When you find yourself with leftover cake (lucky you!), it is basically happiness served up all over again. And, if you are saving it for later, it should still taste amazing the next day - not simply okay, but really good!
You can keep the cake that does not have cream or custard in an airtight container at room temperature. For mousse, cream or fruit cakes, refrigeration in an airtight box helps them preserve their taste and texture.
So join us, the real secrets to fresher slices are just ahead!
Why Is It Important To Store Cakes Properly?
Cakes are generally made from simple, fresh ingredients such as butter, cream and eggs. These same components that make the cake moist and flavourful can also cause it to spoil faster if it is not stored correctly.
Furthermore, the wrong storage conditions can ruin the texture of your favourite cake. The tasty treat that has been sitting out too long starts to lose its moisture and develops a crumbly texture.
High humidity tends to mess with its structure as well, making it hard to keep soft frostings or gentle fillings intact. What was once a fluffy sponge or a rich, decadent dessert becomes dense and dry in no time.
So, taking a little care of how you store your cake goes a long way in retaining its deliciousness and visual appeal. After all, you do not want your beautiful cake to look and taste stale.
Whether you have a cake left over from a celebration or want to save a slice for later, following the correct storage techniques makes all the difference.
How Long Do Cakes Typically Stay Good?
Before we break down storage methods, let us take a moment to understand how many days you can realistically expect your cake to maintain its flavour.
A cake’s shelf life comes down to a mix of things - like what it is prepared with, how it is decorated and what its storage conditions are.
As long as you store it well, a basic sponge cake without any frosting, cream or fondant will stay fresh on the counter for a good 2 to 3 days. Cakes with fondant or buttercream, generally hold up well for around three to four days.
The Best Way To Store Cake
● At Room Temperature
If you are planning to enjoy the cake within a day or two, keeping it at room temperature is usually the easiest and most effective option. Let me walk you through how it can be done.
To keep a cake tasting like it just came out of the oven, make sure no air gets to it. An airtight container works wonders for locking in the moisture of the cake and stopping it from going bad.
It also works great to shield the cake from odours or anything that could mess up its delectable flavour. When a proper cake container is not available, simply protect the cake with a clean, large bowl or seal it with some plastic wrap.
Try not to let the wrap come in direct contact with the cake, particularly if it is frosted. Give your cake the strongest chance at preserving its toothsome taste with no direct sun, no heat and of course, no humidity.
Too much moisture and heat can easily make cakes deteriorate or be soggy and lose their ideal texture. A cupboard or pantry is usually perfect, provided the temperature stays moderate there.
● In A Refrigerator
While the fridge might help your cake survive a few more days, it is not ideal when you have buttercream toppings. Once refrigerated, these frosting can harden and alter their soft texture when you bite in.
Cakes with dairy-based frostings like whipped cream or cream cheese should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent them from spoiling.
Give your frosted cake a quick trip to the refrigerator - around 15 to 20 minutes - so the frosting can slightly harden before covering. It is always a good idea to wrap your cake in foil or plastic wrap and then place it in the fridge.
The chill temperature can dry the cake out fast, but this trick keeps it moist and tasting great. The cake may be in a box, however a little extra wrapping never hurts for added safety.
Avoid stacking items on top of your cake because this could lead to the frosting getting squished. Cake domes are not just pretty - they are actually awesome for storing cake in the refrigerator.
The transparent, dome-shaped lid saves you from the hassle of wrapping up your cake. By sealing in the moisture and blocking out any fridge odours, the dome keeps your cake tasting lip-smacking as it should be.
Cakes need a little warm-up after staying in the fridge. So, let them sit out for 30 to 60 minutes before serving. That way, the cake will be able to bounce back to its drool-worthy texture and flavour.
● By Freezing
In case you have leftover cake and do not plan to eat it for several days, freezing it is the most effective option to lock in its quality.
You have two solid choices to freeze a cake: wrap the cake in plastic wrap followed by aluminium foil or place it inside a tightly sealed container.
The key is to not allow the air near get your cake if you want to avoid that dreaded freezer burn. For a cake with frosting, leave it in the freezer uncovered for half an hour to an hour prior to wrapping it.
It gives the frosting time to settle, so it does not get smushed under the wrap. Lightly touch the frosting. It should not feel sticky or leave any residue on your fingers.
Not keen on freezing the whole cake? Just slice it up and freeze the individual portions instead. Use plastic wrap to cover each slice securely, then transfer them into a freezer bag or container that seals well.
This makes it easy to enjoy a slice now and save the rest for later - no full defrosting required. The night before you want to eat your frozen cake, change it from the freezer to the fridge.
The cake holds onto its texture better when it thaws slowly. Do not rush it after thawing. You should allow the cake to settle at room temp before digging in. Extended thawing at room temp can make your cake’s frosting go from flawless to damp and droopy.
So, there you go! Those were some simple yet effective cake storage tips you will want to remember. We really hope you found this blog post useful. Until next time, here’s to happy eating and sweet cravings - from the KR Bakes team!
