How Long Can Cheesecake Last?

If you’ve got some cheesecake left over – how?

Seriously, if you need to know how long your cheesecake will remain fresh for, we have you covered.

Today we’re looking into how long does cheesecake last in the fridge, freezer, and at room temperature. Let’s dive in!

What Is Cheesecake?

Cheesecake is a dessert that is made from cream cheese, milk, eggs, and more yummy ingredients to make a creamy yellow color and delicious flavor.

Cheesecake is particularly enjoyable thanks to its sweet and smooth taste. It has a crumbly biscuit base with the creamy mixture laid on top.

This can be flavored in a number of ways, such as chocolate, fruit, and more.

Cheesecake is categorized by two main factors – baked or unbaked. Cheesecake is used all over the world thanks to its unique flavors and variations.

It seems like everywhere in the world has its own way of making cheesecake!

Does Cheesecake Go Bad?

Yes, cheesecake can go bad. It includes eggs, cream cheese, and other perishable ingredients that have a short shelf life. If left for too long, you will be left with spoiled cheesecake.

These perishable ingredients are ideal places for molds to grow (these can be visible or invisible!) like salmonella.

But how long does cheesecake last before it goes bad?

How Long Does Cheesecake Last At Room Temperature?

As we have already mentioned, cheesecake contains lots of perishable ingredients. If you’re leaving it out at room temperature, make sure you leave fresh cheesecake out for no longer than two hours.

This is compliant with the USDA and their ‘danger zone’, in which the cheesecake will begin to be overrun by dangerous bacteria.

To avoid eating expired cheesecake, throw it out after two hours at room temperature.

How Long Does Open Cheesecake Last In The Refrigerator?

USDA food safety rules state that fresh cheesecake can be stored properly in the fridge for three to four days before expiring.

Make sure that you store it in an airtight container to avoid the cheesecake absorbing any fridge odors.

You can also use plastic wrap around your cheesecake when refrigerating to avoid this. Aluminum foil can also be used in a pinch, although it’s not the best alternative.

This only applies to open cheesecake. If your cheesecake is still in its original packaging and has not yet been opened, you can leave it until the packaging says it’s no good.

Check the shelf life to make sure it’s still good before opening it.

Can You Freeze Cheesecake?

Yes, you can freeze cheesecake to keep it fresh! Frozen cheesecake can be left in the freezer for up to two months, although it should be used within one month if you don’t want to deal with texture changes.

The issue with freezing leftover cheesecake is that the milk and cheese ingredients can separate.

This is because the cool air in the freezer absorbs the moisture in the cheesecake, causing the ingredients to separate.

This will change the consistency and might make the cheesecake less enjoyable than it was fresh.

It might have a rubbery texture rather than a creamy one, and you might prefer just to throw it away instead of eating it.

To store cheesecake properly in the freezer, you’ll need to wrap it in plastic wrap tightly before wrapping it again in aluminum foil. If you have an airtight container, put the wrapped cheesecake in this too.

The idea here is to avoid as much air getting to the cheesecake in the freezer as possible.

This will hopefully stop the textural changes so that you can still enjoy your delicious cheesecake after storing it in the freezer.

How About Homemade Cheesecake? How Long Does That Last In The Refrigerator?

Homemade cheesecake can be difficult to distinguish between good and spoiled since it doesn’t have a shelf life.

However, the same time frames for store-bought cheesecake apply to homemade cheesecake.

To keep homemade cheesecake fresh, it should be thrown out after two hours at room temperature, three to four days in the fridge, and two months in the freezer.

The Risks of Consuming Expired Cheesecake

Why does it matter how long cheesecake lasts? Can’t you eat cheesecake whenever you want without getting sick? Who wants to eat frozen cheesecake?

Cheesecake is full of perishable ingredients like cream cheese and eggs. This gives it a much shorter shelf life than other desserts that we know and love.

Spoiled cheesecake is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria such as salmonella enteritis, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and more.

Consuming expired cheesecake, and therefore these harmful bacteria, can put you at risk of dangerous illnesses like food poisoning.

Food poisoning can lead to symptoms like vomiting, fever, dehydration, nausea, stomach ache, and more.

We hope that this has shown you how dangerous it can be to consume expired cheesecake.

Make sure that you look out for any signs of discoloration, foul odor, or separation that might give away its expired shelf life.

Tell Me The Best Way To Store Cheesecake

The best way to store your leftover cheesecake is in the fridge. This keeps it fresher for longer without the risk of separation like the freezer threatens. Don’t even get us started on the freezer burn!

Use plastic wrap around your cheesecake and place it in an airtight container before storing it in the fridge.

This prevents excess air getting to it and stops it from absorbing and fridge odors that might be lying about.

Summary

Thanks for reading our article on how long cheesecake lasts! Storing cheesecake properly is incredibly important, so make sure that you don’t keep it at room temperature for longer than two hours.

It should be kept in the fridge for no longer than four days, and no more than two months in the freezer.

Remember that cheesecake can separate in the freezer, so it’s best to consume after one month of it being frozen to minimize this issue.