Never Put Your Cheesecake In The Freezer To Cool It Down
If you're a cheesecake lover, you'll want to write down where you can find the best cheesecakes in the United States for your next road trip. From a banana caramel pecan cheesecake to a baklava cheesecake, these restaurants take the classic dessert and make it their own. But you don't have to travel far to find a tasty slice. Although it takes some time, you can make your own decadent cheesecake at home.
Cheesecake is a bit tricky to make, but if you avoid the most common cheesecake mistakes and follow a recipe closely, you'll perfect the process in no time. If you're baking cheesecake for the first time, be sure to set aside a few hours for the cheesecake to cool and set. This might even mean letting the cheesecake chill in the fridge overnight.
Although it can be tempting to pop the cheesecake in the freezer so it chills faster, this is another common error when it comes to perfecting the dessert. This baked good is sensitive to major temperature changes, and according to Allrecipes, freezing the cheesecake will lead it to set incorrectly, and the creamy texture will be ruined. Here's what to do instead.
How to properly cool down cheesecake
When you're finished baking your cheesecake, you don't need to take it out of the oven right away. According to Sally's Baking Addiction, you'll want to turn off the oven but leave it open a crack. Allrecipes' caveat is that if you have a gas oven, take the cheesecake out right away so it doesn't overbake.
After your cheesecake comes to room temperature, put the dessert in the refrigerator. Recipes might vary when it comes to how long your cheesecake should firm up in the fridge. For example, Sally's Baking Addiction says to leave it in the fridge covered in plastic wrap for four to eight hours, and Allrecipes recommends letting the cheesecake sit overnight.
The best way to cool down your cheesecake is with time, but if you need to speed up the process, Baking How offers some tips. For example, the website recommends letting your cheesecake rest on a wire rack for maximum air circulation and using a small fan if necessary. While the outlet also discourages putting your cheesecake in the freezer, the website explains that if you must, let the cheesecake get to room temperature first, and only freeze it for two hours.
That being said, a delicious cheesecake is worth the wait, even if it's overnight. Craving cheesecake now? Try this recipe for a classic New York cheesecake or top your dessert off with some fruit and make this cherry cheesecake.