While cheesecake does not last as long in the freezer as other frozen meals, it is extremely simple to freeze and does not matter whether it is handmade, shop purchased, or box mix cheesecake.
While cheesecake only keeps fresh in the refrigerator for three or so days even when kept in an airtight container, putting it in the freezer allows you to make it ahead of time for a family Barbecue, or just drop some leftover pieces into the freezer for a treat at a later date.
So, yes, you can freeze cheesecake, and it will stay at its finest for about a month in the freezer. But, for it to be at its finest, as I demonstrate in this piece, cheesecake must be neatly wrapped and devoid of toppings before freezing.
Before I get into the finer nuances of freezing cheesecake, I thought I’d share some of the intriguing history of cheesecake with you, since cheesecake was a favorite of the Ancient Greeks just as much as it is of us!
The Ancient Greeks prepared cheesecake from wheat, flour, ricotta-style cheese, and honey, which they baked in a cake. This sort of cheesecake was reported to have been offered to competitors during the 776 BC Olympic Games, and it was also used as a wedding cake. According to records, the earliest cheesecake recipe was written down in 230 AD, about 2,000 years after cheesecake was originally recognized to exist!
After Rome invaded Greece, the Romans requisitioned the recipe and, like many cooks do, added a few changes. In this scenario, it was to add eggs and smashed cheese, and the Romans loved to serve their cheesecake warm after baking it under a hot brick. When the Roman Empire extended and conquered over Europe, the recipe became known as libuma.
The cheesecake evolved in various European nations, frequently dependent on the ingredients available. Cheesecake was popular in Tudor England, and a recipe for it was written in a 1545 cook book.
Cheesecake was brought to the New World with the immigrants, and by the seventeenth century, the yeast had been substituted with beaten eggs. Restaurants in New York had its own version of cheesecake labeled as New York cheesecake in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until 1929, when cream cheese was used in the recipe instead of cottage cheese, that the true New York cheesecake was created!
Whether you like a piece of New York cheesecake, or if you prefer an unbaked fruit topped or chocolate cheesecake, I teach you precisely how to freeze any of these varieties (and more) of cheesecake in the next section.
Contents
- Just What Should You Think About Before You Freeze Cheesecake?
- How to Freeze a Whole Cheesecake
- How to Freeze Cheesecake Slices or Mini Cheesecakes
- How Do I Thaw Cheesecake?
- Freezing Cheesecake – The Summary
- FAQs
- Can you freeze cheesecake and how do you do it?
- Do cheesecakes freeze well?
- How do you wrap a cheesecake for freezing?
- Can you freeze cheesecake with cream cheese?
- How long will a cheesecake last in the refrigerator?
- Why is cheesecake not suitable for freezing?
- How do you defrost a frozen cheesecake?
- Can I cover cheesecake with plastic wrap?
- Why do you wrap cheesecake in foil?
- Does Philadelphia cream cheese freeze well?
Just What Should You Think About Before You Freeze Cheesecake?
As previously said, cheesecake keeps in the refrigerator for a few days, so if you want to consume it soon, it is generally best to store it in the refrigerator.
Cheesecake is best eaten within a month after freezing, but it may be stored for two months or longer without losing too much flavor or texture. If you want to freeze cheesecake for more than a month, do a test freeze with a few slices of your favorite cheesecake to see how long it remains fresh.
While certain items may be frozen for up to 12 months, freezer burn will always develop over time. Due to temperature changes, frozen cheesecake should always be kept in the freezer rather than the refrigerator’s freezing section.
Toppings should be added after the cheesecake has thawed rather than before it is frozen. Since freezing may enhance the density of a cheesecake, a thick cheesecake typically freezes better than a lighter cheesecake.
In addition to freezing the cheesecake without the toppings, additional wrapping is required to maintain the cheesecake at its finest in the freezer. It is preferable to wrap store-bought cheesecakes as described below rather than keeping them in their original boxes or wrappers, since this may cause freezer burn to develop quicker and the cheesecake may absorb aromas from other foods kept in the freezer.
or preparing the cheesecake. Unless otherwise noted, a pre-frozen cheesecake should not be refrozen unless it is being baked; then, once it has been cooked and cooled, it may be good for re-freezing. If you purchased a frozen cheesecake, always follow the manufacturer’s directions for thawing and baking.
How to Freeze a Whole Cheesecake
While cheesecake freezes equally well whole or in slices, it may be simpler to slice it before freezing rather than after thawing.
Before freezing cheesecake, allow it to cool completely in the refrigerator, which takes about four hours. Before freezing cheesecake, it must be totally cool. If it has not been totally cold, it will not only increase the temperature in the freezer, but it will also make the cheesecake much more difficult to handle and slice.
Clear some space in the freezer while the cheesecake chills so that it may be placed firmly on top as it freezes. After the cheesecake has completely cooled in the refrigerator, place it in its pan in the freezer for one hour.
If you have a cardboard circle from a bakery cake lying around, use that to place the cheesecake on. If you are not going to freeze it for an extended period of time, you may leave it on the bottom of the springform pan.
Instead, cover a piece of cardboard (slightly larger than the cheesecake) with aluminum foil to construct a simple cardboard circle. Once the cheesecake has been frozen for an hour, remove it from the freezer, loosen the edges with a blunt knife or spatula, and pull (or slide) the cheesecake out and onto the foil-wrapped cardboard. You may need an additional set of hands at this stage, depending on the size or style of cheesecake!
Wrap the cheesecake tightly in plastic wrap and finish with a layer of aluminum foil to help avoid freezer burn. To keep track of how long it has been in the freezer, write the date of freezing on the foil using a sharpie.
If you wish to freeze a full pre-sliced cheesecake (but serve as a whole cheesecake), gently pull each slice apart after slicing just enough to place a tiny piece of wax paper in between. This keeps the cuts in place throughout the freezing and thawing process.
If you have a big enough plastic box or a bakery box, put the wrapped cheesecake inside it in the freezer to protect it from being smashed by mistake.
How to Freeze Cheesecake Slices or Mini Cheesecakes
If you haven’t yet sliced the cheesecake, chill it in the refrigerator for four hours before placing the whole cheesecake, uncovered, in the freezer for one hour.
After you take it out of the freezer, slice it with a knife dipped in a pitcher of hot water to make it easier to cut into the desired amounts.
Already cut slices should be allowed until completely cooled before being placed uncovered at the top of the freezer for an hour.
Regardless of how you handled the slices, they are now ready to be individually wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and then foil. After all of the pieces have been wrapped, place them in a Ziplock bag and remove the air before closing. After writing the date on the bag, place it in the freezer, preferably in a container or portion of the freezer where it will not be crushed.
Leftover cheesecake slices should be cooled and the toppings removed before packaging and deep freezing them for one hour.
Small cheesecakes should be cooled, individually wrapped, and frozen in the same manner as cheesecake slices.
How Do I Thaw Cheesecake?
Cheesecake should be thawed overnight in the refrigerator to preserve the structure and prevent condensation from developing, as well as to reduce the risk of foodborne disease. During thawing, remove the aluminum foil but keep the plastic wrap on.
Let the cheesecake to defrost on the counter for 30 minutes to allow the temperature to regulate.
While thawing at room temperature is not ideal, if you need to defrost it fast, individually wrapped slices of cheesecake should take around 30 minutes, but an entire cheesecake would take 2 to 4 hours to thaw on the countertop.
Unwrapped single slices may also be defrosted in the microwave for 30 seconds or so on the defrost setting. Cheesecake may lose part of its texture when defrosted in this manner, and this approach should not be used to thaw an entire cheesecake.
After thawed, if the crust is clearly damp, the cheesecake itself is dry, or the sides have begun to brown, it is always better to discard it.
Instead, after your cheesecake has thawed completely, move it to a serving platter and top with your desired toppings before serving.
Keep thawed cheesecake refrigerated and enjoy within two days. It should not be frozen again.
Freezing Cheesecake – The Summary
Yes, you can freeze cheesecake whole or in slices, and as long as you wrap it carefully and freeze it without toppings, it will remain at its best quality for about a month in the freezer.
I hope you liked reading this piece, and if you found it helpful, please share it with your friends. If you’d like to share your thoughts about freezing cheesecake, please do so in the comments section below.
FAQs
Can you freeze cheesecake and how do you do it?
Put the cheesecake on a circle of cardboard. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 1 month for best taste, no more than 2 months. Thaw before serving in the refrigerator, on the counter, or in the microwave.
Do cheesecakes freeze well?
Every kind of cheesecake may be frozen, either whole or in individual pieces, and the recipe does not need to be altered. New York-style cheesecake is less likely to split due to its firmer texture, although lighter, whipped cheesecakes, as well as no-bake cheesecakes, may also be frozen.
How do you wrap a cheesecake for freezing?
Cheesecake Freezing Instructions (3 Simple Steps)
If the cheesecake was just cooked, allow it to cool to room temperature.
Remove any and all toppings.
Cut the cheesecake into slices. Wrap each slices in plastic wrap and foil twice.
Label the bags and place them in the freezer.
Jun 8, 2022
Can you freeze cheesecake with cream cheese?
Baked cheesecakes prepared with full fat (not light) cream cheese often freeze well, and the Chocolate Lime Cheesecake does as well. If freezing the whole cheesecake, cool and chill it in the pan before wrapping it securely in a double layer of clingfilm and a layer of foil and freezing it for up to 1 month.
How long will a cheesecake last in the refrigerator?
According to USDA food safety guidelines, prepared cheesecake may be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. We recommend storing it in an airtight container to avoid absorbing any fridge smells.
Why is cheesecake not suitable for freezing?
When crystals develop during the freezing process, the proteins and lipids in the dessert might separate. This might result in a gritty and unusual texture. If you don’t mind the texture, there’s no reason you can’t freeze and eat unbaked cheesecake. Baked cheesecake freezes very well.
How do you defrost a frozen cheesecake?
Thaw in the fridge at 36-41°F. Wait 8-12 hours for the product to thaw, keeping it covered to avoid dryness. After thawing, serve within 3-5 days. After thawing, place in the refrigerator.
Can I cover cheesecake with plastic wrap?
Absolutely. Store the cheesecake in a plastic container or wrap it in layers of plastic wrap to encase and preserve the cheesecake flavor. The crucial thing is to cover the whole cheesecake so it doesn’t dry out or absorb the scents of other foods in the fridge.
Why do you wrap cheesecake in foil?
Covering the two-part springform pan with foil prevents water from entering. Even if the cheesecake isn’t cooked in water, the pans might get distorted or slightly bowed, allowing the cheesecake to leak. Cleaning the oven is simpler than wrapping the pan.
Does Philadelphia cream cheese freeze well?
Cream cheese and other cream cheese products may be frozen in their original packaging for up to 2 months or kept in an airtight container. Just defrost the cream cheese in the refrigerator overnight before using it in dishes such as soups, sauces, dips, casseroles, and baked goods.