Every Christmas, I bake cheesecakes to distribute as gifts for family and close friends. That means a lot of cheesecakes and a lot of time required to do the baking. I needed to bake ahead of Christmas, but I was worried that my cheesecakes would spoil, which brings up the issue: can you freeze cheesecakes?
Yes, you definitely can. Freezing a cheesecake is quite an easy task. However, for it to last even longer and still retain its original characteristics, you will have to follow some steps to properly freeze a cheesecake.
Generally, cheesecakes freeze amazingly well. You can freeze them for a month, and they will still taste good. That is the beauty of cheesecakes. You can bake it ahead and store it in the freezer. It’s a great time-saver.
Can You Freeze Cheesecake?
When freezing cheesecakes, it is essential to know that the type of cheese used to bake it could affect its shelf-life. From my own experience, cheesecakes made from full-fat cream cheese freeze better than those baked with light cream cheese.
If you have a cheesecake made from light cream cheese, it would be better to consume it rather than save some later because freezing it might alter its taste and texture.
You could freeze either a whole cheesecake or just a slice of it. However, the former is more recommended because freezing portions increase the surface area of exposed cheesecake, increasing the probability of the cheesecake being freeze burned.
To avoid freeze burn, do not leave the cheesecake in the freezer for more than a month. Freezing it for too long may cause the cheesecake to lose its moisture and sour its cream.
After freezing, do not leave the cheesecake to thaw on the kitchen counter. Like any other food, bacterial growth may increase when cheesecake gets exposed to air.
Lastly, always freeze cheesecake without any garnish. You may add the toppings after thawing. Once the cheesecake has been melted, it has to be consumed within two days.
How To Freeze Cheesecake?
Cheesecake is meant to be eaten, but sometimes it’s also nice to have one in stock, just like beer. So here are the steps on how to properly freeze cheesecake:
- Set aside cheesecake to cool off first before freezing.
- You may use a baking pan or a springform pan in freezing cheesecake. Either way, put the cooled cheesecake on the pan and put it in the freezer until it is firm. Do not cover the pan.
- When frozen, remove cheesecake from the freezer and cover it with aluminum foil or plastic food wrap.
- After covering it, place it inside a freezer bag. Make sure to squeeze out air as much as possible before sealing it. Less air means fewer chances of bacteria and freezer burn.
- Put a label and date your cheesecake so you can keep track of time.
- When thawing it, put it inside the refrigerator and leave it overnight. You may add the garnish after thawing.
There you have it! Your cheesecake can now last up to a month. Don’t forget to take it out after that, or else you may end up with a sour and dry cheesecake.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Cheesecake?
Cheesecake is a delicious and rich dessert that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. But what do you do when you have extra cheesecake? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover cheesecake:
- Make mini cheesecakes – Use a muffin tin to make mini cheesecakes that are perfect for individual servings. Just add your favorite cheesecake filling to the tins and bake according to recipe instructions.
- Make a trifle – A trifle is a layered dessert that is typically made with cake, fruit, and custard or pudding. To make a cheesecake trifle, simply layer pieces of cheesecake with your favorite fruits and sauces.
- Turn it into ice cream – Cheesecake ice cream is a delicious and unique flavor that can be made at home. Just add chunks of cheesecake to your favorite vanilla ice cream recipe and enjoy!
- Make a milkshake – A cheesecake milkshake is a delicious way to use up leftover cheesecake. Just add chunks of cheesecake to a blender with milk and ice cream, and blend until smooth.
- Use it as a topping – Cheesecake makes a great topping for a variety of desserts. Try topping cupcakes, pies, or even ice cream with some leftover cheesecake for a tasty treat.
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover cheesecake. Next time you find yourself with extra dessert, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Cheesecake Recipes
If you’re feeling adventurous, you may want to try this jiggly Japanese cheesecake. It has a soft and fluffy texture, like cheesecake clouds.
Another unique flavor is this Nutella cheesecake. Made with dark chocolate, Oreo cookies, white cream, and Nutella, this treat is genuinely irresistible.
And, of course, nothing can beat the classic cheesecake. So it’s no wonder why the Cheesecake Factory is so famous.
Wrap up
Yes, you can freeze cheesecake. It is essential to know what type of cheese was used in the recipe because it will affect how long the cheesecake will stay fresh when frozen. I have found that using full-fat cream cheese for my recipes yields better results than light cream cheese – so if you are looking to store your cheesecakes in the freezer, use high-fat cheese! With these tips and tricks on freezing a whole or just slices of this delicious dessert, there’s no need to worry about it going bad anytime soon. You may want to try out both methods with different types of cheeses before deciding which one works best for you. Let us know below, though, whether our advice has worked well for you! We’d love to hear.
