How to store cheesecake?

I am a huge fan of cheesecakes. And so, you will see a lot of cheesecake recipes on my blog. But how exactly do we store cheesecakes? At room temperature, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer? Don't worry. Follow along to learn how to store cheesecake.

Many times we have leftovers and are unsure what to do with them. As it is impossible to finish on that day, or we deliberately want to extend the shelf life of cheesecake so that you can enjoy it for a long period.

What are cheesecakes?

Cheesecakes are delicate desserts that can be prepared in two ways. In other words, there are two types of cheesecake: Baked and no-bake.

Baked cheesecakes are usually made from cream cheese, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and a cookie base. Different flavors or purees of fresh fruit will be added to accommodate a variety of flavors.

No-bake cheesecakes are prepared using cream cheese, icing sugar, and heavy cream. Again, various flavors are added to make different varieties.

Which type of cheesecake do you prefer? Please let me know in the comments below.

Why do we need proper storage for cheesecakes?

Whether you wish to store rich and classic New York-style cheesecake, no-bake Oreo cheesecake, or any other store-bought cheesecakes, all need to be stored properly to keep their creamy texture and rich flavor while remaining as fresh and delicious as the day they were made.

Cheesecakes are made mainly with dairy products (milk, egg, and cream cheese) so they are sensitive to warm weather and will be spoil if left out for longer periods.

Also, if cheesecake is stored properly, its texture may change. For example, no-bake cheesecake contains whipping cream, which will deflate if not refrigerated, making a soggy crust.

How to store cheesecake?

We can refrigerate or freeze the entire cheesecake or individual slices. 

We can also store it at room temperature but not more than 2 hours because it contains perishable ingredients.

Unless you are making the cheesecake for a special occasion, I recommend storing the individual cheesecake slices. Why individual slices? Because you simply remove that much instead of putting the full cheesecake through a temperature change.

Storing whole cheesecake

Well-wrapped cheesecake can be refrigerated for up to 4 to 5 days. However, this may not apply to cheesecakes with fruit toppings. For example, a cheesecake containing fruit sauce or fruit preserves as a topping could go bad early due to the fruit spoiling.

If not stored properly, cheesecake can dry out or catch smell from other items in the fridge. Here are some ways I used to store my whole cheesecakes (with frosting or without frosting).

Airtight container - Simply refrigerate the cheesecake after keeping it in an airtight container. Just make sure it is tall enough and does not interfere with the cake toppings.

Plastic wrap - Tightly wrap the cheesecake with two layers of plastic wrap and refrigerate. If you are storing the cheesecake with topping then, insert a few toothpicks on top and cover it with plastic wrap to keep the topping intact. This will protect it from outside odor.

Plastic container - Store it in a plastic container and refrigerate.

Cake storage with dome -  This is my personal favorite as it is very easy to use and eliminates the need to worry about the toppings. You can also store the cheesecake in a cake carrier. Just make sure it fits in your fridge and it is tall enough not to interfere with the topping. I have used this Rubbermaid cake keeper.

Springform pan - Wrap the entire thing in plastic wrap and refrigerate with the springform pan.

Freezing whole cheesecake

Just like any other type of dessert, cheesecakes can be frozen easily. They stay ok for up to 2 months but their texture changes closer to the date so less time is better. Also, mention the date so you know when you need to finish it.

To avoid freezer burn, we need more protection than simply storing it in the refrigerator. 

I highly recommend freezing cheesecake without any toppings because it's usually the whipped cream that is used as topping and is prone to changing texture due to changes in temperature, resulting in a messy top. It makes no difference whether you used a toothpick on top, exactly as you would while refrigerating. 

If you have any leftovers with topping, please remove them before freezing.

To freeze the cheesecake, first, simply place it in the freezer for a couple of hours or until it hardens. Then, wrap the cheesecake with two layers of plastic wrap and one layer of aluminum foil.

Finally place it in a Freezer-safe Ziplock bag, a cardboard box (similar to how cheesecake factory cheesecakes are frozen), or an airtight container.

Thawing whole cheesecake 

As for any other cake, cheesecakes can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight. I do not recommend thawing at room temperature directly as there will be a significant temperature difference, forming condensation on top and surrounding the cheesecake, resulting in a soggy crust.

If there is any moisture on the surface of the cheesecake or sides, blot it with a paper towel. Take a butter knife and smooth over the sides if necessary.

Take out the cheesecake from the freezer, remove all of the wrapping, and store it in an airtight container or using any of the methods mentioned above.

Storing individual cheesecake slices

Just like the whole cheesecake, storing individual cheesecakes is very easy. In fact, that is how you get it at any grocery store too. For example, If you get the classic cheesecake box of frozen cheesecakes from Costco, the cheesecake is stored in individual pieces. This is no different for any other brand.

There can be different reasons to store the individual pieces of cheesecake. If you have created a whole cheesecake and want to store it for a later date, or if you need to store leftover cheesecake so that you can enjoy it later.

You can store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days and can be stored at room temperature for no more than 2 hours due to perishable ingredients.

Here is how you can do it.

1. Airtight container - Refrigerate the cheesecake slices in an airtight container, just as you would the full cheesecake. This will protect the cheesecake from any outside odors.
2. Disposable cheesecake container - Place the slices in a disposable container. This is how you also get into the cheesecake factory if you choose takeout.
3. Plastic wrap - The simplest way to refrigerate is to tightly wrap them in a plastic wrap. Use a layer or two and make sure there are no exposed edges. 

Freezing individual cheesecake slices 

If you want to store the cheesecake for more than 4 days, freezing it is a good option.

Just like the whole cheesecake, freeze the slices until hardened before carefully wrapping them in two layers of plastic wrap. Add a layer of foil to provide added protection. 

Do not forget to mention the date on top so you know when you need to finish them as they stay ok for up to 2 months.

After wrapping, store them in an airtight container that fits in your freezer, or use any freezer-safe Ziplock. Choose whatever is convenient.

Thawing individual cheesecake slices

Cheesecake slices can be thawed in the fridge overnight. To avoid condensation and soggy crust, do not thaw directly at room temperature.

To defrost, take the cheesecake slice out of the freezer, remove all the wrapping, and store it in an airtight container or in any of the ways described for storing individual cheesecake slices.

Which method did you like?

Over to you! Which storage method would you prefer to store your homemade cheesecake? Would you simply refrigerate or freeze them? Please let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear from you and your feedback is very important to me.