Can You Leave A Cake That Has Buttercream Icing On It Sitting Out On The Counter

I get lots of questions nearly how to shop a block. It actually depends on what kind of block and a few other factors, but I'm going to give you lots of tips hither on how to properly store cakes to continue them fresh and at their best.

Alright, let'due south become to the tips.

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Brusque Reply: Information technology DEPENDS:

Ok, the short answer is that it depends on what kind of block y'all're storing, when and how you program to serve it plus many other factors. I've divided this post out into categories, so it'due south easier to read and effigy out how to shop your detail blazon of cake.

HOW AND WHEN ARE You lot GOING TO USE OR SERVE THE CAKE?

You'll need to also ask yourself these questions: Are y'all serving the block soon? Exercise you need to keep it fresh for longer? Practise you have a hot/warm environment? Exercise you need to firm information technology up in the refrigerator so you can travel with it?

All these questions will have a bearing on how to shop information technology. Nosotros'll go through variations of these throughout the post.

UNFROSTED CAKES:

Here I just hateful layers of cake, or even an unfrosted bundt cake. Maybe y'all merely broiled the cake and information technology's cooled, only you're not ready to apply the cake layers yet. You lot've got some choices here.

Showtime it will depend on how long it'll be before you'll exist putting the cake together and serving it. If it'll be longer than three days or and then, then I'd suggest freezing it. I accept an entire mail service all about how to freeze cake and cupcakes so that y'all don't go freezer fire.

No ane will e'er know information technology was frozen. You'll want to cheque that post out here: Tips for Freezing Cakes & Cupcakes

If you lot'll be serving it in a couple days, then yous just want to brand sure to wrap the bundt block, or block layers with some plastic wrap. (I really like press-n-seal wrap, only yous can just employ regular plastic wrap. If yous have a cake keeper you can keep it in that, or you lot could store it in a block box.

Y'all can store the cake layers or bundt block at room temperature if information technology doesn't have anything perishable in it. If a cake has fruit in it, I similar to stay on the prophylactic side and store it in the refrigerator. If you practise decide to store information technology in the fridge, make sure it's wrapped well with plastic wrap and then peradventure a cake box, then it doesn't dry out out.

Make sure when yous're gear up to serve your cake to allow it sit down at room temp for 15-twenty minutes or so to come up closer to room temperature. Most cakes aren't meant to exist eaten cold…they gustation their best when closer to room temperature. (Unless of course you'll be adding something perishable to it or it's i of those no-broil cakes.)

FROSTED CAKES & CAKES THAT DO NOT INCLUDE PERISHABLE FILLINGS & FROSTINGS:

When I was selling cakes, about every unmarried person who picked up their block, or I delivered to, would ask me if they should put it in the refrigerator. I honestly don't know why we think everything should be refrigerated, but I think maybe it has to do with grocery stores and Tv shows.

I think we're used to seeing cakes in the libation at grocery stores and seeing people on TV have these huge coolers they pop their finished cakes into and peradventure simply assume it needs to exist refrigerated. That'southward just a approximate and I could totally be incorrect on that.

A lot of the large bakeries arctic their cakes. I'yard guessing information technology'due south to keep the block out of the way and to go on it fresh for a longer time, or those cakes may have perishable fillings and frosting. I'm certain it as well gets pretty warm in a bakery every bit well, and so in that case they'd need to be kept absurd.

The thing is, most cakes gustatory modality meliorate at room temperature. I know that there are some exceptions, merely I'thousand talking generally here. Unless it has perishable ingredients in it, information technology doesn't really need to be chilled.

A block that's covered in American Buttercream doesn't need to exist chilled. Unless you've got a really warm room or a bug problem, it's okay to be left at room temperature for several days. Just cover it in a box, or a block keeper.

Now, obviously you don't desire your cake sitting out for a week. That'south not good…and hopefully your block is so good that it'll all be eaten upward in a couple days anyhow.

If, for some reason, it'due south not all eaten in a couple days, you can put it in the fridge to prolong the freshness. The fridge will proceed it fresh for a bit longer than just leaving it on the counter. Make sure to either put your block in a box though, or a cake keeper to keep information technology from drying out as well much or absorbing the other scents (like onions or boiled eggs) in the refrigerator.

Personally I leave my block out (covered or in a box of grade) for a few days (as long as it doesn't comprise perishable fillings) and then pop it in the fridge if there's however some left and I want information technology to last the rest of the calendar week. (This seems to happen quite a scrap at my house, since my kid is grown and doesn't alive here anymore and I'chiliad pretty much the but one eating the block.)

Now this all goes out the window if your cake is covered in Swiss meringue buttercream, or cream cheese buttercream, or if information technology'southward got curd or fruit filling, or some type of whipped cream on information technology. Nosotros'll talk about that next.

FROSTED OR FILLED CAKES THAT Practise INCLUDE PERISHABLE FILLINGS & FROSTINGS:

What are perishable ingredients? If you're not certain, yous'll demand to look upwards examples of that. Perishable ingredients volition go bad if they're non chilled, so if yous're using Swiss Meringue buttercream, cream cheese buttercream, fruit filling, or things similar that, then your cake needs to be stored in the fridge.

Y'all can set information technology out about 15 minutes earlier serving, so that it's not and so cold (considering cakes unremarkably taste ameliorate when they're not super cold), only you do want to make sure you're being condom and shop it in the refrigerator.

Make sure you've got the cake in a block box or a cake keeper though. You lot don't want it arresting any scents or flavors from other food that'south in your fridge and you want to go along it from drying out every bit well.

A quick note about chilling cakes that are decorated with dark colored buttercream:

When yous pull your block out of the refrigerator, it will condensate. That's but scientific discipline. Don't impact it when information technology condensates. If yous used actually dark colored buttercream, it could cause some weirdness in it. Sometimes information technology does and sometimes it doesn't.

Simply don't impact it and let the condensation evaporate. It'south better to but go out it in the box and hope that nigh of the condensation occurs on the exterior of the box and not on the cake.

Another note about perishable ingredients: In Texas, we have something called the Texas Cottage Nutrient Law and that allows people to sell nutrient from their homes without having a certified commercial kitchen. The constabulary states that you lot cannot sell any baked item that is perishable though. Stick with me for a 2nd…I have a point here. 😉

If you desire some examples of what constitutes perishable ingredients, you can take a look at that law as information technology lays out a lot of that for you lot. Fifty-fifty if yous live in some other state or state, perishable food is still perishable food. Here's a link to that police force if you'd similar to check information technology out: Texas Cottage Food Law

FONDANT COVERED CAKES:

I never store my fondant covered cakes in the fridge (unless of class it has a perishable filling in it). I know many people that do chill their fondant cakes, merely I found that information technology acquired condensation on the cakes when you bring them out and it caused fondant bubbles for me.

It'south totally your choice though and like I said, many people are very defensive well-nigh their methods and I am totally on board with you doing whatever works best for you. I'thousand not the cake chilling police.

If you lot do keep a fondant covered cake in the fridge, keep it in a box and only make sure not to touch the block once information technology starts to condensate. The fondant will exist viscid at that point. It'll eventually evaporate, but try not to bear upon it while it's got condensation on it.

In that location is a good article on Rose Bakes about freezing fondant covered cakes. She's done information technology and has some tips on how it works. Yous can bank check out that post hither: Can You Freeze a Fondant Decorated Cake?

WHAT HAS WORKED FOR YOU IN THE By AND WHAT DO Yous FEEL MOST Comfy WITH?

Do y'all seem to like dealing more than with cold cakes? I find that I don't like working with chilled cakes and that it encourages icing blowouts. (Y'all can read more about why I don't normally arctic my cakes before decorating them hither.) But we each have different methods that work for us.

If you'll exist decorating the cake and you really like decorating chilled cakes, and then it'southward completely okay to arctic it if that'southward what you prefer. There are no fridge police that volition tell you that y'all 'shouldn't' do something. I accept my preference, only it's just my preference….nosotros all do things differently.

DO YOU WANT TO SERVE THIS CAKE Common cold OR ROOM TEMP?

This is something to call back about. Everyone assumes you lot take to go along all cakes chilled, but you just don't. If information technology doesn't have perishable filling or frosting, then information technology's okay at room temperature for a time. Over again, I generally continue mine out for a few days and and so arctic it to go on information technology fresh longer.

Just you do want to take a block out of the fridge and let it sit until it warms up just a bit before serving it. Regular cakes are best eaten near room temp. They're softer (especially butter cakes) and the texture is better. That's how they should be eaten…that's when they're at their best. Cold cakes are just common cold and sometimes hard, so have them out and let them sit down for xv-twenty minutes or and then.

Now if yous've fabricated a no-bake cake, a strawberry shortcake or something like that, then those are meant to exist eaten cold. Just use your judgement hither. I'chiliad only saying for general cakes, nigh but aren't at their best when they're then cold.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO Exist ALL OR NOTHING:

Don't put yourself in a box. Mostly I don't like to decorate my cakes when they're cold and I usually shop them at room temp, merely before I transport it somewhere, I'll generally arctic it to house it upward. Information technology just makes traveling with a cake a lot easier. That's totally okay to do.

FINAL TIPS & THOUGHTS:

Then, think nearly how yous'll exist serving the cake, when you'll be serving information technology, if information technology includes perishable ingredients, if you'll be decorating it and and then yous can make the best decision.

I hope this helps. I know there seems to be a lot of defoliation on the 'right' way to store a cake. Mainly merely brand certain you lot keep it well covered either in plastic wrap, in a block box or cake keeper and arctic it if it's got perishable ingredients.

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