Cheese Biscuits: Cooking Frozen Treats From Nc Perfectly

Eastern North Carolina-style cheese biscuits are a beloved breakfast staple, with a hyper-local following. They are made with a ball of cheese wrapped in biscuit dough and baked until the cheese is molten. While they can be found in restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and farmers' markets, they are also available frozen. If you're looking to cook frozen cheese biscuits from NC, you're in luck! Here's a guide to help you achieve the perfect, gooey result. First, preheat your oven to 425-500°F. Then, place your frozen biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for around 15-20 minutes, keeping an eye on them to prevent over-browning. Your biscuits are ready when they are soft and warm in the centre. Enjoy!

How to make frozen cheese biscuits from NC

How to Make Frozen Cheese Biscuits from North Carolina

Ingredients

To make six North Carolina cheese biscuits, you will need the following ingredients:

• 8 oz. hoop cheese, shredded (8 oz. of freshly grated sharp yellow cheddar can be used if you can’t find hoop cheese)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 4 tablespoons butter, cold, cut into ¼" pieces, plus 3 tablespoons melted
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk
• Salt and sugar

Equipment

• 9-inch cake pan
• Large bowl
• Baking sheet

Method

• Preheat the oven to 425°F-500°F and grease or spray a 9-inch cake pan. Set aside.
• Take 1/3 cup of the cheese and squeeze and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the remaining cheese. (You should get six balls of cheese.)
• Place 2-1/2 cups of flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Using a pastry cutter, cut in the four tablespoons of butter until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Stir in the buttermilk just until combined. (The dough will be slightly sticky and a little lumpy).
• Evenly sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of flour on a clean work surface. Using a measuring cup sprayed with cooking spray, measure out 1/2 cup of the dough and place it on the floured area. Continue portioning out all of the dough. You should get six balls of dough.
• With floured hands, flatten one piece of the dough on the baking sheet into a 3-1/2 inch circle. Carefully pick up the dough round and place one ball of cheese in the centre. Gently pull the edges over the cheese, and pinch together the seams. Place the dough ball in the prepared cake pan. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese, placing five biscuits around the outside with one in the centre. Brush the tops of the biscuits with 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
• Allow the biscuits to cool in the pan for five minutes before inverting them onto a plate. Break the biscuits apart and turn them right-side up. Brush the tops with the remaining one tablespoon of butter before serving.

Freezing and Reheating

To freeze your cheese biscuits, place the cooled biscuits in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the biscuits to a resealable freezer bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat the biscuits, place them on a baking sheet and bake in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until they are heated through. You can also microwave individual biscuits for 30-60 seconds or until they are heated through.

How long to bake frozen cheese biscuits

Eastern North Carolina cheese biscuits are a beloved breakfast staple, and for good reason. They're big, fluffy biscuits with a melty, gooey, cheesy middle, and a golden-brown exterior.

If you're lucky enough to have some frozen cheese biscuits on hand, here's how to bake them to perfection:

Preheat the Oven:

Start by preheating your oven to 425-450°F. This temperature range will ensure that your biscuits bake through without burning.

Prepare the Baking Sheet:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. This will help with easy cleanup and prevent the biscuits from sticking.

Bake the Frozen Biscuits:

Arrange the frozen biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one to allow for even cooking.

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. The exact baking time will depend on your oven and the size of your biscuits, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Check for Doneness:

Your biscuits are likely done when they are golden brown on top. You can also use a thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should be around 190°F for baked goods.

Cool and Serve:

Remove the biscuits from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. They may be hot, so be careful when handling them.

These biscuits are best served warm, so enjoy them while they're fresh out of the oven!

Storing and Reheating:

If you have any leftover biscuits, let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container or freezer bag. They will stay fresh at room temperature for a day or two.

To reheat the biscuits, place them on a baking sheet and warm them in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until they are heated through. You can also reheat individual biscuits in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

Now you know how to bake frozen cheese biscuits to perfection! Enjoy the taste of North Carolina, wherever you are.

How to store frozen cheese biscuits

To store frozen cheese biscuits, you can follow the same steps as for storing any other type of biscuit.

First, let the biscuits cool completely. It's important to let them cool on a wire rack, if possible, as this will speed up the process. Once they are cool, you can transfer them to an airtight container, such as a resealable plastic bag. Push out as much air as possible before sealing the bag. You can also use plastic containers or tins, but you may find that biscuits stored this way dry out faster. Another option is to wrap the biscuits tightly in a few layers of foil or plastic wrap.

If your biscuits contain perishable ingredients, such as cheese or cream cheese, you should refrigerate them and aim to eat them within a week. If not, they can be stored at room temperature for up to two days.

If you want to freeze your cheese biscuits, you can do so for up to three months. First, check that your wrapping is airtight, then place the biscuits in the freezer.

How to reheat frozen cheese biscuits

There are several ways to reheat frozen cheese biscuits, including using an oven, an air fryer, a microwave, or a skillet. Here is a detailed guide on how to reheat frozen cheese biscuits using these different methods:

Oven Method:

This is one of the most popular methods for reheating frozen cheese biscuits. Here are the steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the frozen biscuits on the tray, leaving some space between each biscuit for even heating.
• Bake the biscuits for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are fully heated and browned.
• Remove the biscuits from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool slightly.
• Brush the biscuits with melted butter before serving.

Air Fryer Method:

The air fryer method is a quick and easy way to reheat frozen cheese biscuits. Here are the steps:

• Slice the biscuits in half.
• Spread a generous amount of butter on each half.
• Sandwich the halves back together.
• Wrap the biscuits in foil and place them in the air fryer basket.
• Use the "reheat" function on your air fryer to gently rewarm the biscuits.

Microwave Method:

Using a microwave to reheat frozen cheese biscuits is not always ideal, as it can make them soft and rubbery. However, if you have successfully used this method in the past, you can continue doing so. Here are some tips:

• Try using generous amounts of butter.
• Wrap the biscuit in a damp paper towel.
• Experiment with different power settings and heating intervals.

Skillet-to-Oven Method:

This method combines the use of a skillet and an oven to reheat frozen cheese biscuits. Here are the steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Slice the biscuits in half and spread butter on each half.
• Sandwich the halves back together.
• Melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
• Place the biscuits in the skillet and cook for 2 to 4 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly crisped.
• Flip each biscuit over so that the top is now in contact with the skillet.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and cover it loosely with foil.
• Place the skillet in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until the biscuits are heated through.

Where to buy frozen cheese biscuits from NC

If you're looking to buy frozen cheese biscuits from North Carolina, there are a few options to consider.

First and foremost, it's worth noting that cheese biscuits are a regional specialty, predominantly found in Eastern North Carolina. Therefore, your best bet for finding frozen cheese biscuits would be to explore local establishments in this region. Here are a few specific places you could try:

• Flo's Kitchen in Wilson: This is a drive-in spot that has been serving cheese biscuits since 1990.
• Mom's Restaurant in Washington: They offer cheese biscuits ready-made, unbaked, and frozen, as mentioned by a commenter on the website "My Recipe Reviews."
• Acre Station Meat Farm in Pinetown: They sell cheese biscuits fresh or frozen, and you can get a pack of six for $14.99.
• King Chicken in Washington: Mentioned alongside Acre Station by a commenter on "My Recipe Reviews", suggesting it as another source for delicious cheese biscuits.
• Abrams in Pinetops: Known as the purported home of the "original cheese biscuit", they sell tens of thousands of frozen biscuits during the Christmas season.

Additionally, if you're unable to find frozen cheese biscuits at these locations, you can always try making them yourself using one of the many recipes available online, such as the one provided by "My Recipe Reviews." That way, you can bake them fresh or freeze them for later consumption.

Frequently asked questions