How to store cake on the counter, in the fridge, and in the freezer
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 3-7 days
Keep store-bought cake in the pantry for 3 to 7 days from the date of purchase.
Watch out Throw cake out if it has mold, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
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Fridge
Keeps for 7-10 days
After you open store-bought cake, keep it in the fridge and use it within 7 to 10 days.
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Freezer
Keeps for 6 months
Freeze store-bought cake for up to 6 months from the date of purchase for best quality, keeping the freezer constantly at 0°F (-18°C).
Watch out Cut away any grayish-brown leathery spots of freezer burn, which are dry but not unsafe.
Store-bought cake keeps 3 to 7 days in the pantry from the date of purchase, and 7 to 10 days in the fridge once you open it. In the freezer it keeps for 6 months for best quality. Fruitcake lasts much longer, with 12 months in the fridge after opening. Throw out cake with mold, because mold can reach below the surface.
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On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
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Store-bought cake keeps 3 to 7 days in the pantry from the date of purchase, and 7 to 10 days in the fridge once you open it. In the freezer, it keeps for 6 months for best quality.
Those times come from the USDA’s FoodKeeper for commercial cakes. This guide also covers fruitcake and frosting, which have their own times, and what to do when a cake gets moldy.
How long is cake good for?
Store-bought cake is good for 3 to 7 days in the pantry, 7 to 10 days in the fridge after opening, and 6 months in the freezer. The pantry and freezer times count from the date of purchase, and the fridge time counts from the day you open the cake.
The freezer time is for best quality, not safety. Fruitcake and frosting last much longer than other cake, and they have their own sections below.
| Item | Pantry | Fridge after opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store-bought cake | 3 to 7 days | 7 to 10 days | 6 months |
| Fruitcake | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Frosting or icing | 10 to 12 months | 2 to 3 weeks | Not listed |
How long does cake last in the fridge?
Store-bought cake lasts 7 to 10 days in the fridge after you open it, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Count from the day you open the cake, not the day you bought it.
Does cake need to be refrigerated?
Not during the first 3 to 7 days, because USDA FoodKeeper lists the pantry for store-bought cake for that long from the date of purchase. After you open it, FoodKeeper lists the fridge, at 7 to 10 days.
How long do carrot cake and chocolate cake last in the fridge?
Store-bought carrot cake and chocolate cake last 7 to 10 days in the fridge after you open them. That’s the time USDA FoodKeeper gives commercial cakes and muffins, the line that covers store-bought cake. Count the days from when you open the cake, not from when you bought it.
How long are cupcakes good for?
Store-bought cupcakes are good for 3 to 7 days in the pantry, 7 to 10 days in the fridge after opening, and 6 months in the freezer. Those are the times USDA FoodKeeper gives for commercial cakes and muffins.
FoodKeeper has no separate line for cupcakes, so that line is the closest guide. The pantry and freezer times count from the date of purchase, and the fridge time counts from the day you open the package.
Cupcakes don’t need the fridge during the first 3 to 7 days, because USDA FoodKeeper lists the pantry for that long. After you open the package, the fridge takes over, at 7 to 10 days.
Can you freeze cake?
Yes, you can freeze store-bought cake for 6 months from the date of purchase for best quality. Cake kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only its quality suffers with long freezer storage.
How to freeze cake
Keep your freezer at 0°F (-18°C) the whole time the cake is in there. FoodKeeper counts the 6 months from the date of purchase, not from the day the cake goes into the freezer.
Is cake with freezer burn safe?
Yes, freezer burn doesn’t make cake unsafe. It shows up as dry, grayish-brown leathery spots where air reached the surface, and you can cut those parts away.
Can you freeze carrot cake?
Yes, you can freeze store-bought carrot cake for 6 months from the date of purchase for best quality. That’s the freezer time USDA FoodKeeper gives commercial cakes and muffins.
Cake kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, so the 6 months is about quality, not safety.
Can you freeze cupcakes and angel food cake?
Yes, you can freeze store-bought cupcakes and angel food cake for 6 months from the date of purchase for best quality. That is the freezer time USDA FoodKeeper gives for commercial cakes and muffins.
FoodKeeper has no separate line for cupcakes or angel food cake, so that line is the closest guide. Cake kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only its quality suffers with long freezer storage.
How long does fruitcake last?
Fruitcake lasts 6 months in the pantry from the date of purchase, 12 months in the fridge after opening, and 12 months in the freezer from the date of purchase.
That is far longer than the 3 to 7 days in the pantry that FoodKeeper gives other commercial cakes.
How long does frosting last?
Frosting or icing lasts 10 to 12 months in the pantry from the date of purchase, and 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge after opening. The 2 to 3 weeks start when you open it.
Does buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?
Store-bought buttercream frosting doesn’t need the fridge until you open it. USDA FoodKeeper gives frosting or icing 10 to 12 months in the pantry from the date of purchase, then 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge after opening.
Those times count from when you buy and open store-bought frosting, so they don’t cover homemade buttercream.
When should you throw cake out?
Throw cake out if it has mold. The USDA says moldy bread and baked goods should be thrown out, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
That means the whole cake, not only the spot you can see.
Frequently asked questions
How long can store-bought cake sit in the pantry?
3 to 7 days, counted from the date of purchase, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
How long can you keep cake in the freezer?
6 months from the date of purchase for best quality. Cake kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, so the time is about quality.
Can you keep fruitcake in the fridge?
Yes, FoodKeeper lists 12 months in the fridge for fruitcake after opening.
Does the fridge time start when I buy the cake?
The fridge time for store-bought cake starts when you open it, not when you buy it. FoodKeeper lists 7 to 10 days after opening.
Can you cut the mold off cake?
Moldy cake should be thrown out rather than trimmed, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
Do cupcakes need to be refrigerated?
Not during the first 3 to 7 days. USDA FoodKeeper lists the pantry for that long for commercial cakes and muffins, then the fridge for 7 to 10 days after opening. It has no separate line for cupcakes.
