How to Store a Cake

     

      A cake is not only an art, craft or something fun to do. A cake is a food, and we should never forget that because it's very perishable. I know that when baking a cake, we put a lot of effort and love into it. And we shouldn't waste all that hard work by letting a cake to dry out, or totally melt. So, let me help you out. In this article, I will tell you how to store a cake, accordingly to the type of cake you baked.





     How to store a naked cake?

     Let's start with the easiest type of cake: a naked cake. First, let your cake completely cool on a wired rack. Then cover it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Don't use a plate, because the wrap will not seal perfectly on your cake.
     You can keep your naked cake like this at room temperature for 2-3 days. If your kitchen is hot or humid, store the cake in the refrigerator. Always make sure that the cake is well wrapped, so it will not absorb other others from the fridge.

     How to store a cake with buttercream or fondant?

     A good icing with buttercream or fondant will actually keep your cake moist. Your cake can stay fresh in a cake keeper, or under a large bowl overturned up to 3 days, at room temperature. Again, if you have a humid or hot kitchen, store the cake in the fridge. 
     If you store your cake in the fridge, you should know that the rapid changes in temperature can cause condensation, and your colors will probably blend. If you can, out the cold cake in an air-conditioned space, before taking it out to room temperature. 

 How to store a cake with cream cheese or whipped cream frosting?

If you have cream cheese or whipped cream in your frosting, you shouldn't leave the cake at room temperature. Keep it in the fridge in a sealed container or with a large overturned bowl on it.
    The same technique applies to cakes that have ganache icing.

       Can you freeze a cake?

     Yes, you can. I understand the struggle of preparing a layered cake in only one afternoon. Baking the cake, letting it cool, decorating it, can take a lot of time. You can bake your cake rounds in advance, and safely store them in the freezer until you have the time to finish the cake
     After baking the cake rounds, let them completely cool. Wrap each cake layer with aluminum foil separately and carefully. You can keep these cake rounds in the freezer up to 4-5 days. 
     Be careful when you take out the cake from the freezer. Make sure it is at room temperature before you start preparing it and decorating it.

     How do you know if you need to refrigerate your cake?

     Most cakes are just fine stored at room temperature for a couple of days. But ...there's always a but! If you live in a warm-weather area, and your kitchen is hot or humid, you should definitely refrigerate your cake.

     Bonus tips:

• If you are working on a tall or elaborate cake, you should consider storing it in separate layers, and assembling it on the day you will consume it.
• Even if your cake itself can sit at room temperature for multiple days, don't forget taking into consideration the cake's filling. You need to put the cake in the refrigerator if the filling requires it (like a pudding filling)
• If your cake refrigerates, take it out 45minutes to an hour before serving and let it sit at room temperature.
• Always keep your cake out of direct sunlight, even if it's wintertime.

          I really hope that this article will come into handy to you. Storing a cake might feel like an easy thing to do, but you should really follow some guidelines. If you have any tips on how to store a cake, let me know in the comments.
     Don't forget to share these tips with your friends and family!
     Happy Baking!