Remember when we were kids and our elders told us about the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. But, when it comes to baking, we can use those lemons to make cheesecakes instead! Sounds strange? Well, it really isn’t.
In this article, we are going to tell you all about why lemon juice is used in cheesecake and how it affects the taste and texture of the cake. So without any further ado, let’s get started!
Why Add Lemon In Cheesecake
Lemon juice is added to cheesecake for two main reasons – to add flavor and to prevent the cheese from clumping. Let’s discuss these two points in detail.
The first reason for adding lemon juice to cheesecake is for flavor. Lemon is a very versatile fruit and its tart, acidic flavor can enhance the taste of sweet desserts like cheesecake. You can think of it as a flavor booster! Additionally, the citrusy smell of lemon can also make your cheesecake smell amazing. It helps in making the dessert more inviting and appetizing.
The second reason for adding lemon juice to cheesecakes is to prevent the cheese from clumping. When cream cheese is mixed with other ingredients, it has a tendency to form clumps. Lemon juice helps to break down these clumps and results in a smooth, creamy cheesecake batter,which is exactly what you want!
Now we know that lemon juice is added to cheesecakes for flavor and to prevent clumping, but how much should you use? We will find out in the next section!
How Much Lemon Juice To Add In Cheesecake
Lemon juice is added to cheesecakes for several reasons: to add flavor, prevent curdling, and add acidity. The amount of lemon juice you use depends on your personal preference. For a light lemon flavor, you should not add more than 1 tbsp of lemon juice. On the other hand if you want a really strong lemon flavor you can go crazy and use up to ¼ of a cup.
You can even try experimenting, try using fruits like lime or orange. It’ll be better if you start with a small amount of lime juice or orange juice and then add more as desired according to your taste.
How Does Lemon Juice Affect The Taste Of Cheesecake
Try to remember the last time you had a delicious slice of cheesecake. It was creamy, rich, and slightly sweet with a hint of tanginess, right? Now imagine how that cheesecake would taste without the lemon juice. It would be very sweet and might even taste a bit bland. The addition of lemon juice gives the cheesecake a nice balance of flavors.
Without the lemon juice, the sweetness of the cheesecake would be overwhelming and it would lack the bright flavor that we all love. Next time you’re in the mood for a delicious cheesecake treat, make sure to include lemon juice in your recipe!
How Does Lemon Juice Affect The Texture Of Cheesecake
Not only does lemon juice impact the taste of cheesecake, but it also affects its texture. When mixed into the batter, lemon juice prevents cream cheese from clumping, resulting in a smoother, creamier final product.
It also helps to prevent cracks from coming up on the surface of the cheesecake. This is important because cracks can form if the cheesecake is overcooked or if there are sudden changes in temperature. Therefore, by adding lemon juice to the batter, you can help to avoid these cracks. Consequently, your cheesecake will have a more polished appearance and delicious taste.
Should You Add Lemon Zest To Cheesecake
In addition to lemon juice, you can also add lemon zest to your cheesecake. Lemon zest is the outermost layer of the lemon peel and it contains all the citrusy goodness of the fruit. It adds a lovely flavor and aroma to desserts like cheesecakes.
Use a microplane or zester to get the best out of your lemon zest. Using these will help you to get nice, fine pieces of zest that will incorporate well into the batter. How much to add? Well, that depends on your taste preference, add whatever amount you feel is good for you
You are sure to love the flavor of lemon zest in your cheesecake! The simple act of adding this ingredient will take your dessert to the next level.
Conclusion
We are sure that after reading this article you must have got a solid understanding of the role lemon juice plays in cheesecakes. Besides adding a lovely flavor, the lemon juice also helps in prevention of cracks. So next time you bake a cheesecake, remember to add a dash of lemon juice! You can even experiment with other citrus fruits to find your perfect flavor combination. Now go forth and bake delicious cheesecakes!
