This recipe does contain cream cheese since that has become a popular way to make pimento cheese.
Keep in mind, you can personalize your pimento cheese in a variety of ways.
This is a simple recipe and it’s primarily used as a point of reference so you understand the process and the ingredients that could affect your pimento cheese later on.
- You will need sharp cheddar (shredded), cream cheese, mayonnaise, and pimentos (diced). From here, you will also want your choice of seasonings. We recommend garlic, salt, and pepper. You can add seasonings to your own tastes.
- Mix all ingredients into a mixing bowl and add seasonings as well.
- Beat the mixture until it is well-combined.
- Test a sample and determine if you need additional seasonings or other additives.
- Serve immediately or chill prior to servings.
- Enjoy.
As you can see, making your own pimento cheese is quite simple. From the process of dicing pimentos to mixing it up only takes a matter of a few minutes overall. And then you get to enjoy your flavorful cheesy goodness for some time.
Here we want to point out what part of this process leads us to not recommend freezing pimento cheese.
Don’t get us wrong, you CAN freeze it, we just don’t recommend it as your first option because the mayonnaise doesn’t hold up well through the freezing process.
Using Pimento Cheese
We would prefer that you find a good way to use up your pimento cheese rather than freeze it. We understand that’s not always an option and we will provide you a freezing process.
Here’s what you should know. If you decide to freeze your pimento cheese anyway, plan to use it in a recipe rather than as a dip or sandwich spread. The flavor will still be great after freezing, it’s the texture that could become a problem.
With that in mind, here are some great ideas for using your pimento cheese.
You can use these ideas after freezing or to try to use up the cheese instead of freezing it.
- Add to mac ‘n cheese
- Mix into burger meat
- Turn into a baked dip
- Use for stuffed chicken
- Make biscuits Grilled cheese sandwiches
- Add to casseroles
- Mix into tomato pie
- Deviled eggs
- Make loaded fries
- Use in twice-baked potatoes
- Quesadilla filling
- Top your eggs
- Cheeseball
These are just a few ideas for using your pimento cheese. Remember that if you freeze your cheese, we recommend using it in an option such as these rather than using it as a dip or spread. That way, you won’t be bothered by the affected texture.
Storing Pimento Cheese
Pimento cheese stores in the refrigerator quite nicely. It can actually last up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator if it is well-sealed as it should be. You may need to stir it when you pull it out but as long as it’s not spoiled, it’s good to use!
If you are going to freeze your pimento cheese, plan to mix into a recipe in some way after freezing it. This is just the best way to put it to use since it won’t be quite the same texture as it is when it’s fresh.
You might be able to reinvent the texture by using a food processor, a blender, or even a mixer. There is no guarantee that this will work consistently but it is an option to try if you need it.
You can also freeze your pimento cheese.
Freezing Pimento Cheese
While we don’t recommend freezing it, it is an option so here are some steps for you to help you have the best success with freezing your pimento cheese.
- Scoop cheese into plastic wrap and wrap tightly. This dual-layer will help maintain the integrity of the spread.
- Place wrapped pimento cheese into either an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag.
- Label, date, and seal the packaging.
- Store pimento cheese in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Just keep in mind that if you choose to freeze your pimento cheese, when you remove it from the freezer you might find the texture to be off. You will likely find that the pimento cheese appears dry and grainy rather than smooth and creamy.
Stir it up well and mix it into one of your favorite recipes. If you want to try to use it as a dip again, you can attempt to blend it.
Add a small amount of water and process it until it appears smooth again. It won’t be like it is fresh but it will be close.
The good news is that if you freeze your pimento cheese, the flavor is not affected. The only downside lies in the issues of the texture being affected but you can work around this problem if you are willing to move forward with it.
Related Questions
We hope that you find this guide to working with pimento cheese and trying to freeze it to be a valuable resource. While we don’t highly recommend trying to freeze pimento cheese, it is a viable option when you need it!
We invite you to browse through the following question and answer section to find some additional information that you might find to be helpful for your processes.
What Type of Crackers Should You Use with Pimento Cheese?
Technically speaking, you can use any crackers you please with pimento cheese. Feel free to try out whatever you have on hand.
However, there are those that would argue that the best types of crackers with pimento cheese are saltines or plain, lightly salted crackers.
You can also use Club-style crackers that are lightly buttered. We don’t recommend using pita, flatbread, or herby crackers as the flavor just isn’t the same.
However, if these are what you prefer then don’t let us stop you!
How Do I Know When My Pimento Cheese is Bad?
The best way to tell if pimento cheese has gone bad is to do the sniff test. Pimento cheese stores quite well in the fridge if it’s sealed properly.
If you notice an “off” or spoiled smell from your pimento cheese, you should toss it as it most likely has spoiled. It is a dairy substance so this is the best way to know for sure.
You can also look for unusual texture or flavor and toss it for those things as well.
Are There Other Uses for Pimentos?
Pimentos are a type of pepper. You can mix them into anything. We recommend using them as a replacement for bell peppers if you have some you’re trying to use up.
Up Next: How To Fix Grainy Cheese Sauce
Jaron
Hey, I'm Jaron and I'm a self-proclaimed food expert and author of this website! I'll be honest with you, I started this website because someone told me I couldn't and I needed to prove them wrong. Along my journey, I actually really fell in love with writing about food. I hope you found value from whatever article you read, and if you have any remaining questions, don't hesitate to contact me!
