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.

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.

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.

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.

Ways To Store Cakes

Cling Wrap: wrap cake tightly to prevent air from getting in. It's essential to wrap it completely, leaving no gaps or holes. Foil: make sure the foil doesn't touch the icing as it can ruin its appearance. Foil is ideal for fruit cakes, which can be stored for a more extended period.

Store the layers in a zip-top plastic bag.

Place the wrapped layers in a zip-top plastic bag, and store them on the kitchen counter for up to five days, but make certain to store the cake in a cool, dry place away from any direct sunlight.

Store Cake for 1 to 3 Days At Room Temperature

If you're thinking of holding your cake for longer than that, you can leave it in the box and wrap the box with plastic wrap, which will keep the cake from drying out for up to three days. If your cake isn't in a box, an acrylic cake lid will come in handy.

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).

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.

It'll be fine. That's what people have always done before fridges were common. I leave them to cool overnight all the time. I just chuck a clean teatowel over them.

How do you keep a cake from sweating in the fridge? ›

To help, put the cake into a cardboard cake box before putting in the fridge. When it comes time to remove your cake box from the fridge, leave the cake inside the box until it comes back to room temperature. Any condensation will form on the box instead of the cake.

Made with fresh buttercream, Costco cakes are perishable. Some people have had success with leaving them out at room temperature for a couple of days, but technically, they're not shelf-stable and should be refrigerated before the event.

How to keep cakes moist overnight. While the cake is still hot, wrap it with a layer of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil, and put it in the freezer. The water created by the cake's residual heat will keep it moist (but not too moist) in the freezer.

How long can cake sit out unrefrigerated? 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.

It's best practice to decorate the cake as close to the day of serving as possible, but it will also store well in the fridge. If the icing or frosting has any perishable ingredients, we recommend storing the cake in the fridge to keep it as fresh as possible.

When left out at room temperature without any covering, a baked cake—even a frosted cake—dries out quickly. A better way to store cake is to cover it in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. This seals in moisture and prevents air from drying out the cake. Store cupcakes in an airtight container.

The simplest version of simple syrup, or soak, is nothing more than equal parts granulated sugar dissolved into water. The basic soak alone will do great things for your cake, especially in terms of moisture.