How Long Does Cake Last? Shelf Life, Storage, Expiration (2024)

FAQs

How long does cake last on shelf? ›

Room Temperature Storage: Most birthday cakes can last a few days at room temperature, roughly around 3 days before the moisture evaporates. Keep your cake in a cake tin or an airtight container for best results.

Let's start with the cake that has an unusually long shelf life: fruitcake! This is an excellent way to illustrate what makes a baked good last longer. Many swear that the longer you wait to eat fruitcake, the better it tastes.

Frosted cakes will typically last for up to five days when stored properly in the refrigerator.

Some common traits are a hard and dry texture as the moisture evaporates. Sometimes mold can appear, so always be on the lookout for that. Fruit fillings may also become moldy or slimy which indicate that the cake has gone bad.

In fact, cake can be stored for as long as three months in the freezer. Unfrosted: Double wrap each layer in plastic wrap, then put it into a freezer-safe bag or wrap with aluminum foil. Frosted: Place the cake in the freezer for an hour to set the icing, and then wrap it in two layers of plastic wrap.

A store bought cake will last up to 7 to 10 days whereas a homemade cake typically lasts about 5. However, there are lots of factors that can change that number based on ingredients. What is this? If the cake has fresh fruit, cream cheese topping or fruit filing, these can all contribute to the shelf life.

A traditional fruit cake can be preserved for longer than a year however a sponge cake (especially one with fruit and cream) will not hold up as well. "With a sponge cake, we wouldn't recommend freezing for longer than one month.

A cake without preservation can only last for two to three day.

To keep cakes fresh, it's best to store them in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. If you don't have an airtight container or cake tin, use can also use an overturned bowl (although it won't keep the cake as fresh). To keep cakes fresh for more than 1 week, try freezing them.

Kimberly Bailey, owner of The Butter End Cakery, says, "There isn't a safety issue with eating year-old cake, but don't expect to enjoy it if it's been freezer burned!" The truth is, as long as you properly store the cake, it should last even longer than a year.

What makes cake spoil easily? ›

Chemical leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda are what give your cakes their rise and, like every ingredient in your pantry, they eventually go stale. These products have an effective life of about six months. They'll still work after that, but not as well.

"If you do eat a food past the expiration date [and the food] is spoiled, you could develop symptoms of food poisoning," said registered dietitian nutritionist Summer Yule, MS. The symptoms of foodborne illness can include fever, chills, stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Unlike storing it in the refrigerator, freezing a cake is actually a wonderful way to keep it fresh, particularly for longer periods. This will work for both unfrosted and fully frosted cakes. If your cake is in a bakery box, simply wrap the box in two layers of plastic wrap and store it in the freezer just like that.

Freeze for up to 3 months. For best taste and texture, don't freeze cakes for longer than 3 months. You could stretch it to 4 or 5 months, but the sooner you serve it, the fresher it tastes. When ready to thaw: Transfer the wrapped cakes from the freezer to the refrigerator one day before decorating/serving.

Freezing your wedding cake is the best way to preserve the top tier of your wedding day sweet for your first anniversary. This age-old tradition keeps the wedding cake tucked away for when a couple is celebrating their first year of marriage.

Cover and freeze

Once the frosting is firm, remove the cake from the freezer and cover with plastic wrap—one of the easiest ways to store cake. The plastic should hug the cake to prevent air and moisture from getting in, but it shouldn't be overly tight. Place the wrapped cake in an airtight vessel and freeze.

A better way to store cake is to cover it in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. This seals in moisture and prevents air from drying out the cake. Store cupcakes in an airtight container. Avoid storing cakes in the refrigerator, even if you have sealed them tightly, for longer than a few days.

Your perfectly moist cake, no matter how well wrapped, will start to dry out after a day in the fridge.

Conclusion: How Long Does Cake Last In The Fridge

Cake can last up to 4 days in the fridge if stored properly. Cakes without frosting will usually keep for 1-2 days at room temperature, and up to 3-5 days in the fridge. Frosted cakes, due to their higher fat content, will only keep for a month or two in the freezer.

A chocolate cake will last for at least two to three days in the fridge if stored properly. Due to preservatives, a store-bought cake lasts a few days longer than a homemade cake. You can maintain its rich chocolate flavor by wrapping it in an airtight container before putting it in the fridge.

Should you refrigerate cake? ›

Should You Refrigerate Cake? You should avoid refrigeration in most cases. Unless your cake features perishable materials that could spoil—like cream frosting, fresh fruit, ice cream, mascarpone, or whipped cream—it's actually better off at room temperature.

Fortunately, the expert sources that shared their cake-preservation advice with Inverse agree that freezing cake for a year is relatively harmless, so long as the cake is preserved properly in the first pace.

For some newlyweds, celebrating their first anniversary means eating a helping of their preserved wedding cake together. The cake-freezing ritual stems from a 19th-century convention in which partners saved the top tier for their first child's christening (with some believing it to be an omen of good luck).

You can freeze frosted cakes as long as the frosting is freezer-stable. Delicate meringue-based frostings will not freeze well, but buttercream and cream cheese frostings will freeze nicely.

They do, but not in the sense that you're going to see them growing mold. Different dry goods expire at different rates depending on many factors, including how they are stored (see above). Things like baking powder will lose their effectiveness over time.

Information. Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.

It is important to know how to store a cake properly whether it is decorated or not. A decorated cake will require care in how it is stored so that the frosting design is not disturbed; whereas, an undecorated cake must be stored properly to maintain freshness.

Should I store my cake in the fridge? If a cake has perishable filling or frosting, it will need to be stored, covered well, in the refrigerator. If it does not have perishable filling or frosting, then it's generally fine to keep, covered at room temperature, for several days.

An uncut frosted cake that's been frosted with buttercream, fondant, or ganache can last at room temperature for up to five days.

Can you eat 3 year old fruit cake? ›

“In practical terms, this makes most fruitcakes extremely shelf stable, so they would be safe to eat for a long time – a really long time,” Chapman says. “But it might taste pretty bad.” That's because a lot of things can significantly affect the quality of the fruitcake.

The top tier of a cake, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap will be completely protected from air and freezer burn. "Eat it at the year mark, but not beyond then," says Ben-Israel.

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

Expiration dates on food items are guidelines for freshness. They tell retailers the last date they should sell the item so it will be of good quality and freshness. Foods don't instantly become inedible or harmful to eat after the date on the package. If it's not moldy, smells okay and tastes okay, it's fine.

Most cakes—the butter-based cakes, oil-based cakes, chiffon cakes, and sponge cakes of the world—keep well at room temperature for at least one to two days.

Professional decorators freeze their cakes because they say it helps the cakes hold their shape and not turn into a giant pile of crumbs when you add the weight of frosting and decorations. It will help the cake slice into beautiful pieces when it's ready to serve.

It will usually last for several days, covered well, at room temperature. If you really want to prolong the freshness, then cake with no filling or frosting (plain cake layers or a bundt cake) will last about 7 days, covered well, in the refrigerator.

Freezer Storage:

To freeze a cake, freezer wrap the cake in plastic and place in a freezer bag or airtight container. Make sure to there is no air in the bag. Then place the cake in the freezer and it will stay good up to 3 months.

Can I eat 2 week old cake? ›

In general, a cake will last anywhere from 2-7 days in the refrigerator, if kept well covered, depending on the type of frosting and filling.

A store bought cake will last up to 7 to 10 days whereas a homemade cake typically lasts about 5. However, there are lots of factors that can change that number based on ingredients. If the cake has fresh fruit, cream cheese topping or fruit filing, these can all contribute to the shelf life.

Store under cake cover or large bowl.

The frosting can be totally absorbed by the cake when stored in an airtight container. If you don't have a cake cover, cakes with creamy frostings also can be covered lightly with foil, plastic wrap, or wax paper.

Cool Your Cake in the Fridge

Allow the cake to sit in the fridge until it is nice and cold, about two to three hours or longer is ideal, depending on the size of your cake. If you have time, let the cake stay in the fridge overnight.

Overall, cakes have a fairly short shelf life when stored in the refrigerator – but with proper care and attention you can enjoy this sweet treat for up to 7 days. Just be sure to check for any signs of spoilage before consuming and always follow the expiration date when storing.

If your cake is past its expiration date or shows signs of spoilage, it may increase your risk of food poisoning. However, the likelihood and severity of food poisoning will depend on a number of factors, including how old the cake is and how much you eat.

Un-iced whole cakes: If you've made a cake and plan to decorate it later, place it inside an airtight container and cover with a lid. This will not only help lock in freshness and moisture but also prevent dust and other air particles from getting to it. Store in a cool, dry place for 4-5 days.

You can freeze frosted cakes as long as the frosting is freezer-stable. Delicate meringue-based frostings will not freeze well, but buttercream and cream cheese frostings will freeze nicely.

Is it better to put a cake in the fridge or leave it out? Doing what you always thought was the right thing—refrigerating your cakes and other baked goods to preserve them longer–may actually be shortening their shelf life. Instead, store these items at room temperature for maximum freshness!

Yes, freezing homemade cakes is a great way to preserve their freshness and moisture for up to 3 months. Can you freeze a cake with icing? Many cakes with icing freeze well. In fact, the icing provides a barrier to stop the cake drying out.

How long can a cake last without preservative? ›

A cake without preservation can only last for two to three day.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Cake with cream cheese frosting does need to be refrigerated—and generally within 2 hours after you've made it.