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A beautiful cake is the heart of the celebration. It brings joy and delight to everyone with its delicious and sweet taste. It is also a comfort food for sweet tooths. It can also be a midnight snack for sneaky children. Though cake brightens the celebrations, there is always one problem that worries the host. That problem is the leftover beautiful cake that we cannot always finish. There are always a few slices left. You want to finish them. Your stomach does not have any space left and disagrees, right?
Another is keeping a homemade cake fresh until the day of serving. Put them in the fridge? Absolutely! But how long does cake last in the fridge? Most people wonder about it. It depends on a variety of factors. Like their storage and ingredients.
How to store cake in the fridge? Never take trouble over storing them! Or how long does cake last in the fridge? We will explore all these questions. We will also learns some storage tips and tricks that help extend cake shelf life.
Factors Concerning How Long Cake Lasts in the Fridge
There are many factors at play here. We will need to understand them carefully. Let us see what factors affect how long cake last in the fridge.
Cake Type or Cake Base
Dry cakes like chiffon cake or angel food cake are much better at holding up than the mousse cake or fruit cake. They naturally last longer. They have less moisture to attract bacteria.
Frosting and Filling Type
Cakes with buttercream or fondant seal in the moisture and give a protective layer. While whipped cream or cream cheese has a higher chance of spoiling. They are perishable because they have high water content. Filling cakes like fresh fruit or custard spoil faster. They develop moisture issues or bacterial growth.
Moisture Content & Temperature
The moisture migration arises due to the difference in moisture content between the cake and the filling. It causes the water to flow from the higher concentration to the lower concentration. It often leads to loss of desired texture. The cake becomes soggy and less fluffy. Cold temperature and high sugar filling often cause the moisture in the sponge to move to the filling. This results into dry sponge. Keep the temperature ideal around 37°F or 3°C without any fluctuations, as it causes the spoiling of the cake faster.
Natural & Preservatives
Cakes with natural and dairy ingredients have short lifespan than those with preservatives. Though cakes that contain alcohol, such as rum cakes or plum cakes, can last longer as alcohol acts as a preservative.
Storage Method
Cakes without any covering dry out faster than covered ones. They become stale and hard. You should cover them properly to prevent drying. This keeps foul smells from other things present there. Just store them in an airtight container or tightly wrap them in plastic cling film.
How to Store Cake in the Fridge Properly
The proper storing all depends on the cake itself. There are many different types of cakes for different occasions. They can be either plain and simple or complex and luxurious. They can have whipped cream or pastry cream. They can also have fruit fillings or lemon curd. This decreases the shelf life of the cake. The storage method is important to keep the cake fresh. It also keeps the cake free from strange odours. Use the following storage tips to keep the cake moist.
Wrapping Methods
Remember, air and cake do not match. Wrap your cake nice and tight. This will seal in moisture. Put the cake in an airtight container. Or wrap cake slices separately in plastic wrap or foil. Place them in an airtight container. You can also use parchment paper for individual slices before plastic wrap. This prevents the plastic from directly touching the frosting.
Separate Layers
You can wrap the sponge layers separately in double protection of foil and plastic wrap after cooling the homemade cake. Make sure that you wrap them tightly. You can also stack together a few layers and separate them with parchment paper barriers between them. Then place them in the fridge and serve them after assembling them with decoration at your special event.
Storing Frosted & Unfrosted Cake
You can store unfrosted cake in the fridge upto seven days. Wrap a completely cooled and unfrosted cake in a nice and tight manner in two layers of plastic wrap. For more protection, place them inside an airtight container or cake dome. Freezing is the best storage method for separate layers that keeps them fresh for 1-3 months.
Chill a frosted cake uncovered for 30 minutes until you get firm frosting. Cover with plastic wrap or cake dome. It will maintain moisture and prevent odors from absorbing. You can store frosted cakes upto 5 days. You can keep them at room temperature for two hours before serving.
How Long Does Cake Last In the Fridge?
How long does cake last in the fridge exactly for real? We will give you a clear answer. In general, most cakes last in the fridge for 2 to 5 days when you properly store them in an airtight container or wrap them securely in cling film. It prevents the drying of the cake and the flavor absorption from other things present there. Since it all depends on various factors, the answer to this is that it varies. The cake can stay fresh for several days with the right care and proper storage. There would not be any change in taste and texture.
The shelf life for different types of cake is as follows:
| Types of Cake | Cake Shelf Life |
| Sponge Cake | 3–4 days |
| Butter/Oil-Based Cake | 4-5 days |
| Cheesecake | 5–7 days |
| Candied Fruit Cake | 7–10 days |
| Frosted Cake Cream Cheese Whipped Cream Custard Buttercream/Fondant | Depends on Frosting 3-5 days 1-3 days 1-2 days 4-5 days |
| Unfrosted | 6-7 days |
| Vegan Cake | 3-5 days |
| Eggless Cake | 3-4 days |
| Fresh Fruit Cake | 2-3 days |
| No Dairy Cake | 3-5 days |
| No Gluten Cake | 3-5 days |
Signs Your Cake Has Gone Bad
Noticed a foul or sour smell? Or the icing or the crumb begins to change colour? Harden your heart and throw the cake away. Sometimes, they absorb the smell of other things present in the fridge when you have not properly stored them. They give off a weird odour and taste. They might also discolor or turn moldy. Their taste also deteriorates.
Cakes that have fresh fruit have more chances to go bad. These fruits either go mushy or overripe and start to mold. So, it is better to add them fresh on homemade cake when you serve. As for the fruit leftover cake, just eat all the fruit on it before you refrigerate it. Cakes also go bad from spoiled ingredients or if they dry out and harden. They can also go soggy. But, with good storage tips and tricks, you can keep your cake good and fresh with a soft and moist texture.
Can You Freeze Cake Instead?
Absolutely! As told before in this guide, freezing is generally the best method for long-term storage upto 3 months. It locks in the moisture of the cake. Refrigeration is only better for short-term storage of a few days. We will clear “how long does cake last in the freezer” as well.
You can freeze an unfrosted and homemade cake easily. But the condition is cake should be completely cool. Otherwise, it will trap the moisture inside the cake. The result will be a soggy cake. You will have to wrap it in plastic wrap. Then, wrap it again in foil for extra protection. You can also use freezer storage bags. Write the type of cake and date on it for convenience. Because you might forget that you have a cake in there. You can keep cake without frosting in the fridge for two months.
Leave the frozen cake on the kitchen counter to defrost for an hour. Do this part correctly. Or you will get a soggy cake. The best defrost method is to keep it wrapped in plastic wrap. The condensation of water moisture will occur on the outside of the wrap. You can also move the still wrapped cake to the fridge for 8-24 hours. This allows slow and gradual temperature change. It will prevent condensation entirely.
As for frosted cake, you can freeze it as long as they have freeze stable frosting. Buttercream and cream cheese will freeze well. But meringue is delicate and requires more effort. Avoid touching it until it becomes firm. Freeze an uncovered cake with frosting for an hour. Freeze for another hour if it is still soft after one hour. Keep it there until the frosting does not come off the cake when touched.
Wrap the cake in two layers of plastic wrap once the frosting is firm and frozen. Then wrap foil around as well for more protection. Uncover it and let it warm up on the counter for several hours to defrost. Wrap each slice of cake alone with cling film and foil to freeze it for two months. Label with cake type and date the slice.
How to Use Leftover Cake Creatively Instead of Freezing?
Don’t want to store leftover cake? We got you there! The solution is be creative with them. Simple, right? Crumble your cake, like your life is dependent on it. Mix in frosting. Make little balls after mixing the frosting. Dip them in chocolate and enjoy cake pops. Or make truffles. Experiment with caramel cake pudding. Didn’t like it? There is more! Enjoy parfait with fruits or make milkshakes. You can also go the trifle way. Absolutely delicious treat! My favourite is crunchy cake croutons on ice cream by dehydrating the crumbs. Choose your favourite!
Conclusion
Take no worries in storing your leftover cake correctly to keep it fresh. This guide on “how long does cake last in the fridge” will help you greatly. You can ensure it by understanding these guidelines according to the specific needs of different cake types. Just follow the storage tips and cake lifespan from this guide. Wrap tightly and use airtight containers. Freeze when necessary. You will not have to break your heart and throw away leftover cake again. Check the spoilage sign before eating. Maintain their quality and flavor without any strange smell or mixed taste. Savor each bite of your cake by storing it correctly. Happy storing!