Cake may not often last long at home, but whenever there are leftovers, it’s important to know how to store them properly so they stay fresh.
Most cakes, especially those adorned with buttercream frosting or ganache, don’t require refrigeration.
Storing them in the fridge can actually hasten staleness due to the starch molecules crystallising in the colder temperature.
Whether frosted or unfrosted, cake can be stored at room temperature for approximately four to five days.
It’s important to allow the cake or cake layers to cool completely after baking before frosting or storing.
The frosting acts as a natural protective barrier, so simply covering a frosted cake with a cake dome or an overturned bowl suffices.
Once you’ve sliced into the cake, the exposed portion begins to stale.
To preserve it, you can apply extra frosting or press a piece of plastic wrap against the exposed area, ensuring it adheres, before covering the cake. Once cut into, the cake will remain fresh for about three to four days at room temperature.
When refrigerating a frosted cake, allow it to chill uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes to slightly firm up the frosting.
Then, loosely cover it with plastic wrap to prevent absorbing any fridge odours. You can use toothpicks to keep the plastic wrap from touching the frosting.
After cutting into it, ensure to tightly cover the exposed portion with a separate piece of plastic wrap to maintain moisture.
Frosted cake will remain fresh for approximately four to five days in the fridge. For cheesecake, which lasts about three to four days in the fridge, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
Frosted cakes can be stored in the freezer for up to three months, but before freezing, make sure you allow the frosting to firm up in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes.
Then, wrap them in two layers of plastic wrap followed by an additional layer of aluminium foil to prevent freezer burn.
You can enjoy frozen cake straight from the freezer, or thaw it by leaving it overnight in the fridge or on the counter for approximately eight hours.
