How to store a cake overnight (2024)

FAQs

How to store a cake overnight? ›

When storing a cake overnight, you need to cover your cake fully to prevent any air and store it at the right temperature. To do this, you can easily wrap your cake in foil or plastic wrap, and place it in an airtight container. Make sure to keep your cake in the refrigerator overnight.

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.

Using an air-tight container is the best and easiest way to keep your cake from getting exposed to air. However, if you don't have one of those, you can wrap your cake in cling film, or if it's iced, place a large inverted bowl over it to trap the air.

Warning! Do NOT store cake in the refrigerator long-term unless it includes a topping or filling that needs to be refrigerated, e.g., whipped cream, custard, and their ilk. Your perfectly moist cake, no matter how well wrapped, will start to dry out after a day in the fridge.

A cake that has been stored in the refrigerator for several hours should be able to sit out at room temperature for up to two hours before it needs to be served or put back in the refrigerator if the temperature of the room is approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).

If you do refrigerate, wrap unfrosted cakes in plastic to protect them from absorbing any weird fridge smells and to protect them from drying out, and then unwrap it to warm up on the counter before serving. For frosted cakes, chill the cake uncovered for 15 minutes to harden the icing, then wrap it in plastic wrap.

Yes, cakes can lose moisture in the fridge if they are not wrapped properly, causing them to dry out. Wrapping them in cling wrap or an airtight container will retain moisture and keep them fresher for longer.

Pastry chefs often soak cakes in a simple syrup made of equal parts granulated sugar and water after the cakes come out of the oven. This step can add sweetness and moisten the cake. In addition to simple syrup, you can also use coconut milk, evaporated milk, or flavored liqueur.

Instead, keep your cakes at room temperature. (Though if you're stacking layers, chill them briefly before assembling the final cake — it'll make things easier.) Stay away for one to three days: Flavors will deepen after one day, and only strengthen the longer you wait.

How long should a cake cool before refrigerating? ›

How Long Should You Cool Your Cake? Your cake needs anywhere from ten minutes to a couple of hours to cool off before you can handle it completely without fear of it crumbling. If you wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic, you can store cake in the refrigerator or freezer.

Texture Changes: Storing cake in the fridge can actually SPEED UP the staling process due to the cooler temperatures causing changes in the starch. The technical term is starch retrogradation, and the result is a drier, stiffer texture (what we call “stale”).

Keep Your Cakes at Room Temperature

This is because refrigeration can cause some types of cakes to dry out or become too firm, particularly those with buttercream frosting. To keep your cake fresh, cover it with plastic wrap or a cake dome.

If your cake is frosted with buttercream, it will last covered at room temperature for up to four days. However, it is best to refrigerate cakes with other frostings such as cream cheese or ganache. A fully covered unfrosted cake will last for up to 2 days at room temperature.

While it's safe to keep many baked goods at room temperature, it depends on the item and should be taken on a case-by-case basis. For instance, breads and rolls can last up to four days at room temperature, but any bread with meat or hard-boiled eggs should be refrigerated within two hours, according to the USDA.

Never leave the cake in your vehicle for prolonged periods and ideally do not leave inside garages etc.

Our recommendation on how long to cool a cake before icing it is to wait 2-3 hours for your cake to cool completely. Then, add a crumb coat and refrigerate the cake for up to 30 minutes.

"Prepare, bake, and cool the cake completely. Then, wrap each cake layer in cling film, nice and tight, and place in the fridge for at least two hours," he says. That's right, you won't be frosting your cake at room temperature; a chilled cake is essential before applying any frosting. "This step is the most important.