Everyone wants to bite into a freshly baked cake and find it warm, moist, and delectably soft but, we’ve all had our fair share of left-over birthday cake that was anything but the velvety sponge we expected, and instead stale and unsatisfying.
It doesn’t have to be that way because storing your cakes the right way can help you enjoy them for longer without losing any of their delightful flavor.
There are three main ways to maintain the freshness of your cakes:
Storing them in an air-tight container
keeping them away from the fridge (providing they do not contain high dairy content)
Freezing them (if you’re keeping them long-term.)
Continue reading for an in-depth understanding of these different methods…
Store your Cakes in an Air-Tight Container
Ideally, you’d like to serve all your cakes fresh out of the oven, but if you work in a bakery or a catering service, you’ll know that it doesn’t always work like that. In addition, the last thing you’ll want to do after a big day like a wedding or a birthday is throw away half an uneaten cake.
Sealing your cake in a plastic cake storage container will do the trick and is easy and safe.
You simply rest the cake on the tray and place the domed top over the cake and snap it shut to keep the cake air-tight and fresh. This is also the perfect method if you want to transport the cake without damaging the external layers. Find our range of cake containers here, including extra high domes to hold the tallest and most elaborate frostings!
You can even find snap-shut cake containers for individual slices here, perfect for food on the go!
If you do not have any plastic containers to hand, you can also try using plastic wrap (as long as it is tightly wrapped so hair cannot enter) or a zip bag, provided it is sealed tightly.
Store the Cakes at Room Temperature
You might be tempted to put your cake straight in the refrigerator to keep it fresher for longer. However, this could actually have an adverse effect on your freshly baked goods and cause them to go stale quicker (providing the cake does not have a high dairy or fruit content).
If you’re planning on eating your cake within three days, we recommend that you keep them out of the fridge, well-covered, and away from direct sunlight, and heat. A pantry or cupboard away from the oven or stove is ideal, either in one of our air-tight plastic containers or a box wrapped tightly in cling film.
Top tip: If you need to chill your cake (e.g. you have a humid kitchen or the cake has a high perishable content), ensure that it is also tightly sealed in an airtight container like one of ours, which is safe to use in the refrigerator!
Please Keep in Mind
Cakes that are covered with butterscotch icing can be left on the counter for up to two days. After this, they will need refrigerating, preferably in an air-tight container.
The high content of dairy in cheese and mousse cakes will also require they be refrigerated immediately.
Store the Cakes in the Freezer
Keeping your cakes on the counter will maintain their soft texture for up to three days. But once you’ve hit that mark they can become non-perishable and unsafe to eat. So, if you know you want to store your cakes for longer. freezing is the best option.
Cakes with frosting
If the frosted cake is in a box and you don’t want to take it out, then wrap it around with cling film before putting it in the freezer or better still, place it straight into the freezer in one of our snap-shut freezer-safe plastic containers.
Once the frosted cake is ready to be served, take it out of the freezer and make sure it’s thawed completely before use. The icing and frosting may not look as they did before, but the taste of the cake will still be better than if you had kept it refrigerated.
Cakes without frosting
Once the whole sponge or layers are cooled down from the oven, wrap the individual pieces in cling film or place it in a snap-shut container and place it in the freezer for up to two months.
Once you’re ready to decorate them, let them thaw while still in the plastic wrap or container for 20-30 mins on the counter. Tip: They’ll be easier to trim after freezing and will make the frosting process more seamless.
By following these simple tips, you can enjoy your delicious cakes for days, weeks, or even months to come. Plastic Container City has a wide selection of airtight, fridge and freezer-safe containers, perfect for sealing oven-baked freshness and for food on the go! Plus, our products are crafted from BPA-free, recyclable, PET plastic!
