The shelf life of a cake depends on many factors, including the ingredients used and how it is stored. Generally, a store-bought cake will keep in the refrigerator for a week to two weeks, while homemade cakes, such as those with cream cheese or sour cream, keep for about three days. Special ingredients and storage conditions can extend or shorten the life of your cake.
General rules of thumb
If you bake as much as I do, you’ll realize that the work on the kitchen table doesn’t end with getting the biscuits out of the oven. Preserving them is another important procedure to pay attention to as well.
And fortunately for all of us, there are definitely some easy ways to keep your cakes fresh for a longer period of time. To do this, be sure to first let the freshly baked sponge cake cool at room temperature before you start stabilizing and already assembling the cake.
There are a number of rules for storing homemade cake, and these principles are appropriate for almost any type of cake:
Boxing. There are special cardboard boxes that will better preserve your cake and protect the cream from getting stale. You can also use cake boxes with a lid.
Neighborhood. This is second only to the box! Remember to cover all food items and free up a separate shelf in the refrigerator.
Temperature. We store the cake in the refrigerator, at a temperature of +2 – +4 degrees.
Shelf life of a cake
The most perishable cakes – with the cream of whipped natural cream. Their shelf life only 6 hours. Interestingly, the longest “live” products with cream made of vegetable components. This kind is often sold in stores in bags: just whip it – and it becomes fluffy and delicious. They can be stored for up to 5 days with absolutely no risk.
Finished baked cakes also have their own shelf life:
Sand cakes and for “Napoleon” – 5-7 days at room temperature and good packaging.
Honey cakes have a shelf life of 14 days.
Biscuit cakes – only in the refrigerator up to 5 days, and in the freezer up to 3 weeks.
Cake with custard keep no longer than 48 hours.
Desserts with protein cream are safely stored in the refrigerator for 72 hours.
Cakes with yogurt filling can be kept for only 36 hours.
With sour cream layers, up to 24 hours.
Cheese cream cakes up to 72 hours maximum and with fresh ingredients.
In the refrigerator
Since one of the main ingredients is often perishable cream, the shelf life of the cake is consequently short. Therefore, cream cakes should be stored in the refrigerator and only at an air temperature of +2 to +4 degrees. But the actual shelf life of the cake itself depends on the specific ingredients used to make the product.
Cakes are recommended to be kept in the refrigerator away from fish, meat products, as well as cheeses. The pungent smell of such products can negatively affect the taste and flavor of the cake. On the other hand, cakes can be stored next to desserts and other confectionery products without consequences.
No refrigerator.
There are cakes that can be stored without a refrigerator at room temperature. These include waffle cakes or dry cakes. They can be kept at home for up to 1 month. Chocolate and sponge cakes without cream can also be stored at room temperature. However, keep in mind that in the sun or in a warm room, the chocolate may begin to melt and deform.
At temperatures up to + 20 degrees Celsius, the shelf life of a cake with preservatives (such as sorbic acid) is 36 hours. Therefore, even some cakes with cream can be stored at home without refrigeration.
Shelf life of popular types of cakes
There are many different types of cakes, each with their own unique characteristics and flavors. Some of them include:
Carrot Cake: Carrot biscuits are made with grated carrots, nuts and spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. They are also often covered with cream cheese or ganache cream.
Chocolate Cake: Chocolate cake is a classic! It is usually made with flavored cocoa, and the cakes are moist and juicy.
Lemon cake: Lemon cake is made with lemon, lemon juice, lemon zest and icing or frosting. It is also sometimes served with lemon curd or lemon mousse on top. Store in the refrigerator, covered with foil or plastic wrap.
Red Velvet: Red Velvet Cake is known for its red color and chocolate aftertaste, which comes from the use of red dye and cocoa.
Spice Cake: Spice cake is made with spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. It is a cake mix consisting of fruit, eggs, flour, and spices that are baked together until they have a dense texture.
Napoleon: Crusty cake cakes can be kept for up to 7 days, but already assembled custard cakes have a shelf life of no more than 48 hours.
Eggless Cakes: Eggless cakes are made without eggs or egg substitutes. They are also sometimes called vegan cakes without wheat or corn. These cakes do not keep for more than a day; try freezing them after they have cooled completely.
Can I Freeze Cakes
I don’t recommend freezing cakes because if you freeze and then defrost your dessert, it can lose its original appearance and taste.
If stored properly, cakes can stay fresh for 72 hours. It is important to understand that the specified time period is counted from the time of preparation of the cream and implies storage in the refrigerator (+2-+4 degrees).