Quick Answer: Does Cheesecake Go Bad?
A cheesecake filling is made out of a mixture of ingredients. These include cream or ricotta, sugar, and eggs. As we all know, neither eggs nor cream cheese can last forever, and this is the reason why does cheesecakes go bad. The cheesecake will last five to seven days.
Easily one of the most popular desserts across the world, not just in America, we don’t normally have any cheesecake leftover.
However, if you’re surprised to find you have some leftover cheesecake, you’re going to want to know whether or not it will go bad and just how long it will last.
If that’s the case, you’ve come to the perfect place. In this post, we’re going to tell you just how long this delicious dessert lasts.
We’ll look at whether cheesecake goes bad, when it might go bad, and look at the possible signs that tell us it has.
Stick around if you want to learn more!
What Is A Cheesecake?
To truly understand why a cheesecake may or may not go bad, we first need to understand what exactly it is. Let’s look at this first!
A sweet dessert, a cheesecake consists of multiple layers of deliciousness.
Store-bought or easily made at home, we don’t need any excuse to eat cheesecake.
In fact, it’s one dessert we don’t need a special occasion for, with most people eating it simply because they crave it.
The thickest layer of a cheesecake is made out of fresh, soft cheese. This is usually cream cheese, ricotta, or cottage cheese. The thickest layer also contains sugar and eggs.
Cheesecakes usually have some form of crust too. This is normally made from crushed biscuits or cookies, but it can also be made from pastry or sponge cake.
To enhance the overall flavor of the cheesecake, flavorings are normally added. The most popular flavorings include lemon, chocolate, and vanilla.
Cheesecakes can be both baked and unbaked.
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Does Cheesecake Go Bad?
So, does cheesecake go bad?
Yes, it does!
Cheesecake contains eggs, and some form of cheese, both of which don’t last forever.
However, things aren’t quite as simple as with other desserts and dairy products.
Cheesecakes can be made using a wide range of ingredients. While one cheesecake might be made out of cream cheese, another might be made out of ricotta.
Of course, we then have to take into account that some cheesecakes can be baked and others unbaked.
Finally, store-bought cheesecakes tend to last longer than homemade ones.
All of these things play a part in how quickly a cheesecake goes bad.
However, no matter what the cheesecake is made out of, it will eventually go bad.
How Do We Know When A Cheesecake Has Gone Bad?
Knowing when this creamy dessert had gone bad is actually quite difficult to spot.
The most obvious signs your cheesecake has gone bad are spots of mold, discoloration, and an altered smell.
However, these signs only tend to show up further down the line after the cheesecake has already gone bad.
This is particularly true with cheesecakes that contain preservatives. Cheesecakes bought online usually contain a lot of preservatives.
To avoid eating a bad cheesecake, we recommend sticking to the storage guidelines we outline below, as long as the cheesecake still looks perfect.
If the cheesecake has already been stored for three or four days, consider sampling a small piece first.
If the main layers of the cheesecake taste sour instead of sweet and creamy, it’s time to throw the cheesecake out.
If you encounter any other signs of expiration, again, throw the cheesecake out.
How Long Will Your Cheesecake Last?
As we mentioned previously, there are a number of different factors at play when it comes to how long a cheesecake will last.
However, the guidelines we will outline for you now are perfectly fine to follow in respect to most cheesecake recipes.
Having said that, we recommend always checking the cheesecake recipe to ensure the guidelines you need to follow aren’t different.
Generally speaking, a store-bought cheesecake will last for 5 to 7 days if kept in a refrigerator.
On the other hand, homemade cheesecakes will only be good for up to 5 days.
This is how long the cheesecake mixture of eggs, sugar, and cheese will last before it starts to go off.
To avoid any disappointment, we advise eating your cheesecake while the ingredients are at peak quality. You shouldn’t have any trouble doing that.
Some cheesecakes also come with a topping. It isn’t uncommon for that topping to be more volatile than the cheesecakes filling.
If this is the case with your cheesecake, it is worth knowing that your cheesecake should be fine for as long as the topping is.
If you’re planning on making a homemade cheesecake, we strongly recommend adding the topping just before serving. This will preserve the cheesecake for longer.
How To Store Your Cheesecakes?
In all honesty, storing a cheesecake couldn’t be any simpler. All you need to do is make sure your cheesecake is tightly sealed and placed in a refrigerator.
Failure to do this will result in the cheesecake going bad much quicker. By successfully storing your cheesecake, you can expect it to last the full 5 to 7 days.
One added benefit that comes with buying a store-bought cheesecake is that they usually come in a plastic container.
That plastic container is more than enough to keep your cheesecake stored safely.
If the plastic container isn’t resealable, wrap your cake in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container.
If your cheesecake only comes in paper and a plastic bag, how you store it depends on when you plan on eating it.
If you plan on consuming the cake within 2 or 3 hours, leave it out. If not, discard the bag and place the cake in an airtight container.
In terms of homemade cheesecakes, you can either cut them into smaller pieces and place them in airtight containers or place the whole cake in one large airtight container.
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Can You Freeze Your Cheesecake?
You’ll be pleased to hear that you can freeze cheesecake, and doing so is incredibly easy.
To freeze your cheesecake, all you need is plastic wrap and freezer bags. Alternatively, you could use a container instead of the freezer bags.
When you have these things, start by wrapping your cake in plastic wrap.
Next, add some protection against the cold air by putting the cake in a container or freezer bag.
Freezer bags take up less space but are prone to getting squashed.
All you need to do then is put your cheesecake in the freezer.
When it comes to defrosting your cheesecake, leave it in the refrigerator overnight before eating it.
You should then bring it to room temperature by leaving it on the kitchen counter for two to three hours.
You could also take it straight out of the freezer and leave it on a countertop for 4 or 5 hours instead.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, everything you need to know about cheesecakes going bad. As you can see from our post, cheesecakes do go bad.
On average, a store-bought cheesecake will go bad after 5 to 7 days. On the other hand, homemade cheesecakes typically last up to 5 days before going bad.
Cheesecakes go bad because of the eggs, sugar, and cheese they contain.
Common signs of expiration include a sour taste, mold, a funny smell, and discoloration.
While we can freeze our cheesecakes in an attempt to prolong shelf-life, at the end of the day, the best thing we can do is eat them at their peak quality.
We don’t know about you but we don’t have a problem with that!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take For The Cheesecake To Go Bad?
A cheesecake usually lasts a few days, but if left out at room temperature, it can go bad within a day. Cheesecake is an excellent dessert for a special occasion and can be served on any occasion.
However, the lifespan of the cake is limited. If the cake has been left out for a few hours, it will start to dry out. If the cake has been left out for a few days, it will begin to go bad.
Can Cheesecake Give You Salmonella?
There are many types of cheesecake, and the kind you find in the grocery store is typically made with cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs. However, cheesecake can also be made with cottage cheese, ricotta, and yogurt.
Because of the different ingredients, it’s possible to get salmonella poisoning from cheesecake. The best way to avoid getting sick is to only make cheesecake with ingredients that have been pasteurized.
What Happens If I Eat Expired Cream Cheese?
Cream cheese goes bad or expires if exposed to air for too long. If you are storing your cream cheese in the refrigerator, ensure it is wrapped in plastic and does not come in contact with air.
If you plan to use the cream cheese within a day or two, there is no need to wrap it.
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