How To Package A Cheesecake?

So, you have baked a beautiful cheesecake, and now you need to get it somewhere in one piece. Whether that is a bake sale, a birthday party, or just across town to a friend, packaging is the part that everybody forgets about until the last minute!

Now, the good news is that it is not complicated. But, there are a few things that will save you a lot of heartache.

Chill It First, And We Mean Properly Chilled

This is the one rule we would never break. A cheesecake that is even slightly warm will sweat inside a box, and that condensation goes straight into your crust. Soggy bottom, every time.

So, let it cool on the counter first, then give it at least four hours in the fridge, and overnight is even better. Our piece on how long cheesecake lasts in the refrigerator has more on storage. A properly cold cheesecake is also much firmer, which means it survives the trip far better than a soft one.

How Do I Put Wax Paper Between Cake Slices?

If you are transporting individual slices, cut the cake first while it is cold, and then slide a small square of wax paper or parchment between each one as you place them in the container. Cutting through paper that is already lying on top of the cake does not really work, it just drags and tears.

And, one little tip that makes a big difference. Wipe your knife clean with a hot, damp cloth between every single cut. It sounds fussy, but it is the difference between neat slices and a smeared mess.

What Should You Actually Pack It In?

For a whole cheesecake, you want a proper cake box with a tall lid, so that nothing touches the top. And here is the trick that saves the most grief: if you baked it in a springform pan, just leave the metal base under the cake. You get a rigid bottom for free, and you are not trying to slide a soft dessert off one plate and onto another.

Slices are easier. Those clear clamshell containers from the bakery aisle do the job perfectly well. If you are selling rather than sharing, cheesecake boxes come in bulk, and plenty of suppliers will print your logo on them.

A Few Things We Have Learned The Hard Way

Keep it flat. This sounds obvious right up until the moment you take a corner and hear the box slide across the back seat. A cheesecake that travels at an angle will lean, and it does not lean back.

Then, keep it cold, which in summer means a cool box with an ice pack rather than just hoping for the best. Two hours out of the fridge is the limit, and that clock is already running while you are stuck in traffic.

Oh, and if there is a fruit topping or a sauce involved, take it separately and spoon it on when you arrive. We have learned this one the hard way more than once!

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