I need assistance with my cheesecake!

October 28, 2006 8:37 PM

You buy a frozen cheesecake at the natural food store. It doesn't come with directions. You're hungry. Do you eat it frozen? Wait while it thaws on the counter? Heat it up in the microwave? Heat it up in the oven? Something else?
posted by croutonsupafreak to Food & Drink (22 answers total)

Me, I'd eat it frozen. Second choice is to cut a slice and thaw it out on the counter. Microwaves have their point in existence, but this is not it. Is this a Trader Joe's cheesecake? Their cheesecakes are fantastic.
posted by whatzit at 8:45 PM on October 28, 2006

I'd let it thaw in the fridge for a day.
posted by SpecialK at 8:46 PM on October 28, 2006

Second the "thaw on the counter", at least until it's partially defrosted. IMHO, this is not a good time to throw it in the oven or microwave.

Enjoy the cheesecake!
posted by rossination at 8:50 PM on October 28, 2006

Best answer: You're probably supposed to put it in the fridge, but screw that. The concerns about properly defrosting food are about bacteria, if you're going to eat it right now, your only concerns are taste and texture. Cut a slice you don't mind wasting, microwave it, see how it turns out. While you're doing that, leave a piece out to get a head start on thawing, and why not try some frozen too?
posted by crabintheocean at 9:07 PM on October 28, 2006

Response by poster: No, this is not a joke. I guess I will have to wait for the cheesecake to thaw, and eat something else in the mean while.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:07 PM on October 28, 2006

Is this a joke?

Very helpful answer. Cheesecake is best eaten cold, but not frozen. I wouldn't thaw on the counter because it's not a "sanitary" way to do it unless you want to eat it within a couple hours. Let it sit in the fridge for probably 6 hours or so, or overnight.

If it's just for pleasureful indulgence, eat it frozen with lots of toppings.
posted by BradNelson at 9:07 PM on October 28, 2006

Best answer: Yeah, 90-120 minutes on the counter or overnight on the fridge, I'd say. Do not add heat.
posted by dobbs at 9:08 PM on October 28, 2006

Also, hairdryer?
posted by crabintheocean at 9:08 PM on October 28, 2006

An addendum: don't heat it up unless you want (a) a pile of goo or (b) hot cheesecake with a frozen center.
posted by BradNelson at 9:09 PM on October 28, 2006

If you put it in the microwave, give it 10 seconds, then take it out and check it, and then hit it with another 10 seconds. I've done this with other sorts of frozen cakes (chocolate mousse types) with edible results. YMMV, of course.
posted by glip at 9:14 PM on October 28, 2006

Oh man, you guys don't know how to live. Cheesecake is baked - hasn't anyone ever snitched a piece from the pan right when it comes out of the oven? It's orgasmic. Gooey warm sweet cream cheese...

I say slice off a piece and stick it in your microwave and put it on the defrost setting for about 10-15 seconds at a time until it's softened but still chilled. I can attest personally that this is a very good thing to do. If you overshoot the mark and warm it a little...oh well, you will just have to make the supreme sacrifice and eat warm cheesecake. Put the rest in your fridge to thaw.
posted by iconomy at 9:16 PM on October 28, 2006

Oh, yuck. I think warm cheesecake is completely gross. It's like eating warm cheese that's gone all shiny and greasy--ick.

I would cut a slice and eat it frozen or semi-frozen; if you can put it on the counter and distract yourself for a little while, it'll be perfect. Put the rest in the fridge and it'll be great tomorrow.

Cutting tip: run the knife under hot water--and dry it off--before every slice.
posted by bink at 9:20 PM on October 28, 2006

You're able to get a cheesecake home for more than five minutes without diving in? I salute you.


Also, defrost in fridge overnight.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:47 PM on October 28, 2006

Clearly the answer is to go out and buy a second cheesecake that's not frozen.
posted by trevyn at 10:37 PM on October 28, 2006 [1 favorite]

Warm cheese.......yummmmmmm. I started out thinking the microwave idea was a bad one but then got to iconomy and remembered the cheesecakes I've baked and oh yeah....warm cheesecake.....mmmmmm. Room temperature is really good too. But if you've gotta eat it now, I'd just experiment. If frozen is bad, set it out on the counter and see what it's like in an hour or try the micro.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 10:38 PM on October 28, 2006

I've defrosted slices of cheesecake in the microwave and they weren't that bad... a bit runny, but still tasted nice.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 3:06 AM on October 29, 2006

Careful, not all cheesecakes are baked - there's another method, where you just chill it until it's set. Frozen ones are usually that kind. Cut it up and try the 10 seconds at a time in the microwave, or just leave it out on the bench for a while.
posted by Sar at 4:43 AM on October 29, 2006

Response by poster: The morning after: I regret buying a frozen cheesecake instead of spending the extra bucks on one ready-to-eat. Oh well.

I tried crabintheocean's experimental approach. Microwave: Yuck. I ate a slice I left out in the open for about an hour or so, and it was OK but still contained ice crystals. So I think dobbs had the best approach from the get go.

Thanks for your assistance, all.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 8:54 AM on October 29, 2006

I attempt to wait for it to thaw like a civilized being, but then give up half-way through and attack it frozen like a wild vole.
posted by juliarothbort at 9:57 AM on October 29, 2006

iconomy writes "I say slice off a piece and stick it in your microwave and put it on the defrost setting for about 10-15 seconds at a time until it's softened but still chilled."

Avoid the defrost setting if you are going to be nuking the item for short intervals. Microwaves don't have variable power output, they are full on or full off. So the defrost cycle averages out lower power by cycling the magnetron off and on, something you are doing anyways by checking the items every ten seconds.
posted by Mitheral at 10:07 AM on October 29, 2006

To speed up thawing, place on a metal sheet, and place the sheet on a metal appliance such as your stove. Make sure the stove is turned off, of course. And don't cover it, except perhaps with some mesh thing to keep insects at bay.
posted by randomstriker at 12:45 PM on October 29, 2006

Mitheral, cool, I didn't know that.
posted by iconomy at 6:41 PM on October 29, 2006