Cheesecake is a popular dessert. There are two types; baked cheesecake and no-bake cheesecake which is set with gelatin. You probably have your favorite. You can make cheesecake with cream cheese, ricotta, mascarpone, and even sour cream or creme fraiche.
If you are trying to cut down on calories, you can make cheesecake with cottage cheese. You can even add melted chocolate to the cheese to make a chocolate cheesecake. There are many toppings you can add such as strawberry or raspberry compote, blackberry coulis, sweet matcha, cookie crumble, caramel drizzle, coffee and walnut, amaretto cherry, and many more.
However, perhaps you want to make a cheesecake in advance for a dinner party or you have some leftover. It won’t last for long in the fridge; about two to three days, so is there a solution? Yes, you can freeze cheesecake. Dairy products don’t generally freeze well but cheesecake is an exception.
However, baked cheesecakes freeze better than unbaked, and it isn’t a good idea to freeze cheesecake made with mascarpone. In this article, we will tell you how to freeze cheesecake and how to defrost it.
How To Freeze Cheesecake
It is best to freeze cheesecake without toppings as they will probably deteriorate quicker than the cheesecake, not to mention that some toppings just won’t freeze. It is best to freeze just a plain cheesecake and add the toppings when you have defrosted it. Here we’ll tell you how to freeze a baked cheesecake.
1. Bake your cheesecake.
Use your favorite recipe.
2. Cool down your cheesecake.
You need to cool down the cheesecake completely. If you put it in the freezer while it is still warm, it can bring up the temperature and other food may start to defrost and when refreezing, may spoil. In addition, you will get a smoother texture if you allow the cheesecake to cool down completely. The best thing to do is to take the cheesecake out of the baking pan, put it on a cold plate, and put it in the fridge for a few hours.
3. Portion the cheesecake.
You can freeze the cheesecake whole if you think that you are going to eat it within a few days. It does have to be kept in the fridge after you have defrosted it. If you only think that you are going to eat some of it, cut it into slices.
4. Wrap and bag the cheesecake.
Wrap the slices or whole cheesecake in cling film. Make sure that the cling film is tight so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn is caused by air getting to the food and it can change the taste, texture, and color. It is a good idea to wrap the cheesecake in a couple of layers of cling film to be extra safe. Then add a layer of foil. Put the cheesecake either in a freezer bag or an airtight container. If you are using a freezer bag, squeeze out all the air.
5. Put the container or freezer bag in the freezer.
How To Freeze Mascarpone Cheesecake
We don’t recommend freezing mascarpone cheesecake but you can do it if you really think that you can’t eat the whole cheesecake within the time it will last in the fridge. Just use the same method of freezing that we gave you for baked cheesecakes.
It needs to be defrosted slowly in the fridge for a few hours. This helps stop bacteria from forming. If you try to defrost it at room temperature and you keep it out for longer than two hours, then bacteria will start to form.
Mascarpone cheesecake tends to become grainy when defrosted, and won’t have the creamy texture it had before it was frozen but if you don’t mind, then go ahead. However, if you plan to freeze your cheesecake, we recommend that you use cream cheese or ricotta rather than mascarpone.
Tips For Freezing Cheesecake
- Freeze baked cheesecake rather than unbaked as it freezes better. Unbaked cheesecakes lose texture when frozen. They become grainy and this is not what you want from a cheesecake.
- Don’t freeze cheesecakes made from mascarpone as they will also become grainy.
- If you don’t intend to eat the whole cheesecake when you have defrosted it, then divide it into portions. Then you will be able to defrost just as many slices as you need.
- Make sure that the cheesecake is wrapped securely in cling film. If you put it in a freezer bag, ensure that you squeeze out as much air as possible so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn ruins the taste and texture of the food.
- Defrost the cheesecake slowly in the fridge. This helps to keep the texture of the cheesecake and stops bacteria from forming.
For How Long Can You Freeze Cheesecake?
You can’t freeze cheesecake for as long as other cakes such as sponge cake (see also Freezing Cake Pops) which can be frozen for three months. Because of the dairy content, cheesecake can be frozen for up to one month and the sooner you defrost it, the better it will taste. It won’t be unsafe to eat after this time but it will lose taste and texture.
How Do You Defrost Cheesecake?
Defrosting cheesecake is easy but it takes some time. Don’t think that you can take it out of the freezer and defrost it on the countertop at room temperature. This will destroy the texture and in addition, if you keep it out for longer than two hours, bacteria may start to form. Instead, defrost it overnight in the fridge. This is the way to do it.
1. Remove the foil from the cheesecake.
Leave the cling film on as this will protect it from other smells in the fridge and will help it to retain its texture.
2. Put the cheesecake in the fridge.
Leave the cheesecake in the fridge overnight so that it defrosts slowly.
3. Add toppings.
When the cheesecake has defrosted, you can put on any toppings you like.
Can You Refreeze Cheesecake?
We don’t recommend that you refreeze cheesecake. Every time you freeze, defrost, and refreeze, moisture is lost. As a result, the cheesecake would become dry and lose its creamy texture. In addition, refreezing can encourage bacteria to grow. If you defrost just as much as you need, then there should be no need to refreeze the cheesecake. In addition, it will last for a few days in the fridge after being defrosted.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Cheesecake?
Yes, if you freeze a baked cheesecake. However, it is not such a good idea to freeze an unbaked cheesecake or one made with mascarpone. The proteins and fats in these cheesecakes separate into crystals when frozen and they will become grainy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing cheesecake but in case you want to know a bit more about freezing cheesecake or cheesecake in general, we have answered a few questions here.
Is it possible to freeze banoffee cheesecake?
Unfortunately, neither toffee nor bananas freeze particularly well. The best thing you can do is freeze a vanilla cheesecake and add the toffee and slices of banana when you have defrosted it.
Can you freeze cheesecake toppings?
It all depends on what toppings you want to use. If you want to freeze a fruit coulis, it is entirely possible but it is best that you freeze it separately from the cheesecake. You can freeze it in a freezer bag, an airtight container, or in an ice cube tray. Remember to squeeze out as much air as possible if you are using a freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. You can also freeze a fruit compote in freezer bags or an airtight container. You can’t freeze bananas successfully.
What are good cheesecake toppings?
There are so many different cheesecake toppings and we’re sure that you have your favorites. We think that blueberry compote is a great choice. Melted chocolate is very decadent and caramel sauce is delicious. Why not spread your cheesecake with creme fraiche and add fruit slices such as peach, mango, or banana. If you want to have something different, try topping your cheesecake with matcha. It is a Japanese green tea powder that has a subtly bitter taste. It emphasizes the sweetness of your cheesecake. Hot fudge sauce is delicious, and you could just pour whipped cream on the cheesecake and sprinkle over some chopped nuts.
