How Long Does Chocolate Cake Last In The Fridge?

Last Updated on July 20, 2024 by Kimberlee Johnson

Planning a **birthday party** or **family gathering**? A **chocolate cake** for dessert is a must-have. But saving any leftover cake? That’s like trying to catch lightning in a bottle, especially for chocolate lovers!

Our team researched, compiled, and created an in-depth guide to help you answer the question, “how long does cake last in the fridge?”

Table of Contents

How Long Will Chocolate Cake Last In Your Fridge?

Storing leftovers can be frustrating if you love chocolate cake, especially if you can’t finish a whole cake by yourself. Nonetheless, you don’t have to worry since freshly baked chocolate cake can last up to 7 days in the fridge.

Cover it using a plastic wrap or foil as the fridge draws out moisture, resulting in a hard and stale cake. While most cakes will generally last for a week in the fridge, the shelf life will also vary on the ingredients used and if it is stored at room temperature or in the freezer.

Read: Which Non-chocolate Easter Candy Is The Most Popular In The United States?

Storing Different Types Of Chocolate Cake In The Fridge

Moist

Although storing your favorite treat in the fridge can last for about a week, keeping it at room temperature is ideal for keeping its moisture like a cake fresh from the oven. After you bake cakes, you can store them at normal room temperature to make them last for around 1-2 days.

Also, you can store chocolate cakes in the freezer for around 4-6 months, but don’t forget to cover them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to help keep their moisture.

Cream Frosting

For cakes with buttercream frosting, you can store it at room temperature for around three days, given that it doesn’t contain fresh fruit. You can also keep it for around two weeks in the fridge in an airtight container and in the freezer for approximately four weeks if you use Swiss or Italian buttercream.

As for cream cheese frosting, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 3 months.

Chocolate Cake With Fondant

The storage life of unused fondant in an airtight container can last up to 2 months at normal temperature and doesn’t require refrigeration. However, fondant cakes only have a shelf life of up to 3-5 days at room temperature and a week in the fridge.

You can also store a fondant-decorated cake in the freezer to help it last for around 6 to 12 months (if stored properly).

But what are the best birthday cakes for someone who doesn’t like sweets?

Unfrosted Chocolate Cake

Cakes that are unfrosted (or those that aren’t covered in any frosting or icing) can last for 4-6 days at normal temperature if properly sealed in a plastic wrap. These cakes can be stored in the fridge for a week. Moreso, it can be placed in the freezer and consumed within a month.

Don’t forget to seal it properly to maximize its storage life and prevent it from losing moisture.

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4 Ways To Tell If It Has Gone Bad

1. Appearance

The first way to tell if the cake has gone bad is by merely looking at its appearance. Observe if it looks like it’s dingy or if there are white spots. You can also scan to see if there’s a mold build-up and if it has become watery. If these signs are evident, don’t consume them and throw them out.

For frosted cakes, you can easily tell that it’s spoiled if their creamy appearance has dramatically changed.

2. Smell

Another way to tell if a cake has gone bad is simply smelling it. A spoiled cake will smell musty, putrid, or will not have its neutral scent. For the frosted cake, you can also tell if it’s spoiled if the frosting has an off-odor.

It is also the case for fruit cakes with a storage life of 6 months when kept in the fridge and up to 12 months when kept in the freezer, as they may smell rancid even if they contain alcohol.

3. Dryness

On the other hand, if you’re uncertain about how it looks and smells, you can check if your chocolate cake is dry or if its composition makes it hard to know if it’s spoiled. The same thing goes for frosted cakes.

However, spongy cake and pound cake are often dry and a bit dense, so try to touch them to see if its slimy or mushy, indicating spoilage.

4. Taste

There are varying cake flavors like sweet and fruity, so telling if it’s spoiled will depend on its different tastes. If it’s a whipped cream cake, check if it tastes unpleasant, like rotting. For carrot cake, it will taste sour since it has cream cheese frosting.

When checking any cake, try out a small piece to prevent an upset stomach.

Read: 10 Valentine’s Day Candies That Are Gluten-Free

Proper Way To Store Chocolate Cake In The Fridge

If you wish to increase the shelf life of your cake, here are some of the ways to properly store it in the fridge:

Store unfrosted cake layers by wrapping its sides, bottom, and top with plastic [1].
For the frosted cake, let it rest for 15 minutes until the icing hardens, and cover it with plastic wrap.
Use an airtight container for stacked or sheet cakes.
For homemade cakes with chocolate whipped cream, use a cake keeper.
Use the store-bought box for a sponge cake and an airtight container for handmade ones.
Use an airtight lid or plastic wrap for pound cakes.

FAQs

Is the cake still good after 2 weeks in the fridge?

If it’s a store-bought cake, it usually stays good for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. However, a homemade cake with sour cream or cream cheese can only last up to 5 days in the fridge. On the other hand, Angel food cake can only be stored for one week, especially if it’s topped with fresh fruits.

Find out how far in advance you can buy a wedding cake here.

What happens if you eat spoiled cake?

Eating spoiled or old cake, especially one with mold build-up, may leave you with an upset stomach resulting in continuous vomiting and nausea [2].

Can you freeze a chocolate cake?

Yes, you can freeze chocolate cake but wrap it properly to prevent it from drying out. In addition, you can keep frozen cake for up to 1 year, and it’s normally safe to consume past that time.

Final Thoughts

Chocolate cake normally lasts in the fridge for up to seven days. However, other factors may affect its storage life, such as the type of frosting, and filling, if it contains fresh fruits, and if it is stored properly. After preserving frozen cakes, don’t forget to thaw them before serving them in a cake holder.

If you’re someone who loves eating chocolate cake from breakfast to dinner, follow our tips on how to store it in the fridge properly!

References:

https://www.thekitchn.com/expert-advice-how-to-wrap-stor-151924
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a26078857/what-happens-if-you-eat-mold/

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Kimberlee Johnson

Kimberlee Johnson is a preschool teacher and a mom of 3. She puts a lot of thought into gift-buying and gift-giving as she believes that each gift should tell a story. She enjoys scrapbooking and watching the History Channel. Learn more about us here or you can email us [email protected].