How to Melt Queso Fresco

If you’ve ever attempted to melt Queso Fresco, you’d agree that it can often prove difficult.

Not many know this, but Queso Fresco is originally not a melting cheese, which means it is not designed to melt. Little wonder Queso Fresco is usually shredded or crumbled and spread on many dishes. There’s a scientific reason why it is difficult to melt Queso Fresco; we’ll explain later.

However, melting Queso Fresco is not impossible, especially when you know how to.

There are straightforward ways to melt Queso Fresco. Allow us to show you how in this brief article.

How to Melt Queso Fresco into Cheese Dip in the Microwave

This is pretty much the easiest way to melt Queso Fresco. Here’s how to go about it.

You’ll need:

Salsa
Plastic wrap
Microwave-friendly bowl

Guide

Shred or grate the Queso Fresco and place it in the microwave-safe bowl. Then add some salsa to give it a unique flavor.
Wrap-cover the bowl with the plastic wrap and place it into the microwave.
Set the microwave to cook for two minutes at medium heat. It should form a delicious paste.

There are other ways you can melt Queso Fresco into useful side dishes. Read on to find out.

How do you Melt Queso Fresco with Milk?

To melt Queso Fresco with milk, you’ll need to do it on the stove with evaporated milk and grated or shredded Queso Fresco.

Guide

Grate the Queso Fresco. Next, cook the evaporated milk on low heat. Keep an eye on the milk to avoid burning.
Add the Queso Fresco in small batches while whisking till the mixture boils. The paste should be completely smooth when you are done. If the melted cheese and milk mix is grainy, keep whisking till you achieve a smooth consistency.

Can You Just Melt Queso Fresco?

Since Queso Fresco isn’t primarily a melting cheese, you can’t just melt Queso Fresco on its own. Here’s why.

Queso Fresco is an acid-curdled cheese, which means it is a cheese that is solidified using acid. The molecules of acid-curdled cheeses are held together by casein protein that forms microscopic protein bonds. When exposed to heat, these protein bonds contract and lose moisture along the way. Hence the more water the cheese loses, the tighter the protein bonds get, and the harder it is for Queso Fresco cheese to liquefy.

However, there are other methods you can use to melt Queso Fresco. Let’s explore them.

How to Melt Queso Fresco in the Microwave

Add shredded Queso Fresco to a microwave-safe dish and let it cook on medium heat in the microwave for two minutes (ensure you don’t fill up the container) >>>. Next, remove the bowl of cheese from the microwave and stir with a spatula >>>. Finally, place the cheese back in the microwave and cook for another minute if the bowl of cheese isn’t fully melted.

How to Melt Queso Fresco on the Stove

Grate a sizable amount of Queso Fresco. Place a saucepan over low heat and add grated Queso Fresco to the saucepan >>> Allow the cheese to cook for about ten minutes while stirring it simultaneously to achieve an even consistency and prevent it from burning.

How to Melt Queso Fresco in a Slow Cooker

Add your grated Queso Fresco to the slow cooker and cook at low heat >>> increase the heat level to medium when it begins to melt >>>. Ensure to stir at intervals till it melts.

How to Melt Queso Fresco in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then add grated Queso Fresco to an oven-friendly dish, and put the bowl in the oven for about twenty minutes >>> Take out the bowl at intervals and stir the cheese to prevent clumping.

You see that it is not impossible to melt Queso Fresco. The process only requires a little extra prepping and patience.

Does Queso Fresco Melt Well?

No, Queso Fresco doesn’t melt well.

As we stated, this is because Queso Fresco is not originally a melting cheese. Therefore, it might turn out grainy or lumpy when you try to melt Queso Fresco.

For this reason, you might often find Queso Fresco shredded or grated and sprinkled on dishes.

Nevertheless, if you insist on melting Queso Fresco, you can follow any of the six straightforward guides above.

If you’ve had a change of mind, there are other things you can use your Queso Fresco for. Keep reading! We’ll introduce them.

Different Uses for Queso Fresco

Even though it might not be easy to melt Queso Fresco, you can easily incorporate it into other dishes. If you have no idea what to do with your Queso Fresco, you’re in luck!

Add Queso Fresco to your Soups

Queso Fresco works great in soups, giving it a delightful flavor. Queso Fresco is excellent in gazpacho, black bean soup, and tortilla soup. Additionally, Queso Fresco is at its optimum in summer soups.

Use Queso Fresco to Tone Down the Heat in Dishes

Many spicy dishes could use a sprinkle of Queso Fresco to help bring the heat to an edible level. Enchiladas and Huevos Rancheros are some spicy Mexican foods that would benefit from Queso Fresco’s immense flavor.

Use it as a Filling

When Queso Fresco is exposed to heat, it gets softer. Soft Queso Fresco can be used to fill foods like burritos and quesadillas. You can also add it to salads.

Coat your Corn with Queso Fresco

Adding a thick layer of Queso Fresco to your cooked corn after layering with butter is an underrated cheese tip. Instead, when you layer your corn with butter, add a layer of Queso Fresco and ground chile, salt, and lime juice. Thank us later!

Use it to make a delicious Sauce

Here’s a recipe worth trying.

Ingredients

¾ cup of whole milk
Two teaspoons of hot sauce
Two tablespoons of butter
Shredded Queso Fresco
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
One tablespoon of flour

Guide

Place a pot or saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, then the flour, and mix carefully until it forms into a paste.
Mix the milk, cumin, and hot sauce in another bowl and stir until well combined. Then pour into the paste and allow the mixture to boil.
Set the heat to low, and add the Queso Fresco in three batches. Ensure to stir for two minutes after you add each batch.
Let the mix cook at medium heat till it begins to bubble. When it starts to bubble, reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for about three minutes.

Is Queso Fresco Healthy?

Queso Fresco is an excellent cheese option for a Lacto-vegetarian. Additionally, Queso Fresco is low in fat and sodium, making it a reasonable choice for a healthful diet.

Queso Fresco is also a rich source of vitamin A, B12, D, and protein.

What Foods can I eat with Queso Fresco?

Chicken enchiladas
Quinoa salad
Cheese enchiladas
Mac n cheese
Chicken taco casserole
Tacos
Pupusas
Corn salad
Chilaquiles
Brazilian cheese bread
Watermelon salad
Grilled zucchini
Cuban Picadillo
Black beans
Cheese Sandwich
Cheese-stuffed Arepas
Huevos Rancheros
Elote

This list is merely the tip of the iceberg. You can incorporate Queso Fresco into many recipes, but if we list them, when will you finish reading and get to cooking your Queso Fresco?

Does Queso Fresco Taste Like Feta?

Yes, Queso Fresco shares taste and texture similarities with feta.

Both are soft cheeses with a mild flavor, although feta has a slightly tangier taste than Queso Fresco.

Nevertheless, each makes an excellent alternative to the other.

If you’re going to use feta instead of Queso Fresco, you should use a mild-flavored variant or soak the block of feta in freshwater to dial down any extra zest.

How to Store Queso Fresco

The best way to store Queso Fresco safely is in the refrigerator. Use this two-step guide to store Queso Fresco in the fridge.

Wrap the Queso Fresco in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and place it in the freezer.
Use the refrigerated Queso Fresco within two weeks of refrigeration.

Although it is not advisable to store Queso Fresco in the freezer, here are some tips for holding on to when you want to store Queso Fresco in the freezer:

Use an airtight freezer-safe container for storage.
Use the Queso Fresco within two months.

Remember that the Queso Fresco will lose its taste, texture, and quality when you store it in the freezer.

Another essential tip to note when handling Queso Fresco is that the cheese should not be left at room temperature for up to two hours. If this happens, DO NOT eat the cheese.