There’s so much to love about cheesecakes.
They’re the perfect dessert because they’re sweet and decadent.
If you’ve prepared a full-size cheesecake for a family gathering and you’ve got some leftovers, you need to figure out ways to preserve it so it doesn’t go bad too quickly.
Before we can answer the question, ‘how long is cheesecake good for?’ we need to take a couple of things into consideration.
This blog covers everything you need to know about storing and serving cheesecakes.
Even though cheesecake is best kept refrigerated, you can leave it out for some time depending on the temperature inside your kitchen and the ingredients you’ve used to prepare it.
If your kitchen temperature is fairly cool, about 62 degrees Fahrenheit, your cheesecake should stay safe if you’ve left it out overnight.
However, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t leave your cheesecake unrefrigerated for longer than 6 hours or it can go bad, turn sour in taste, and may even cause digestive issues.
Refrigerated cheesecake, on the other hand, is safe to consume for around a week. (~source)
Can You Make Cheesecake in Advance?
The great thing about cheesecakes is that it can be prepared in advance as long as you know how to store it properly and keep it fresh.
To preserve the freshness and flavor of cheesecake, you should serve them within three days of refrigerating.
Does Cheesecake Need to Be Refrigerated?
You need to refrigerate cheesecake in order to keep it safe as it contains perishable items like eggs and cream cheese. When it’s refrigerated, it’s perfectly safe to consume for up to a week or two.
Leaving it unrefrigerated for more than two hours can cause bacteria levels to grow, since cream cheese, unlike hard cheeses like Parmesan and Romano, has higher moisture content.
Refrigeration is what’s needed to slow down bacterial growth.
Can You Freeze Cheesecake?
As we’ve established, refrigerated cheesecake only stays good for around a week. If you’re interested in preserving it for longer, it’s advisable to freeze it as cheesecake is one of the cakes that are known to freeze well.
You should note that how your cheesecake will freeze ultimately depends on the ingredients and the recipe that’s been used to prepare it.
However, it’s usually safe to assume that cheesecakes that are denser and don’t have sensitive toppings can freeze quite well.
If you’re preparing your cheesecake in advance for a family event, you should freeze it without adding the toppings and add the finishing touches just when you’re about to serve it. (~source)
How to Thaw Cheesecake
Frozen cheesecake needs to be thawed before it’s served, so you should keep it inside your refrigerator the night before you’re planning to serve it or at least a few hours earlier.
You can also refreeze the leftovers of your thawed cheesecake if needed.
How to Store Cheesecake
Since one of the primary ingredients of cheesecake is cream cheese, you need to keep it refrigerated to preserve its freshness. You should always keep your cheesecake covered in the fridge so it doesn’t dry out or absorb any odor.
You can use a cake carrier to cover it or cut it up into smaller pieces and store them in an airtight container. You can also wrap the cheesecake with plastic wrap or aluminum foil before storing it.
How to Keep Cheesecake Fresh
You should leave an unopened or untouched cheesecake in its original container for as long as possible so that it stays fresh.
To make sure your cheesecake lasts a little bit longer when it’s sitting out, you should consider placing it on a bed of ice when you’re serving it.
It’s also necessary for you to keep your cheesecake covered so that it doesn’t melt too quickly.
How to Serve Cheesecake
When you’re serving cheesecake, it’s important to remember that cold cheesecake is easier to cut into slices. If your cheesecake has been sitting out for some time, it will soften and fall apart when you try to slice through it.
Avoid using a cake knife to cut the cheesecake. If possible, consider dipping your knife in hot water in between each slice to make sure your knife stays clean and smooth.
You should always serve your cheesecake when it’s chilled and only add fresh toppings at the last minute.
Final Words
You need to consider the temperature of your kitchen and the ingredients that went into your cheesecake to figure out how long you can leave it unrefrigerated. When you’re storing a cheesecake in the fridge or the freezer, you need to make sure it’s properly covered.
If the toppings don’t usually refrigerate well, you should remove them before storing your cheesecake and add them right before serving.