For home bakers, sponge cake is an easy go to recipe that will always satisfy the taste buds. There are lots of different types of sponge cake but the basic recipe is always the same. If you’ve made a sponge cake and aren’t going to eat it all in one sitting then you’ll need to know how to store sponge cake so it doesn’t go bad.
Storing your sponge cake at room temperature in an airtight container is the best way to keep it fresh for as long as possible. While you can store a sponge cake in the fridge, this isn’t recommended unless you have filled it with fresh cream.
That said, most expert bakers will tell you that it’s always preferable to decorate a sponge cake using butter cream as this means that it can still be stored at room temperature. When stored this way, you will get the longest life out of your sponge.
How Long Does Sponge Cake Keep?
When kept at room temperature, sponge cake can last between five and seven days. However, this applies to home baked or bakery bought cakes. When you buy sponge cake from a supermarket, these products are usually packed with preservatives, so they’ll stay fresher for much longer. That said, once you open the cake, it’ll need to be eaten within a few days.
What Is The Best Way To Store Sponge Cake?
The best way to store sponge cake is by placing it in an airtight container and keeping it at room temperature. You can use any type of airtight container you have to have, as long as it’s the right size for the cake you’re trying to store.
But it isn’t only how you store the sponge cake but what you do in the lead up to storing; this can make all the difference.
For starters, you will need to prepare the cake differently depending on whether you have iced it yet. Cakes that have already been iced will need to make sure that the outside of the cake is fully covered in icing. However, if you haven’t added any decoration yet then be sure to wrap it in cling film before putting it into your chosen container.
It’s also incredibly important to allow your cake a good amount of time to cool down before you store it. You can check the internal temperature of the cake using a thermometer which will tell you when it’s reached room temperature and is good to store.
Can You Store Sponge Cake In The Fridge?
A lot of us have been led to believe that things will always remain fresher for longer when they are kept in the fridge. For many food items, this is certainly the case but for others, it’s not.
How many of you are guilty of popping that box of eggs into the fridge or a bottle of tomato ketchup? I know I store my eggs in the fridge but they’re always in the ambient section of the shop which tells you that this isn’t necessary.
The same can be said for cake. When you go to the bakery, are the cakes and bread stored in the fridge? No, they’re not. Which means that you don’t need to store them that way at home.
While it is possible to keep a sponge cake in the fridge, this certainly isn’t what’s best for your dessert. You see, keeping a sponge in the fridge will actually cause it to dry out much more quickly, and that’s not what we want.
There may be times that you need to refrigerate your sponge cake, for example, if you have decorated it with fresh cream. In this case, you’ll have no choice but to put it in the fridge, unless you want it to deteriorate overnight. Doing this will keep the cake fresh for around 3 to 4 days.
Can You Freeze Sponge Cake?
If you don’t intend on using your sponge cake for a good period of time after making or buying it then it is possible to freeze it. One of the great things about sponge cake is that it does freeze very well. However, it’ll only remain at its best if you prepare it correctly before freezing.
You will need to make sure that you cut the cake into pieces before freezing. If you’re freezing smaller sponge cakes, this won’t matter as long as you wrap them individually. In any case, you’ll need to take the separate pieces of cake and wrap them in cling film. Then place them into a resealable bag or a container. They’ll keep in the freezer this way for as long as four months.
It is essential to make sure that you put the cakes somewhere that they won’t be crushed by heavier items.
You may have already iced your sponge cake and that’s fine; you can still freeze it. Again, you’ll need to follow the same method, ensuring that each piece is individually wrapped and given enough space within the freezer so it isn’t squashed.
When you’re ready to eat your cakes, you will need to allow them to fully defrost. You can do this by placing the cake on a plate at room temperature and waiting for it to thaw. This will typically take around two to three hours. However, you can also thaw the cake in the fridge which will normally take between eight and twelve hours; ideal if you’re getting the cake out the night before!
What’s The Benefit Of Using Buttercream For Storing Sponge Cake?
One of the main problems with storing sponge cake is that it can dry out very easily when it isn’t properly covered. Even with all the will in the world, airtight containers might not be sealed properly so there’s still a chance of your cake drying out.
But if you want to ensure it stays moist then you might think about decorating it with buttercream. If you use real butter to make the buttercream, you will need to store the cake in the fridge. However, if it is made from shortening then you can keep it at room temperature.
In any case, having a layer of buttercream over your cake will prevent it from drying out as quickly. This is excellent if you know you won’t finish an entire cake in one sitting.
Conclusion
Baking is an incredibly fun activity and making sponge cakes is simple and hassle free; until it comes to storing them. When it isn’t done correctly, you may find that your sponge cake goes dry very quickly and this makes it inedible.
Storing the cake at room temperature is the best method. All you need to do is to make sure that you have it in an airtight container. While it is possible to store the sponge in the fridge, this will usually speed up the drying process so the cake won’t last as long.
