As much as we love a good angel food cake, even we can’t commit to eating the whole thing in one sitting. So, knowing how to store angel food cake is just as important as knowing how to make it.
Angel food cake, while delightful, is among the more delicate desserts; its cloud-like composition makes it more susceptible to drying out.
However, that doesn’t mean it can’t live to see another day.
With proper storage, you can maximize the life of your angel food cake and enjoy it for days—or possibly months, depending on your method—to come.
So, you can store leftover angel food cake, but you can also prepare the heavenly treat in advance of an event—or just because—and have it ready to go when you need it.
That’s good news for those who like to plan and those who believe in having an emergency cake on hand- I mean, who doesn’t love an emergency cake.
Since we believe in giving cakes the longest possible shelf life, we’ve compiled a complete “how-to” guide for storing your angel food cake, from leftovers to party prep, including answers to all the big, important ‘angel food cake’ storage questions.
Basically, we’re here to impart our knowledge of how to keep angel food cake fresh.
How long can angel food cake sit out?
We’re not in the habit of tossing out perfectly delicious and fresh angel food cake just out of fear of it drying out.
Luckily, we know the rules about angel food cake longevity and how long we have before it turns into dessert croutons.
With proper storing techniques, angel food cake can sit out at room temperature for one to two days.
We’ll cover different storage methods for angel food cake: room temperature, refrigerator, and freezer.
While this is the rule of thumb for plain, freshly baked angel food cake, bear in mind that this guideline will change if your angel food cake contains any type of dairy products like whipped cream, custard, ice cream, icing, or filling.
If your angel food cake does happen to include any of these dairy garnishes, it’s best to refrigerate the sweet treat immediately to extend its shelf life.
Coincidentally, refrigeration extends the longevity of your angel food cake by about one week.
If you fail to properly store your angel food cake made with dairy, the cake will dry out and then harden within a couple of hours, and without refrigeration, it will eventually spoil.
Since we’d like to keep your angel food cake as angelic as possible, we urge you not to tempt fate.
How to store angel food cake
As we’ve mentioned, the key to prolonging the life of your angel food cake is in the way it’s stored.
Though angel food cake may seem especially pristine- and it is- it’s not particularly picky about the packaging that keeps it fresh and moist.
There are three methods of storing angel food cake, so we’ve broken them each down for easy reference.
How to store angel food cake on the counter at room temperature
If you’d like to let your angel food cake sit out, it can remain in a cake box or a cake holder, container on the counter, or in the pantry at room temperature for no more than two days.
That being said, it’s a good idea to add a protective layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil around your angel food cake to keep it from drying out too quickly.
Here’s how to do it:
Tools needed:
- Angel food cake
- Plastic wrap, aluminum foil
Instructions for storing angel food cake at room temperature:
- Wrap your angel food cake securely in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Place the cake on your kitchen counter at room temperature, preferably away from direct sunlight.
- Enjoy the dessert for up to two days.
If you happen to have garnished your angel food cake with fruit or any dairy-based toppings, it will need to be stored in the refrigerator.
How to store angel food cake in the refrigerator
To properly store angel food cake in the refrigerator, it must be covered and sealed tightly to avoid air exposure.
In this case, you should wrap your cake in plastic wrap and then wrap it again in aluminum foil—this two-wrap combination will be most effective in keeping it from drying out.
However, if your cake has been glazed with whipped cream, frosting, or fruit, wrapping it will not be plausible.
Here’s the process of storing angel food cake in the fridge:
Tools needed:
- Angel food cake
- Plastic wrap
- Aluminum foil
- Refrigerator
Instructions for storing angel food cake at room temperature:
- Wrap angel food cake securely in a plastic wrap.
- Cover it again, but this time with aluminum foil.
- Place the newly sealed cake in your refrigerator.
Cooking Chew tip: You can store your cake in any sealable airtight container if it will fit in.
Even if you’re able to wrap your angel food cake with or without toppings, you may still want to place it in a container to protect it from other refrigerator items that could potentially compromise its shape.
Keep in mind that angel food cake stored in the refrigerator could last for up to a week.
If your goal is to lengthen the life of your angel food cake longer than that, you’ll need to explore colder temperatures, i.e., freezing.
How to store angel food cake in the freezer
Not all foods freeze well, and for a dessert as pristine as angel food cake, this is a question that comes up a lot.
In fact, it comes up so often that we’ve dedicated a whole section to how to freeze angel food cake.
We’ve already established the delicate nature of angel food cake, so it stands to reason that the storage process is also delicate.
But delicate doesn’t translate into difficulty; the key to freezing angel food cake is simple: layers and slices.
Here’s how to do it:
Tools needed:
- Angel food cake
- Plastic wrap, plastic freezer bag
- Freezer-safe plastic container
- Serrated knife
- Marker
- Freezer
Instructions for storing angel food cake in the freezer:
- Slice the angel food cake into smaller pieces, or leave it whole.
- Wrap as a whole or each cake slice in plastic wrap, and place it in a plastic freezer bag.
- Remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag before sealing it.
- Label the bag with a marker to track the date.
- Store your bags of cake in a freezer-safe plastic container.
Pro tip #1: You can double wrap your cake slices in aluminum foil before sealing them in bags, but the plastic wrap-freezer bag combo is sufficient.
Pro tip #2: To conserve freeze bags, you can store more than one wrapped slice in a bag.
Prop tip #3: Breaking it down into slices will give you the benefit of not having to thaw the whole cake, especially if all you want is one slice.
This also makes for easier freezer arrangement since you don’t have to dedicate such a large chunk of freezer real estate to one whole item.
Freezing angel food cake is an excellent option if you don’t need it right away or don’t plan to use it for several weeks or even months.
So, if you’re prepping for a party down the road, planning on craving angel food cake with strawberries when the summer rolls around, or in case you like having a spare cake in the freezer just in case, rest assured that you can, indeed, freeze your angel food cake.
You may worry that the light, fluffy texture of angel food cake may not make for good freezing, but angel food cake actually freezes very well and will thaw back to its perfectly cloud-like state when the time comes.
Unlike classic sponge cake, angel food cake doesn’t contain any dairy products or egg yolks in the batter; this makes it better suited to freezing.
How long does angel food cake last?
Though we’ve covered the shelf-life of angel food cake in various scenarios, it helps to lay out this information explicitly in its own dedicated section.
We’ve also broken down this section into the scenarios mentioned above for the sake of organization.
At room temperature
Since there is no dairy in angel food cake, it does not have to be refrigerated right away- unless it’s frosted with a dairy-based icing or covered in fruit.
When properly stored at room temperature, plain angel food cake will last one or two days.
The cake can be kept on the counter or in the pantry as long as it’s protected from air—a cake box or cake holder or container will work just fine (as we’ve already divulged), but covering it in plastic wrap is a smart extra step, just in case.
Also, leaving your angel food cake at room temperature is the best option if you plan to eat the rest of it as soon as possible.
In the refrigerator
If your angel food cake is frosted or decorated with fruit, you’ll want to store it in the refrigerator until you plan to eat the rest of it.
When stored properly in the refrigerator, angel food cake will last up to one week.
If you’re storing angel food cake in the refrigerator, make sure it’s wrapped in plastic wrap with an added layer of aluminum foil.
Again, it can also be stored in a plastic or glass container for safekeeping, but the double-wrap method will serve its purpose quite well.
The refrigerator is the best storage location for already decorated cakes or cakes that you’d like to keep fresh for more than just a couple of days.
In the freezer
Freezing food certainly extends the shelf life of many types of food, and angel food cake is no different.
When stored properly in the freezer, angel food cake will last about four to six months.
Before placing your angel food cake in the freezer, cover tightly it in plastic wrap and place slices in the freezer bags; we also recommend placing your cake bags in a plastic container.
For freshness, we suggest that you plan to defrost and use your angel food cake within the first four months, but it will still be suitable for up to six.
Freezing angel food cake is the best bet for those who would like to set it aside for a special occasion down the road—and by special occasion, we mean you’re just in the mood for angel food cake.
| At room temperature | In the refrigerator | In the freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angel food cake | 1 to 2 days | Up to a week | 4 to 6 months |
How to defrost angel food cake
While preparing and storing angel food cake may be a meticulous process, defrosting it is not quite as painstaking.
Defrosting angel food cake is as simple as a change of location.
If you’re not in a hurry, you can place your frozen angel food cake in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw, most likely overnight.
However, if you just can’t wait to get your hands on that divine angel food cake before it floats off your plate, you can set it on the counter to thaw, which will take about five or six hours.
When your cake defrosts, remove it from the bag and plastic wrap, then dress it up with fruit or frosting or whatever you’d like—unless, of course, you fancied it up pre-sub zero storage.
Recipes
What kind of guide would this be if it didn’t include some of our favorite angel food cake recipes?
While this how-to is for storing your already prepared angel food cake rather than making it, everybody loves a good cake recipe, and we’ve got you covered.
This angel food cake recipe is a timeless beauty, and we’re sure it will become a go-to among your dessert recipes.
There’s a lot to live up to when you label something as perfect, but there’s no denying that this angel food cake is, at the very least, pretty darn close- plus, we just love the fruit pairing suggestions.
When you treat your family or guests with this angel food cake recipe, we doubt there will be any leftovers to worry about storing, but nevertheless, we’ve included it for your enjoyment.
The bottom line
Angel food cake is a delicate dessert that demands the utmost care in its storage procedures.
Though it may seem slightly high maintenance, these guidelines will keep your angel food cake fresh, delicious, and as light as ever the second time around.
Whether you plan on enjoying it again in a day, a week, or a few months, your angel food cake will stand the test of time as long as you follow these few simple rules.
Now go; let yourself eat cake!
Want some garnish inspirations for angel food cake? You should check out our 38 Angel Food Cake Toppings!
How To Store Angel Food Cake In The Freezer
Ingredients
- Angel food cake
- Plastic wrap plastic freezer bag
- Freezer-safe plastic container
- Serrated knife
- Marker
- Freezer
Instructions
- Slice the angel food cake into smaller pieces, or leave it whole.
- Wrap as a whole or each cake slice in plastic wrap, and place it in a plastic freezer bag.
- Remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag before sealing it.
- Label the bag with a marker to track the date.
- To help inhibit freezer burn, store the bags of cake in a freezer-safe plastic container.
Notes
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