There is nothing better than a piece of cake that makes your mouth water. What is even better is extra!
If you have some cake left over, you might be wondering how long it stays good. In general, you can keep a cake at room temperature for up to 5 days if it hasn’t been iced.
Most frosted cakes can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days after they have been made. Most cakes can be kept in the freezer for up to six months if they are stored properly.
But the length of time a cake can stay in the fridge varies on a lot of different things. The most important things about a cake are its most fragile parts and how it was stored.
Different things, like the frosting, ingredients, and even the weather, can affect how fresh your cake’s leftovers are.
How long does cake last for?
Most cakes can stay at room temperature for a few days, even if they aren’t iced, covered in fondant, filled with cream, or even just sponges that haven’t been cut. This is true even if they have frosting or sugar on them to make them look pretty.
Put your work of art on a cake stand with a lid or in a bowl turned on its side. This will keep it safe from the dust in the air.
If you’re worried that your cake will melt, for example because it has a fruit filling, putting it in the fridge will help it stay cold and stop it from melting.
Cover it and put it in a container with an airlock so that the fruity taste doesn’t change from oxidation. This will keep the cake from getting any smells from the fridge that might be there.
Most of the time, you can only eat a cake for three or four days before the wetness is gone and the texture gets more dry.
If a cake has frosting on it, the frosting keeps the sponge from drying out, so the cake will stay wet for a longer time in the fridge.
Put the cake in a container with a tight-fitting lid or lightly cover it and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes to let the frosting harden. This will help keep the shape of the cake.
Then, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge in a container with a seal.
What Affects Life of Cake?
The only thing that affects how long a cake will last is which ingredients go bad the fastest. Fruit and cheese frostings shorten a cake’s shelf life.
Putting the cake away in the right way is the trick to keeping it fresh for several days. Here is a list of important knowledge that should not be missed.
Kitchen Temperature
How long a cake will last depends a lot on how hot or cold the kitchen is. If your kitchen tends to be warmer than average, the cake won’t look as good for as long. Also, you should be on the lookout for any food safety warning signs.
Mold and dangerous germs both grow well in warm places. It would be terrible if a ruined cake made you sick.
So, the cake might only last two or three days if it is warm outside, you live in a desert, or your home is very warm.
You can keep your cake at room temperature for up to five days if you wrap it well and put it away when the weather is cooler.
Cake Fillings
The contents can also change how long a cake will last. Adding fillings like whipped cream, fruit filling, or other dairy-based sauces shortens a cake’s shelf life.
All cakes that have these things in them need to be kept in the fridge. If the filling is made of ice cream, the cake should also be kept in the fridge.
A filling made of fresh fruit can have a very short shelf life. Before the cake itself loses its shape, the fruit may become liquid, mushy, or sour.
On the other hand, cooking a fruit sauce makes it last longer because the sugar in it acts like a preservative.
Ingredients
The quality of ingredients used in making a cake is one of the most significant factors that affect its lifespan.
Cakes made with high-quality ingredients such as real butter, pure vanilla extract, and fresh eggs tend to last longer than cakes made with lower-quality ingredients.
Low-quality ingredients can cause the cake to spoil faster and can also affect its flavor and texture such as strawberry and chocolate cake.
Storage
Proper storage is crucial to ensuring the longevity of a cake. The way a cake is stored can impact its moisture level and overall freshness.
Cakes should be stored in an airtight container, ideally made of plastic or glass, to prevent air from entering and causing the cake to dry out.
Cakes should also be kept at room temperature and away from direct sunlight and heat sources, as heat can cause the cake to spoil faster.
Humidity
Humidity is another factor that can affect the life of a cake. Cakes tend to absorb moisture from the surrounding air, causing them to become moist and sticky.
Cakes stored in areas with high humidity levels are more likely to spoil faster than those stored in drier environments.
To prevent this, cakes should be stored in a dry area or in a container with a desiccant pack to absorb excess moisture.
Frosting
Frosting is an important part of any cake, but it can also affect the cake’s life. Cakes with thick or heavy frosting tend to spoil faster than those with lighter frosting.
This is because the frosting creates a barrier that traps moisture inside the cake, causing it to spoil faster.
Lighter frostings, such as whipped cream or cream cheese frosting, allow the cake to breathe and stay fresh longer.
Handling
The way a cake is handled can also affect its lifespan. Rough handling or moving a cake too much can cause it to break or become misshapen, which can make it more susceptible to spoilage.
Cakes should be handled gently and moved as little as possible to ensure they maintain their shape and freshness.
How to Store Cake properly
Whether it’s a birthday cake, wedding cake, Christmas cake or a special occasion cake, we all want to make sure that our cakes stay fresh and moist for as long as possible.
Storing cake properly is the key to keeping it fresh and tasty. In this article, we will discuss how to store cake properly so that it remains moist and fresh for longer.
- Choose the right container
Choosing the right container is crucial when it comes to storing a cake. An airtight container is the best option to keep the cake fresh.
Make sure that the container has a tight-fitting lid and is large enough to accommodate the cake without squishing it.
- Keep it cool
Cakes should be stored in a cool, dry place. If you live in a warm climate, store the cake in the refrigerator.
However, make sure that the cake is not exposed to any moisture as this can cause the cake to become soggy. If you do store the cake in the refrigerator, make sure it is in an airtight container.
- Wrap it up
Before storing the cake, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. This will help keep the moisture in and prevent the cake from drying out. You can also wrap the cake in aluminum foil for extra protection.
- Freeze it
If you have leftover cake that you know you won’t be able to eat within a few days, consider freezing it. Freeze the cake before adding any frosting or decorations.
Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and store it in an airtight container. When you are ready to eat the cake, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.
- Don’t store for too long
Cakes are best eaten within a few days of being baked. While they can last for up to a week if stored properly, the longer you store a cake, the less fresh and moist it becomes.
If you have leftover cake that you can’t finish within a few days, consider sharing it with friends or family.
- Store unfrosted cake separately
If you have a cake that hasn’t been frosted yet, it’s best to store it separately from frosted cakes. This is because frostings can cause the cake to become soggy and lose its texture.
Store the unfrosted cake in an airtight container or wrap it in plastic wrap before storing it.
- Avoid direct sunlight
Direct sunlight can cause cakes to dry out and lose their freshness. Store your cakes in a dark place, away from any windows or sources of direct sunlight.
- Keep frosting fresh
If you’re storing a cake with frosting, make sure to keep the frosting fresh as well. Cover the frosting with plastic wrap or a lid to prevent it from drying out or forming a hard crust.
- Use cake carriers
If you plan on transporting a cake, consider using a cake carrier. Cake carriers are specially designed containers that are perfect for storing and transporting cakes.
They come in various sizes and shapes and can help keep the cake fresh and secure during transit.
- Reheat leftover cake
If you have leftover cake that has become slightly dry, consider reheating it in the microwave for a few seconds. This can help restore some of the moisture and freshness to the cake.