Angel food cake is a light and fluffy dessert that can be a bit challenging to make, but the texture and flavor of a perfectly baked angel food cake are heavenly. However, once you’ve baked your angel food cake, you may be wondering how to keep it fresh for as long as possible. In this article, we’ll cover the lifespan of an angel food cake, methods to store it, how to thaw a frozen cake, and how to tell if it has gone bad.
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How Long Does Angel Food Cake Last?
An angel food cake typically lasts for 2 to 3 days while sitting on a kitchen counter. After this time, the cake will begin to harden, and any frosting you topped it off with might curdle or separate. To extend the life of your angel food cake, you can store it in a few different ways.
How to Store Angel Food Cake
Keep the Cake in an Airtight Container
To prevent heat, air, and moisture from penetrating the surface of your angel food cake, you can transfer the cake to an airtight container. This will help keep the cake fresher for longer. Finding an airtight container the same size as an angel food cake pan can be a challenge, but if you have one, wash, rinse, and dry it thoroughly before inserting the cake. This method is not mutually exclusive from the other methods we’ll cover below.
Refrigerate the Cake
If you have leftover angel food cake, you can pop it into your refrigerator to block heat from accelerating the growth of bacteria. Make sure the cake is fully sealed, ideally in an airtight container, before placing it on a rack far away from the fridge’s cooling fan. That way, the cake will not be exposed to excessive chilled air and become hardened.
Freeze the Cake
The best way to prolong the lifespan of your angel food cake is to freeze it. Doing so can extend the cake’s “freshness” by up to 6 months. Since angel food cake contains no egg yolks or dairy, you do not have to worry about unappetizing crystals forming inside the cake. Remember to properly defrost your cake before decorating and serving. To thaw a frozen angel food cake, remove the container from the freezer and let it sit on your kitchen countertop for a few hours. Let the cake come to room temperature before opening the lid and serving it.
Regardless of which method or methods you use, allow the angel food cake to rest for 30 minutes after baking. This will allow the cake to release any pent-up steam, which, if left inside the cake, could become a breeding ground for bacteria.
How to Tell If Angel Food Cake Is Spoiled
Angel food cake, like any kind of food, is perishable. Despite your best efforts, the cake might not come out as fresh and deliciously soft as you wanted, and it might be time to toss it in the trash bin. Here are some signs to look for to determine whether or not an angel food cake is still fresh or, at the very least, edible:
Crumbly Texture – Unlike other kinds of cake, angel food cake is supposed to be tough and chewy. However, if it has a crumbly texture, that means the cake has absorbed too much moisture.
Foul Smell – After cracking the lid open of a frozen or refrigerated angel food cake, it should smell like nothing. If it has any smells, especially a foul one, then the cake is past its prime, and you need to toss it away.
Moldy Spots – If you’ve noticed green, blue, black, or white fuzz growing on any part of the cake, don’t feel tempted to cut that part off and eat the rest. There’s a good chance that there’s mold growing all over the cake, but it hasn’t had enough time to develop its spores.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your angel food cake stays delicious and fresh for as long as possible. Whether you’re storing it in an airtight container, refrigerating it, or freezing it, you can enjoy your angel food cake for up to six months.
