Q & A of the Week - Fruit Cake Storage (2024)

FAQs

Q & A of the Week - Fruit Cake Storage? ›

For best quality, a fruit cake that is tightly wrapped with aluminum foil or saran warp can be stored for up to 1 month in a cool, dark pantry, 6 months in the refrigerator, and 12 months in a freezer. Check often for signs of spoilage, and if mold or off-odors develop, discard the cake.

Wrap each cake in several layers of cheesecloth and then in plastic wrap. Store the cakes in airtight containers in a cool dry place, but not in the refrigerator or freezer. Check carefully at least once a week, as rich, moist cakes mould very easily.

Fruitcake should be tightly wrapped and stored in a cool, dry place while aging. If you wrapped your cake in soaked cheesecloth, resoak the cloth once a week and age for six weeks to three months. Cakes simply wrapped in plastic wrap should be brushed with more alcohol every few days during the first two months.

Sugar and alcohol create a hostile environment for microorganisms. One ingredient that bolsters fruitcake's longevity is alcohol, says Bryan Quoc Le, a food scientist and faculty research fellow at Pacific Lutheran University.

This means that the 1 year shelf life of your fruitcake actually begins right around when you receive your cake, not when the cake is baked! Here's another tip; to further increase the shelf life of your Jane Parker fruitcake, store it in the refrigerator for up to 18 months, or in the freezer for up to 2 years.

For best quality, a fruit cake that is tightly wrapped with aluminum foil or saran warp can be stored for up to 1 month in a cool, dark pantry, 6 months in the refrigerator, and 12 months in a freezer. Check often for signs of spoilage, and if mold or off-odors develop, discard the cake.

Introduce the magic of honey and molasses to your fruitcake for a swift maturation journey. Create a glaze using these ingredients and generously coat the cake's surface. The sticky sweetness accelerates moisture retention, infusing the cake with a luscious texture and depth of flavor.

Do not wrap the cake directly in foil as the fruit in the cake can react with the foil. If you are making the cake more than 3 months in advance then you will need to "feed" it occasionally to help it to stay moist.

Yes you can use an airtight plastic container. I would wrap the cold cake in baking parchment and foil before it goes in the box, but still store it in a cool dark place.

Formulate a cake soak: You can make a cake soak using simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water), evaporated milk, buttermilk, or a liqueur. With a wooden skewer or toothpick, pole holes in the cake. Then use a pastry brush to blot the liquid over the surface of the cake layers to moisten the cake.

What is the best storage for fruitcake? ›

The cake should then be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight plastic storage bag or container. Fruitcakes taste better when the are 'ripe'. Proper ripening takes at least one month. Once they are properly wrapped, cakes should be stored in a cool place or in a refrigerator.

The trifecta of sugar, low moisture ingredients and some high-proof spirits make fruitcakes some of the longest-lasting foods in the world.

Alcohol and sugar will usually deter the mould in cakes, but in hot weather, and if not using alcohol, it will be best to transfer a cake to an airtight container (when cooled) or even fully cover with baking paper and foil or cling film and put into the fridge…but …it won't last forever!

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 lasts longer than you think

According to Mental Floss, fruitcake has quite the shelf life. The tasty, holiday treat can age 25 years and still be enjoyed, as long as it's stored in an airtight container.

Is Fruit Cake a Healthy Snack? Even though fruit cake is full of raisins and fruits, this is not at all a “healthy” snack. Like any dessert, this cake is full of calories not “nu*trition”.

Analyze the cake recipe.

A ganache-covered chocolate cake with buttercream frosting can remain at room temperature, but a cream cake with a fresh fruit filling should stay in the refrigerator.

Frosted: Chill the cake uncovered for 15 minutes to harden the icing, then loosely wrap it in plastic wrap. If you have the fridge space, also store it inside a cake keeper to help keep it fresh. Depending on the type of cake, it may last as long as a week in the fridge.

Like most rich fruit cakes, it benefits from a maturing period and being fed with some extra alcohol, though in the book it is suggested that the keeping time is 6 weeks and generally we suggest if keeping the cake for longer than this then the cake should be frozen as it will keep for a year.

For longer storage of Christmas cakes wrap closely in kitchen foil and freeze. To serve an iced fruit cake that has been stored for a long time, unwrap it and remove the old icing and marzipan. Check the cake still tastes good, then cover with fresh marzipan and icing.