So you have just spent hours making a beautiful cake and are wondering how to store it so that it remains pretty, delicious, and safe to eat for longer?
The likelihood is that you will need to take action right away to keep your homemade or store-bought cake, unless you have produced a fruit cake that has a lot of dried fruit and alcohol and can last for a year or more.
The majority of cakes require refrigeration for storage. However, the components used to make them determine how long they will last.
A cake from the grocery store should typically keep in the fridge for up to two weeks. In the refrigerator, homemade cakes often only last up to five days, particularly if they contain sour cream, cream cheese, or raw eggs.
The lifespan of your cake might really be increased or decreased depending on the components you choose.
Learn more about how long cake can be stored in the refrigerator, how to keep it fresh, and how to identify when cake has gone bad by reading on.
Can I still keep it in the fridge if my cake has frosting?
In most cases, you can store a frosted cake in the refrigerator, but only if it is covered tightly and securely. With some types of icing, such as cream cheese frosting, it is even recommended to store the cake properly covered in the refrigerator. This will prolong its shelf life considerably.
What is the best way to keep the cake as fresh as possible?
The best way to ensure that the cake remains as fresh and as delicious as possible for longer is to wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap, then in a plastic bag, and then in an airtight box or another container. Then place it in the fridge. If you need to store it for longer, you can pack it as described above and place the cake in the freezer.
Is it safe to freeze a cake?
Yes, most cakes freeze well, but only if you have packaged them properly. If you plan to freeze the cake, you should wrap the cake itself in plastic wrap tightly and then place it in an airtight container or a sealable freezer bag. When sealing it, make sure to remove as much of the air as possible. Label the cake and add the date. Then place it in the freezer.
If stored this way, the cake will remain good and safe to eat for up to three months. Some cakes remain viable for up to a year after being stored in a freezer.
When you plan on eating the cake, make sure to take it out of the freezer 2 days or at least 24 hours beforehand. Keep it wrapped in plastic wrap or foil and let it thaw in the refrigerator.
How do you thaw a cake?
As explained above, take the cake out of the freezer at least 24 hours before you plan on decorating or eating it. Let it thaw in the refrigerator in its wrapping. If you leave it on the counter to thaw at room temperature, you should make sure to eat it within the next couple of days, or it may become stale and start spoiling.
If you only have frozen cake layers, you should let them thaw wrapped in the refrigerator for about 12-16 hours.
Take the layer out of the fridge, and make sure that it has reached room temperature if you are planning on frosting and decorating it.
Is it better to refrigerate or freeze the cake before frosting and decorating it?
Yes, if possible, store the cake in the fridge before you proceed to add icing, sprinkles, and other decorations. This will ensure that your cake has been set properly and is ready to be frosted and decorated.
Help! My cake has turned white after storing it in the refrigerator!
If you notice that the cake you have kept in the fridge has become light brown in certain places, this is most probably due to the curdling or blooming of the batter. This occurs when excess air is trapped in it prior to baking.
You can resolve this problem by leaving out the affected sections when prepping and serving the cake.
Can I get sick from eating old cake?
Yes. You can get mildly or seriously ill if you eat old cake, especially if it contains ingredients such as custard, cream, or fresh fruit and other elements made with dairy or eggs.
Cakes with mold, just like any other food with mold, should not be consumed because they can cause severe foodborne illness and other health problems.
Throw away the old cake if it looks smells or tastes suspicious!
Related: Food Storing Guide: Storage Times For The Refrigerator And Freezer
The best storage methods for the different types of cakes
Here are the best ways to store some of the most popular types of cake:
Angel food cake.
This sponge-type cake is baked once and flavored with vanilla. To keep it nice and soft, store it well covered at room temperature.
Carrot cake.
Store carrot cake topped with cream cheese frosting wrapped in plastic wrap or foil and placed in an airtight container. It can last for up to 7 days. Without the frosting, the carrot cake can be left at room temperature for up to two days.
Chocolate cake.
Once the cake cools down, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and place it in a Ziploc bag or airtight container. It will last for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.
Easy cake.
These cakes prepared from ready-made cake mixes can be stored wrapped and sealed in an airtight container for up to two days at room temperature.
Eggless cake.
If your cake doesn’t contain eggs or is made with egg replacers, you should either eat it as soon as possible or freeze it once it has cooled completely because it cannot keep for longer than a day or so.
Cake frosted with buttercream and fondant.
These cakes will keep for up to 4-5 days at room temperature. Make sure to cover the cake well. If the room temperature is too high, then store your frosted cake in the fridge instead.
Ganache topped the cake.
Due to the fact that ganache contains water, it is not recommended to freeze cakes of this type. The expanded water will cause the cake to lose its shape and start spoiling faster.
Cake with cream cheese and whipped cream icing.
These cakes can spoil very quickly, so either eat them immediately or store them properly wrapped and sealed in the refrigerator. Cakes with such icing do not freeze well.
Lemon cake.
Store lemon cake covered and sealed in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days if it contains custard, cream or cream cheese, and fresh fruits.
Pound cake.
To allow the pound cake to set, you can leave it out at room temperature for 1-2 days. After that, keep it in the fridge tightly wrapped and sealed in a bag or airtight container.
Red Velvet cake.
This gorgeous cake will keep for 2-3 days when left at room temperature and for about 5-6 days when properly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator.
Sliced cake.
If you need to store separate slices of cake, you need to wrap each piece individually before placing them in the refrigerator.
Final Words
As you can see, there is a way to store and enjoy a delicious cake for longer than a day when you take proper precautions and store it properly.
Make sure to check the stored cake for any tell-tale signs of spoilage before serving and eating it, though.
When stored correctly, you can enjoy your cake for another few days and even for a week after you bought it or baked it.