How to soften cream cheese in the microwave

Achieve a consistent cream cheese texture by softening cream cheese in the microwave! Softening cream cheese is usually required when you need to mix it with other ingredients evenly and to prevent lumps from forming.

Why use microwave to soften cream cheese

Quick method to achieve smooth texture - Softening cream cheese in the microwave is easy and takes just 15 to 20 seconds. By microwaving the cheese for only 15 second intervals on low and you will have a beautifully soft cream cheese, ready to be mixed with the rest of the ingredients. My favorite recipe using softened cream cheese is No Bake Oreo Dessert.

Fewer dishes to clean up - No reason to use any pan and then clean it afterwards. Instead use microwave safe bowl that you can add your other ingredients in and microwave your cream cheese! Also, if you soften your cream cheese in the microwave, you can save time as well.

How to Soften Cream Cheese in the microwave

The first step is to take cream cheese out of its foil wrapping and set it on a microwave-safe bowl or plate. I like to use glass bowl or a ceramic one. It's not necessary to cut the cheese block. As you can see I did not chop the cold cream cheese slab into chunks, even though some cooks do that as well. I find that it's simply not necessary and always soften the whole slab all at once.

The optimal time to microwave cream cheese is about 20 seconds. I usually microwave on low power for about 15 to 20 seconds at time and then remove softened cream cheese from the microwave. It's important to microwave in intervals, because fat melts so quickly. If the cheese start melting, stop microwaving and let it cool before mixing.

Once I take softened cream cheese out of the microwave, I immediately mix it thoroughly with a fork because it may be a little cooler in the middle, while warmer on the outside.

Ways to use softened cream cheese

1. Softened cream cheese is easier to spread and work with whether you are baking with it or  using it with other ingredients.
2. I find it so much easier to blend it in when mixing with other ingredients, such as whipped cream, Cool Whip or pudding.
3. Using softened cream cheese helps to avoid unpleasant lumps, which can occur when the cream cheese is cold in temperature.
4. I myself use cream cheese extensively in no bake desserts and cream pies where achieving smooth layers is very desirable. I used it in Berry Cream Cheese Pie and No Bake Berry Cream Pie.

How to sweeten cream cheese

Sweeten the cream cheese by sifting powdered sugar into it.

• Add ½ cup of powdered sugar in one block of cream cheese.
• Make sure to use a sifter to avoid any clumps, and you will see how how much easier to mix it that way.

The resulting texture is silky smooth, and the cream cheese is ready to be used for a multitude of desserts.

FAQs

Why did my cheese explode in the microwave? The microwave is heating up little pockets of fat, which get hotter than the boiling temperature of water, then come into contact with a little bit of water content of softened cheese. That water then abruptly turns to steam, and without a way for the steam to escape, the internal pressure rapidly builds until the cheese explodes.

How to avoid cheese explosion. Use your power settings. I tend to just do low power and check at 15 minute intervals, but it really depends on what you are heating up.

Why did my cheese become watery? Fat melts quickly and can become watery so be careful as to not overheat.

Recipes that use softened cream cheese:

• Pistachio Cheesecake (No Bake)
• No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
• Cinnamon Roll Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
• Peach and Blueberry Cream Cheese Tart
• Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Filling
• No Bake Oreo Dessert with Cream Cheese and Cool Whip