Last Updated on June 3, 2022 by
So you purchased or prepared a huge cake. You don’t believe you’ll be able to eat it as fast as you anticipated, so you put it in the refrigerator. How Long Does Cake Last In The Fridge?
A cake’s shelf life is determined by how it is prepared and kept. A cake may typically survive up to four days before becoming rotten or stale. It may be kept in the fridge for 5 or 7 days. A cake that has been frozen lasts longer, although it is best eaten after 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
How Long Before Cake Goes Bad?
If you’ve ever had freshly made cake, you know that consuming it within 24 hours after baking is preferable. With time, the moisture content decreases, and the texture gets drier. The sole exception is fruitcake, which may be frozen for up to a year and kept in the refrigerator for several months. This is because of the large quantity of alcohol and dried fruit.
Wet components or icings in cakes, such as cream, custard fillings, fresh fruit, or fruit compotes, should be consumed quickly. Because the frosting on this cake style causes it to deteriorate more rapidly, it must be refrigerated or frozen to keep it fresh for longer.
Cakes with buttercream icing or ganache topping may be kept in the fridge for a week. Freshly prepared chocolate cake may be kept in the refrigerator for one week without turning rancid. Preservative-laced store-bought cakes survive a little longer than handmade cakes. These cakes usually endure 5 to 7 days before being stale rather than deteriorating or decaying.
How Can You Tell If Your Cake Is Bad?
When it comes to detecting indicators of food rotting, your senses are the most reliable tools. When it comes to cake, you can know whether it’s still safe to eat by looking at it, feeling it, or smelling it. Here’s how to tell whether a cake is rotten or spoiled.
Appearance
A visual inspection is the best approach to determine if a cake is still edible. If you see mold on the cake, it’s a sure indicator that it’s gone bad. While you may want to scrape off the moldy areas, the USDA warns that moldy food might harbor deadly germs. Toxins may spread to other parts of the meal in certain situations.
Any significant change in the creaminess of the icing, if the cake has one, might suggest spoiling. Cut into the cake and scrutinize it closely if you can’t tell from the exterior. Check the cake’s texture as well. If it’s hard and dry, it’s likely to have lost moisture and should be discarded. When your cake feels gooey or slimy to the touch, that’s another indicator of deterioration.
Smell
Take a quick sniff of your cake if it looks okay, but you’re unsure whether it’s good. If it has a nasty or sour odor, it’s best not to consume it. It’s also unlikely to taste well.
Toss It Out
Even if nothing seems wrong, you should be extra cautious while eating leftover cake. If you’re unsure if a slice of cake is safe to eat, it’s better to be careful and assume it’s awful.
What Happens if You Eat Old Cake?
Nobody loves to throw away delicious food, including an outdated or expired cake. So, what happens if you eat an old or expired cake? Expiration dates, sell-by dates, and use-by dates are common on store-bought cakes. The sell-by date is a shop policy that prevents stale items from being sold. The expiration date, often known as the use-by date, denotes that the cake must be consumed by that date.
There is no risk in eating your cake if you store it properly and keep it over its expiration date for a day or two. If you investigate the cake and it has gone bad, eating it might expose you to hazardous microorganisms, putting you at risk of food poisoning. Again, relying on your senses is always the best option. Examine the look, odor, and texture for evident symptoms of decomposition. If you see something that isn’t quite right, toss it out.
Best Time to Refrigerate a Cake
Whether frosted or unfrosted, sliced or uncut, Cakes are healthful and delicious to eat for many days at room temperature. When a cake should be refrigerated is a question that comes to mind. Well, it depends entirely on the environment in which you live. If your kitchen is hot in the summer, cover the cake and store it covered in a box in the refrigerator.
Store your delicious and sweet baked cake safe in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve if it’s covered with whipped cream. Wrap them in a box before refrigerating them to secure them from odors and water droplets.
Finally, new cakes should be cooled in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and uncovered to firm the ice and cream. After that, please place it in a cake keeper bag after wrapping it in plastic. Refrigerate or keep it at room temperature!
Different Types of Cakes And Their Shelf Life?
Certain desserts, such as carrot cake, banana bread, and apple pie, stay longer when properly preserved. The high moisture level of these cakes makes them more prone to spoiling. As a result, particular care must be taken while storing them. On the other hand, some varieties of cakes endure longer due to their components. Here are some of the cakes that have a long shelf life:
Fruit Cake
Fruit cake may be stored in the refrigerator for months. After opening, it just has to be refrigerated for two weeks. Fruit cake lasts nicely in the freezer.
Unfrosted Cakes
A cake that isn’t iced or frosted will keep for a long time. In the refrigerator, unfrosted cakes can last up to six months.
Lemon Cake
Lemon Cake is created with lemons, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a glaze or icing. It’s also sometimes topped with lemon curd or lemon mousse. Refrigerate it tightly wrapped in foil or plastic wrap.
Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is distinguished by its deep red hue, which is achieved by applying red dye or food coloring to the dough or icing. This cake should be kept refrigerated and consumed within two days after preparation.
Spice Cake
Spice cake is created with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, among other spices. It’s a cake made out of fruit, eggs, flour, and spices that are cooked together until it has a thick structure. It’s available frosted or unfrosted. Cover the cake and set it in the refrigerator to keep it.
Spongy Cake
Due to their high water content, sponge cakes can be kept in the refrigerator for several months. After opening, sponge cakes should be kept in the fridge for no more than four days.
Whipped Cream Cakes
The best way to enjoy whipped cream cake is to eat it as soon as possible. If you’re going to keep a cake topped with cream for more than a few days, scrape off the cream first. This will help the cake last longer.
How Long Can You Keep Cake In The Freezer?
You may freeze your cakes for up to three months to increase their shelf life. Wrapping your cakes separately in aluminum foil or parchment paper is the easiest method to keep them in the freezer. The steps for freezing cake layers are as follows:
- Remove the layers of your cake from their original packing.
- Place each layer on a wax paper sheet.
- Wrap the cake layers in aluminum foil, one at a time.
- Place all of the individually wrapped cake layers in a big airtight container.
- Write the date and name of the cake on the bags.
- Freeze the cake layers for up to three months in the freezer.
How To Thaw A Cake
It takes less time to defrost frozen cakes than to thaw fresh cakes. If you need to thaw a cake rapidly, use the following method:
- Take the cake out of the package.
- Remove the aluminum foil or parchment paper from the cake’s perimeter.
- Put the cake on a platter or a baking pan to cool.
- Place another plate or baking sheet on top of the cake. Ensure there’s enough space between the two plates to prevent the cake from sticking to one.
- Allow the cake to rest for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove the cake from the pan and place it on a clean surface.
- Carefully remove the first plate or baking sheet from the oven. You should now be able to lift the cake.
- Continue with step 6 until all plates or baking sheets have been removed.
- Immediately serve the cake.
Conclusion on How Long Does Cake Last In The Fridge?
Most cakes are okay if left on the counter and do not need to be refrigerated. If you decide to store your cake in the refrigerator, keep in mind that it will last anywhere from two to seven days. Preserve the cake in the freezer at 0°F (-18°C) if you wish to keep it for a long time. It may be frozen for up to a year. However, it should be used within 3 to 4 months for quality reasons.
