A cake is at its best within a day or two of baking, and how you keep it makes most of the difference. Knowing how to store a cake properly keeps the crumb soft and the flavour fresh and, with cream-filled cakes especially, keeps it safe to eat. The right method depends on what is inside and on top of the cake, so start there.
First, check what kind of cake you have
Fillings and frostings decide where a cake belongs.
- Fresh cream, custard or fresh fruit. These need the fridge. Cakes such as our Black Forest Cake and Fresh Fruit Cake are made with fresh cream, so keep them cold until shortly before serving.
- Cream cheese frosting. This belongs in the fridge too. The Classic Carrot Cake and the Red Velvet Cake both wear it.
- Buttercream or ganache with no fresh filling. These can sit in a cool room, covered, for a day or so. Use the fridge instead when the weather is warm.
- Plain, unfrosted sponge. Wrapped well or kept in an airtight tin, it stays pleasant for a few days at room temperature.
If your baker gave you storage advice for a particular cake, follow that first, because fillings and ingredients vary.
How to store a cake in the fridge
The fridge can dry a cake out and lets it pick up smells, so a little preparation makes a difference.
- Let the cake cool completely before you cover it. Trapped steam turns the top sticky.
- Press cling film or baking paper against any cut surface so it does not dry out.
- Put the cake in a box or airtight container, with a lid that will not squash the frosting.
- Keep it away from strong-smelling foods such as onions or fish, because butter and cream absorb smells easily.
- Take it out 30 to 60 minutes before serving. Cold butter makes a cake taste firmer and flatter, and the crumb softens as it warms.
How long can a cake sit out?
A common food-safety guideline says perishable food should not stay at room temperature for more than about two hours, and only about one hour when it is hot out, above roughly 32°C. That includes cream cakes at parties. Serve what you need, then store a cake with cream in the fridge again straight away.
Can you freeze a cake? How to store a cake for longer
In many cases, yes. Cut the cake into slices, wrap each slice tightly in cling film, then put the slices in a freezer box or bag. For the best flavour, eat them within a couple of months. Thaw a slice in the fridge overnight, or on the counter for an hour or two. Cakes with fresh cream, custard or fresh fruit do not freeze well, so enjoy those fresh.
Carrying a cake home or to a party
Put the cake box flat on the car floor, or on a non-slip mat on the seat, never on your lap and never in a hot boot. Drive gently, keep the car cool, and do not leave a cake in a parked car, even for a short errand. When you arrive, store a cake somewhere cool until it is time to serve.
Now you know how to store a cake of any kind. Leftovers a regular problem? Our guide to how much cake you need helps you order closer to the right size, and our cake menu has something for every occasion. Follow us on Instagram for more.
Photos by Eiliv Aceron and Los Muertos Crew, via Pexels.
