Many of the recipes that include cream cheese require it to be softened before it can be added to the other ingredients. Regardless of the use, there are several methods of softening a cream cheese. In many cases, it will be sufficient to heat it, especially if you have kept it in the refrigerator. If, on the other hand, you need to keep it cold, for example to prepare a glaze, you can mix it with other ingredients to give it a softer consistency.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Softening a Cream Cheese at Room Temperature
Step 1. Cut the cheese into cubes to soften faster
If you leave it whole, the outside will begin to soften while the inside will stay cool, which will slow down the process. To avoid this, take a butter knife and cut the cheese into 2 or 3 cm cubes.
Step 2. Leave the cheese at room temperature for 30 minutes to soften
If you have time, you can simply leave it at room temperature for about half an hour. When it has cooled, it will have a noticeably softer texture. If it is still cold to the touch and not soft enough, let it sit in the kitchen for another 20-30 minutes.
- You can leave the cheese in its original packaging or you can transfer it to a plate or container.
- If the cheese is still not soft enough after an hour, you may need to dilute it with a liquid ingredient, such as milk, cream or lemon juice.
Step 3. Stir the cheese for 5 minutes to soften it
Using a spoon, you should be able to soften it without having to resort to heat. You can put it in a bowl and start mashing it with the back of the cutlery. The more you work it, the softer it will become.
If you prefer, you can put the cheese in the mixer and mix it with the flat beater for about 60 seconds
Step 4. Spread the cheese in a thin layer to soften it even faster
For a super quick approach, try placing the block of cheese between two sheets of parchment paper, then squeeze it with a rolling pin or meat tenderizer. The thinner it is, the faster it will soften.
After squeezing it between the two sheets, you will need to take a butter knife to scrape it off the paper
Step 5. Press the back of a spoon onto the cheese to determine if it is soft enough
After letting it cool, check to see if it has reached the correct consistency. Press the back of the spoon against the cheese, through the paper wrap, or directly to the surface. If it gives in easily and doesn't resist, it should be soft enough for most recipes. If it is still compact, you may need to let it warm up again.
Step 6. Do not leave the cheese at room temperature for more than 2 hours after it has softened
If stored properly in the refrigerator, cream cheese generally lasts a long time (even up to a month), while in the freezer it can easily last up to two months. However, like most dairy products, it tends to go bad quickly at room temperature. After letting it warm up, try to use it as soon as possible and eventually put the leftover back in the fridge.
Do not leave the cheese at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If it's been out of the fridge longer, consider throwing it away
Method 2 of 3: Soften a Cream Cheese Using Heat
Step 1. Heat the cheese in the microwave at 15 second intervals to make it soften quickly
Take a spoon and transfer it to a container suitable for microwave use. Heat it on high power for about 15 seconds, then check it. If it's still not soft enough, keep heating it at 10-second intervals, checking it from time to time.
- If the cheese block is quite large, you can try heating it at intervals of 20-25 seconds.
- If the cheese gets too soft, transfer it to an ice-cold bowl and leave it at room temperature for about 5 minutes, or put it in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes.
- If the cheese is wrapped in foil wrapper, transfer it to a container before putting it in the microwave to avoid the risk of starting a fire.
- If some of the liquid (whey) separates from the rest of the cheese as you heat it, simply add it to the recipe along with the solid part.
Step 2. Leave the cheese in the water for 10 minutes to gradually heat it up
Fill a bowl with lukewarm water, then put the cheese packet in it and soak it for 10 minutes. If you check it and find that it is still not soft enough, leave it to soak for 10 minutes more. If that's not enough, add hot water to the bowl (don't use boiling water as it may completely melt the cheese).
- If the package is unsealed, place it in a zip-lock food bag to prevent the cheese from getting wet.
- If the cheese was frozen, use cold rather than lukewarm water. It will take longer, but it will heat up more evenly.
Step 3. Be careful not to overheat the cheese to preserve its texture
There is a risk of heating it too much in an attempt to make it soften quickly. The solid matter of the cheese could melt and, in that case, you would end up with a puddle of liquid that unfortunately will not return to its original shape even when it has cooled down.
Prevention is the best cure in this case. Use moderate heat in short intervals to avoid overheating the cheese. Increase the microwave power and cooking time gradually if you need to make it softer
Method 3 of 3: Soften a Cream Cheese by Blending it with Other Ingredients
Step 1. Add milk or cream to soften the cheese without excessively altering its flavor
Place 225g of cheese in a bowl, add 1 tablespoon (15ml) of unsweetened milk or cream, then mix well. If necessary, add a little more until the cheese has reached the desired creaminess.
Milk and cream have an extremely delicate taste, therefore they are perfect for softening the cheese without excessively affecting its taste. They might tone it down, but for most recipes, the difference won't be noticeable
Step 2. Use melted butter to make the cheese more fluid and smooth
Butter is another good option for softening the texture of creamy cheeses. Use 1 tablespoon (15g) of melted butter for every 225g of cheese to be softened. Heat the butter in the microwave, then add it to the cheese in a separate bowl and mix well.
- Add a little more butter if the cheese is still not soft enough at this point.
- Don't heat the cheese and butter together unless you want to melt both.
- Do not use salted butter, otherwise it will alter the taste of the cheese.
Step 3. Use lemon juice to add a sour note to the cheese
The lemon juice will make it more fluid, but it will also give it a tart taste. It is a good option especially if you are making an icing, cake or dessert with a sour connotation; however, it is not a suitable solution for all recipes. If you decide to use lemon juice, add one teaspoon (5ml) to every 225g of cream cheese to be softened.
Step 4. Use the whipped cream to sweeten the cream cheese
A nice dollop of whipped cream can be the perfect solution if you need to soften the cheese to make a frosting. In this case, the additional ingredient will give it a pleasant sweet note, rather than sour as lemon juice would.
Start by adding one tablespoon (15g) of whipped cream to every 225g of cream cheese. You can always add more if necessary
Step 5. Mix the cream cheese with the mascarpone to soften it slightly
The two ingredients have a similar texture, but the mascarpone is softer and lighter. Since they are similar, mascarpone is a great option if you want to make the cheese only slightly creamier than it already is. The effect is subtle, but visible, and is a perfect option for example if you want to use cheese to make a cream to garnish French toast or bread pudding.
Advice
- Try replacing the spreadable cheese with mascarpone or soft cheese with a mild flavor. You can make them soften the same way.
- Low-fat creamy cheeses generally have a less uniform texture when heated precisely because of the reduced fat content.
