How Long Is Cheesecake Good For? And How To Make It Last Longer
Have you ever just wished that cheesecakes would last forever? That they would never go bad and you could treasure this dessert food for as long as you want?
Unfortunately, for cheesecake lovers, the bad news is that cheesecakes can only last a certain time period. So how long is cheesecake good for? And how do you make it last longer? Let’s find out!
Quick Answer :
Cheesecakes can last up to 5-7 days in the refrigerator and 1-2 months in the freezer. At room temperature, it lasts 2 hours only!
How Long is Cheesecake Good for
Cheesecakes can last anywhere from 5 days to months depending upon how you store them. What is important to remember is that while cheesecakes last for a good while in the refrigerator, there are many ways to make them last even longer!
The type of cheesecake you have will also affect its food storage options. Store-bought cheesecake will last longer than homemade ones. Unopened cheesecakes will have an even longer shelf life!
Before we dive into the details, let’s first look at some basic information.
Does Cheesecake Go Bad?
Sadly, Yes! Since cheesecakes are made of cream cheese, eggs, and sugar as their main ingredients, the first two tend to go bad after a while. Like cake, the eggs in a cheesecake make it a highly perishable food item.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware that you can never have too much cheesecake. But at the same time, it is also nice to know your options for when you want to store leftovers (if any!) or bake ahead of time.
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Types of Cheesecakes
Before we move on to storing cheesecakes, let’s briefly look at the types of cheesecake and their ingredients. And let’s understand how each of these ingredients will affect its shelf life instructions.
The 4 major types of cheesecakes you need to know about are as follows:
1. Baked Cheesecake
Baked cheesecake usually constitutes cream cheese, eggs, and sugar. Since the eggs are prone to going bad, they have a shorter shelf life than others.
2. No-Bake Cheesecake
No-bake cheesecakes are those that have been frozen instead of baked. These usually only consist of cream cheese and heavy cream and will last a lot longer than others.
3. Store-Bought
Here’s something interesting, store-bought cheesecakes freeze better and last a lot longer than home-baked ones! This is due to the fact that they contain added preservatives for a better structure.
4. Home-Baked
A home-baked cheesecake is typically best when it’s consumed fresh. So, how long does homemade cheesecake last? Although they can last a few days in the refrigerator, they start losing their taste and drying up due to their lack of preservatives.
How Long Does Cheesecake Last
How long is cheesecake good for – that depends on how you store it. Your storing method will tell you how long will the cheesecake last. Remember to also check the cheesecake expiration date and other factors of each ingredient used! How long does cheesecake last in the fridge? Let’s find out.
In The Refrigerator
If you’re storing your cheesecake in the fridge temperatures, it will last anywhere from 5-7 days. How fresh it stays also depends on how efficiently you stored it.
Using glass lids or a cake case will keep your cheesecake fresh for an even longer period of time!
In The Freezer
Well, if you’re wondering how long cheesecake lasts in the freezer, you’re in for great news. Cheesecake lasts for up to 1-2 months when frozen! While I personally feel that it retains its ingredient quality best for a month, it is definitely safe to consume even after that.
At Room Temperature
While many people vary in opinion about how long cheesecake lasts before it goes bad, it’s not a risk worth taking. The USDA suggests a maximum time of 2 hours at room temperature, after which your cheesecake will most likely go bad and be harmful for consumption. Like any other cake or food, cheesecakes should not be kept below freezer temperature.
How To Store Cheesecake
Now that you know everything about the types of cheesecakes and their ingredients, let’s look at how to store them. Can you freeze them? Well, yes, there are a couple of options when it comes to storing cheesecakes. You can either refrigerate them or put them in the freezer.
In The Refrigerator
If you have leftover cheesecake from last night or want to store it for the next few days, your best bet is to store it in the refrigerator. Storing your cheesecake in the fridge also eliminates the need to defrost it, meaning that you have quick access to your favorite dessert whenever you want!
To store cheesecakes in the refrigerator:
- One way to store cheesecake is to divide it into small pieces and store it inside airtight containers. This will keep your cheesecake from going dry, and this method works best for no-bake cheesecakes.
- Another way is to cover your cheesecake in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge.
- Your third option is to use a cake cloche to cover your cheesecake and keep it from catching on any odor in the fridge.
In The Freezer
When using the freezer, you can extend your cheesecake’s shelf life by many days, even by months in some cases.
To freeze cheesecakes:
- first, wrap the cheesecakes in plastic wrap, and then add another layer of aluminum foil. Store this in the freezer, or in a container if you have the large cake containers at hand.
- You can also choose to divide the cheesecake into smaller portions and store each piece in separate airtight containers. Wrap it in aluminum foil or place it in a Ziploc bag before putting it in the container to prevent freezer burns. Thaw the container before eating.
Watch this video from Rainbow Gardens to understand better how to freeze a cheesecake!
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How to Tell if Cheesecake is Bad
As sad as it sounds, cheesecake goes bad very frequently. And while you may feel tempted to eat those frozen pieces of cheesecake you’d baked weeks ago, it is very important to first check if the cheesecake has gone bad.
- Firstly, cheesecake lasts for up to a month when frozen. Beyond this time, always do a quality check before eating.
- A cheesecake that has gone bad will start browning from the edges. The graham crackers’ crust will turn soggy, and the filling itself will turn watery and lose its structure.
- If the filling spots any mold or fungus, it is also the right time to throw it away. Eating spoiled cheesecake or cheesecakes that have signs of mold can lead to serious cases of food poisoning, and foodborne Illness. It’s very harmful to your health since they contain dangerous bacteria.
In any case that your cake (or any food to be honest) feels like it might have gone bad, it is very important to do a quality check. Especially, for dairy products as they go bad very easily.
If you find a mold or funky smell, it’s a clear indicator of spoiled cheesecake. Discard it immediately.
Bonus Cheesecake Recipes!
Sure, baking a cake is a great feeling. And a chocolate cake does taste great. But do you know the feeling of successfully baking a cheesecake, along with all its toppings and fillings?
Cheesecake is easily one of my favorite desserts food. And hence, I will be sharing my favorite cheesecake recipe and a few varieties of toppings!
- This cheesecake crust recipe tops all others! Trust me, the results are phenomenal.
- This special Classic New York-style dessert dish tastes better than any cake I’ve ever had!
- My favorite homemade blueberry topping is to go with all kinds of cheesecake and cakes.
FAQ
Can I freeze a no-bake cheesecake?
Absolutely! No-bake cheesecake freezes even better than the regular variety, and freezing it is a great food storage option to make it last longer!
Can I eat cheesecake that was left out overnight?
Never eat cheesecake that was out at room temperature for more than two hours. Cheesecakes go bad after these periods of time and become harmful to eat. Check for signs of mold before eating.
How do you defrost frozen cheesecake?
The best way to defrost frozen cheesecake is to let it sit in the fridge overnight. You can also microwave it on a defrost setting for a couple of seconds.
How long does frozen cheesecake last after thawing?
Once you have thawed your cheesecake from the freezer bag storage, your cheesecake lasts for 3-5 days. After that, it runs the risk of bacteria growth.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know everything about “how long is cheesecake good for”, “how long cheesecake last in the fridge,” and “how to tell if cheesecake is bad” – you can safely bake as many cheesecakes as you want without having to worry about its freezing process!
You can even share with your friends and family anything about cheesecake food storage information to cheesecake shelf life.
There are so many options when it comes to making cheesecake last longer. And while ‘leftover cheesecake’ is a relatively unknown phenomenon in my household, it’s still good to know about!
