By Lindy Van Schalkwyk, last updated on October 3, 2024
Can cheesecake go bad? Not only can it go rancid, but many things can go bad during the preparation stage. Let’s explore!
Can Cheesecake Go Bad? What Causes Cheesecake To Go Off?
Cheesecake, just like any other baked item, does eventually deteriorate. So please don’t think that because of its high sugar content and unique consistency, it is immortal.
Dairy doesn’t have a very long shelf life. So, you are likely to have a sour flavor before any mold starts to grow.
Shelf life of cheesecake
The exact shelf life of a cheesecake mostly depends on how it was stored and even made! Unbaked cheesecakes have to be kept in the fridge and will last between 3-6 days, depending on the age of the fresh dairy products used. If kept at room temperature, it will likely only last a day before changing texture or even going rancid.
Baked cheesecakes can often be kept at room temperature or in the fridge. At room temperature, it will last about 2-3 days. But, in the fridge, it can last up to a week!
One of the best things about cheesecakes is that they can be frozen! You can easily and effectively preserve cheesecakes for anywhere between 2-4 months.
How to properly store cheesecake?
Making sure that you store a cheesecake correctly will completely avoid you wondering, can cheesecake go bad? So, let’s skip the uncertainty and rather store the cheesecake in the most effective way to help extend its shelf life.
When it comes to cakes, we usually want to have as much moisture as possible. Moisture equals a moist cake. But, for cheesecakes, we want to avoid moisture at all costs! Any added moisture will help the cheesecake spoil faster, not to mention it will change the consistency of the baked filling.
The best way to store a cheesecake is inside of the fridge – regardless of which cheesecake you have made. Just make sure it has completely cooled before storing it. Wrap the cheesecake inside some plastic or saran wrap. Alternatively, you can store it inside of an airtight container or plastic cake dome.
Then, place it in the fridge away from any foreign lingering odors. You can also label the cheesecake if you want. And finally, it is important to ensure that your fridge has very stable temperatures.
Then, as we have mentioned, you can also store cheesecake in the freezer for a couple of months. The process stays the same, but we would also add a layer of foil around the plastic wrap or container. This layer will help protect the cheesecake from any freezer burn. And, make sure to label your cheesecake too!
Can cheesecake go bad? How to know if cheesecake has gone bad?
One big question we are often asked on this blog is how o tell when exactly your cheesecake has actually gone bad. When is it beyond saving?
Virtually any flavor changes or textural changes that happen after the cheesecake has been stored is an obvious sign that the cheesecake has gone off. Or at the very least, is starting to.
But, because we are working with dairy products and often eggs, we don’t recommend taking a chance with one last bite. You can get serious food poisoning from rancid cheesecake.
Bad smell
Because cheesecake has so many dairy products in it, the cheesecake will smell sour or rancid. And if you are unsure what that smells like, trust us, you will know when it’s funky.
Always give your cheesecake a whiff before taking a bite. In all likelihood, the rancid smell will appear before any visual changes happen.
Textural changes
Cheesecakes that have gone bad will have visible mold on the outside surface of the cake. The cheesecake will also leak liquid or have visible signs of excessive moisture, like droplets of water. The texture of the cheesecake might become rubbery or grainy, and won’t look like it did before.
Flavor changes
And of course, your cheesecake is bad when it tastes extremely sour. Or even just more tart than it used to. But, when the flavor change has appeared you will usually feel the grainy texture that the cake now has.
What Can Go Wrong When Preparing And Baking A Cheesecake?
Now, often people also ask u can cheesecake goes bad when preparing and making it. Not really in the sense of rancid, but you know, bad in quality. The answer is a resounding yes!
Cheesecakes are one of the most difficult cakes to make. There are a ton of things that can go wrong. Let’s have a look at the most common causes of these faults and exactly how you can fix them.
Raw cheesecake center
A cheesecake that is still raw in the middle is usually because it hasn’t been baked long enough. The middle inch or two should still be jiggly when removing it, but not raw.
This can also be caused by incorrect oven temperatures. Or, your oven has blind spots or fluctuating temperatures.
The best way to prevent under-baking your cheesecake is to use a water bath, or correctly bake it at stable temperatures for the correct amount of time.
Curdled cheesecake
Curdled cheesecake is usually caused by an incorrect mixing of ingredients, or that you have used rancid ingredients. If you mix dairy products with an acid in the incorrect manner, you can cause the dairy items to curdle, That is why it is always important to properly follow the recipe instructions.
These curdled textures can also be caused by over baking the cheesecake. So again, make sure to check your temperatures and times.
Sunken or cracked cheesecakes
This is often caused by incorrect recipe ratios, sudden temperature changes, and incorrect cooling techniques used. We have a ton of articles on our blog covering each of these problems in-depth and how to avoid and fix them.
Can Cheesecake Go Bad? That’s A Wrap!
Can cheesecake go bad? Definitely! Make sure to store your cheesecake properly using our expert techniques above. And, when it comes to the preparation and baking process, always follow the recipe’s instructions! If you have any other questions or tips for us, let us know in the comments below!
Read more about How To Tell If Cheesecake Is Bad
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Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.