Although you do not always need to refrigerate your cake, it is optimal to do so in certain cases, especially if you want to enjoy it after three days. Storing it properly will help it retain its flavor and texture until the last slice, and you don’t have a hard, dry piece. Freezing the cake is the best way to preserve it in the long term.
When to refrigerate a cake?
Cakes generally stay fresh for two to three days at room temperature. For this they must have non-perishable toppings and fillings, such as American buttercream frosting, dried fruit, nuts or fondant.
But if room or room temperature The kitchen is very warm, the cake includes a fresh fruit filling or dressing, or a whipped cream frosting, ideally refrigerated. The cakes tres leches, cheese, layered mousse and those containing fresh cream and berries must be refrigerated.
Keep a cake without refrigeration
When the cake does not require refrigeration and you will eat it in the first three days, you must keep it covered so that the outer layer does not dry out. Oil-based cakes tend to last a day or two longer than butter cakes.
You can place it in an airtight container, a special dome-shaped cake container, a cardboard box or an extra large mixing bowl and place it inverted.
Cake in refrigeration
When refrigerating a cake, the ideal is wrap it in plastic to prevent it from absorbing strange odors from the refrigerator and to prevent it from drying out.
In the case of an iced cake, it is recommended that it be left to cool unwrapped for 15 minutes to harden the glaze and then cover it with plastic.
When you want to store layers of cake and then work with them it is always important that the loaves are cold so that there is no moisture and avoid a faster deterioration, “when the steam is trapped inside the hot cakes, it creates a layer sticky that promotes bacteria ”, shares Insider .
Save Layered Cake
Fully wrap the cake in plastic, it must be covered top, sides and bottom. You can use a zip-lock plastic bag or another that you can close tightly. If you want to keep the cake for more than a week, it is better to freeze it.
Save cake ice cream
If the cake topping and filling is not perishable, you can have it at room temperature at least four days. The frosting works as a protective barrier to the cake, so there is no need to wrap it in plastic. To protect from dust, cover with a cake pan or bowl.
When cake filling or topping is perishable, cake should be covered and refrigerated to keep fresh and that it is safe for consumption.
Save a cut cake
A cut cake can break down faster as there is more surface exposed to the open air and moisture begins to escape.
If you cannot add more frosting, wrap individual slices is a better way to preserve it. Wrap the slices in cling film and store at temperature room or in the refrigerator if it has a perishable frosting.
Freeze a cake
Plastic and aluminum will protect your cake from Freezer burn. You can wrap the entire cake with a double layer of plastic wrap and then in a layer of aluminum foil. This will help the cake retain its freshness and also prevent it from picking up other flavors from the freezer.
If the cake is sliced, wrap each slice or layer with a cling film and then foil. If you have a lot of slices, freeze the wrapped slices on a baking sheet and then transfer to a freezer-safe container.
Most cakes are best kept in the freezer for three months, others such as nuts, up to one year.
To defrost, remove the cake from the freezer and transfer to the refrigerator the night before. The cake requires slow thawing so that it can reabsorb moisture evenly.