Here's How to Soften Cream Cheese Just When You Need It
There are countless recipes that call for cream cheese softened or at room temperature. It's a small detail that can be easy to overlook and tempting to ignore, but the fact is doing so can ruin your final product.
Whether you're following a cheesecake recipe or baking a batch of pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting, it's crucial to soften cream cheese so it blends easily, creating a smooth, creamy, and lump-free texture. And, because leaving any dairy product out for too long can risk spoiling, every home baker should know how to soften cream cheese quickly. So here, we breakdown not one but three ways to do so that take anywhere from an hour to just 1 minute.
How to Soften Cream Cheese on the Countertop
Total time: 30 mins to 1 hour
Perhaps the easiest and the most tried-and-true method for softening cream cheese is leaving it out on the countertop. Simply take the cream cheese block out of the cardboard package and leave it on your kitchen counter. This takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, but if you're in a hurry, you can cut the block of cheese into equal-sized cubes to quicken the process. This way you can also measure out exactly the amount of cream cheese you need for the recipe instead of softening the whole block.
How to Soften Cream Cheese in Warm Water
Total time: 10 to 15 mins
A bowl of warm water can soften your cream cheese even faster. All you have to do is submerge the sealed cream cheese block in some warm water and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes or so. Be sure to lightly poke the wrapper to check for firmness a few times during the process. This method is especially useful if you're making a recipe that calls for an entire 8-ounce block of cream cheese.
How to Soften Cream Cheese in the Microwave
Total time: 1 minute
The magic of the microwave knows no bounds and that also includes softening cream cheese in a mere minute. For this method, first and foremost be sure to unwrap your cream cheese because the tin-foil wrapper will cause a fire. Put the block of cream cheese on a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high in 10-second increments. Check for desired softness constantly because it's very easy to accidentally melt your cream cheese. That said, although this is arguably the riskiest method to soften cream cheese, it's definitely the quickest especially if you're in a pinch.
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