Why You Shouldn't Leave Your Cheesecake On The Counter

There's no denying we yearn for sweet happiness in life. And what better way to make our tongues salivate with delight than relishing the simple joy of eating creamy and luxurious cheesecake? Ah, there's nothing quite like the sweet flavor and mild tangy notes of cheesecake. Even a single bite of your favorite cheesecake can change your mood instantly. That contented and relaxed feeling isn't a placebo effect. Eating foods high in carbohydrates releases "feel good" hormones (serotonin) in the brain to produce a sense of euphoria dependent on controlled food intake.

What makes cheesecake a beloved dessert is its versatility; it can be made gluten-free and flavored in different ways to suit anyone's sweet tooth. In addition, this rich, creamy dessert is not that hard to make. You can prepare it in advance to finish off several upcoming meals on a sweet and deeply satisfying note. However, you have to be careful when it comes to storing cheesecake.

While we don't want to be the bearers of bad news, if you have left the cheesecake on the counter and forgotten about it for more than two hours, it's best not to take any risk and throw out that heavenly, delicious dessert. As much as it will hurt, there's a good reason for doing so. 

While we understand that cheesecake might be your silly, little excuse to turn every occasion into a celebration, leaving it unrefrigerated even for two hours is a big no-no. That's because cheesecake contains ingredients that spoil within a relatively short amount of time, like cream cheese and eggs. Moreover, the high moisture content of cheesecake can cause exponential growth of bacteria, according to Cooking Chew. If you already have a baked and chilled cheesecake, you'll want to avoid the USDA's "danger zone" by ensuring the dessert doesn't sit out for more than two hours. 

To avoid the risk of food poisoning and save yourself the stress of throwing out a perfectly made cheesecake, put it in the fridge as soon as it cools down after baking. Make sure you cover the cheesecake before refrigerating, as it helps preserve the freshness and flavor. Moreover, a covered cheesecake will stay fresh for up to five days in the fridge, per Allrecipes. And, if you want to make cheesecake in advance, you can put it in the freezer. You'll need to freeze the unwrapped cheesecake for about an hour before double wrapping it in plastic wrap. It will ensure the cheesecake remains fresh for about 4-6 weeks. 

Also, you'll want to avoid common mistakes everyone makes with cheesecake. You can start with this insanely delicious and irresistible copycat Cheesecake Factory vanilla cheesecake recipe.