Christmas cake is a popular Christmas/winter holiday food often eaten as part of the celebrations. Many families and people make Christmas cakes to eat throughout the weeks leading up to and during Christmas day. But when you need to store it in your refrigerator, can this fruit cake last long? This article explains how long does Christmas cake fresh in the freezer.
How Long Can You Keep Christmas Cake In The Freezer?
Not very long at all. In fact, in most cases, you should probably throw out that fresh-from-the-oven holiday goodness as soon as possible to avoid food poisoning. That’s right – if your friends and family love you enough to enjoy a yummy sugar cookie baked by your own two hands, they might also love you enough to avoid getting you sick with food poisoning during the holiday season.
It turns out that baked goods like cakes, cookies, bread, and other delicious goodies are some of the most likely foods to cause illness if not immediately refrigerated or frozen.
According to the Department of Health & Human Services Food Safety Education website, “Refrigerator or freezer temperatures inhibit bacterial growth.” Unfortunately, this means that unless your Christmas treats are stored at a cool enough temperature, any bacteria introduced during baking could multiply rapidly once your cake is finally sliced – inviting all sorts of nasty bugs to your kitchen, including Salmonella.
According to this article by Serious Eats, “at temperatures between 35-40 F (2-4 C), yeast will go into hibernation; molds will not grow, and bacteria activity will slow down.”
While most food experts recommend eating foods within two days after cooking, there are some exceptions to that rule. For instance, according to Food Safety Experts, you can keep cooked meat (including poultry) in the refrigerator for up to four days without risking illness. You can also keep cooked rice or pasta – even when cooked with meat – in the fridge for longer than two days.
According to the Houston Chronicle, you should freeze or refrigerate cakes within two hours after they are cooked to help prevent bacteria growth. Cakes made with cream cheese, sour cream, custard, fruits, or vegetables must be kept in the refrigerator for no more than three days – even if the cake is fully baked.
Cookies and pieces of bread can stay out at room temperature for two full days before they need to go into the fridge; however, it’s best to keep them in an airtight container (if possible) during that period. Some bread may only last 2-3 days before becoming stale – unless frozen immediately after baking.
In fact, according to the University of Illinois Extension, “By storing at 40F [ 4 C] or below, they will last from 7 to 10 days.” Sour cream pastries can remain in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before they need to go into the freezer. However, most other pies should be frozen immediately after cooking – even if you plan on eating them later that day.
While a turkey dinner may only take a few hours before going wrong in your fridge due to potential food poisoning risks, you might have a few more days before having to throw your Christmas cake out. Just remember that no matter how long it lasts on your counter if you decide to save it for later, the only way to keep your cake fresh is by keeping it frozen.
How To Store Christmas Cake In Fridge
It is common for people to bake Christmas cake in December, often with fondant icing. It is important that you keep the cake fresh, especially if you are storing it for a long period of time. This can be done by putting the cake in your fridge.
Here are the steps on how to do this:
- Wrap the bottom of the cake tin with clingfilm to avoid the cake from sticking and drying out.
- Put the cake in the fridge and make sure that it is well wrapped so that no moisture escapes.
- Check the cake every few days to ensure that it is not going moldy. If it is, then take it out of the fridge and eat it immediately.
- The cake can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. After this, it is advisable to freeze it.
- To freeze the cake, wrap it in clingfilm and then put it in a freezer bag. Make sure that you label the bag with the date so you know how long it has been frozen. The cake can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How Long Will Christmas Cake Last Once Iced?
Have you ever wondered how long your Christmas cake will last in the fridge? According to research, you may be surprised to find that the answer is “a very long time” – for up to twelve months!
But what happens when you take it out of the fridge, ice it and place it on your dining room table? Will it still be fresh after many hours? Or should you eat all your Christmas cake before January starts next year?
We spoke to Sally Coe, the lead microbiologist at food consultancy Leatherhead Food International. She told us: “Christmas cakes can contain dried fruits which definitely helps support microbial growth.“
She continued: “As long as they aren’t contaminated with harmful bacteria or moulds, then they should be safe to eat after a few weeks.“
So there you have it! You don’t have to worry about your Christmas cake going off – as long as it’s stored in the fridge and doesn’t look or smell dodgy, you can enjoy it for many weeks after the festive period has ended. Merry Christmas!
How To Mature A Christmas Cake Quickly
So, you’ve baked a Christmas cake, but it’s not quite as mature as you’d like it to be. But, fear not – with this guide, you can mature your cake quickly and easily!
The first step is to make sure that your cake is thoroughly cooled. Once it is, wrap it in clingfilm and place it in the fridge. After 24 hours, take it out of the refrigerator and let it come back up to room temperature.
Once your cake is at room temperature, please place it in an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry place. Make sure that the container has plenty of space for the cake to “breath,” as this will help it to mature more quickly.
After a few days, your cake should be ready to eat! Enjoy!
So there you have it – with these simple steps, you can mature your fruit cake quickly and easily. Just make sure to follow the tips listed above, and you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious, mature cake in no time!
How Long Can You Keep Christmas Cake at Room Temperature?
Most Christmas cakes are made to be used within a year because the type of Christmas in them breaks down over time and becomes inedible.
Most fruit cakes contain candied or dried fruits, which can become moldy if they sit out too long. If you don’t eat your fruit cake within one year, you should throw it away.
When in doubt about how long your cake will last, remember the rule of thumb: If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck. You know that fruit cake has gone wrong when it tastes like trash.
You can store the cake in the fridge if it is fresh, but most people keep it at room temperature. Some people also hold their cakes in a cool place, like a cellar or garage.
Regardless of where you store your cake, remember to cut off any moldy pieces before eating the rest of it.
Frequently Asked Quetions
Christmas cake is a type of fruitcake that is typically served as part of the Christmas holiday celebration. The cake is made with dried fruits, nuts, and spices and typically contains alcohol such as brandy or rum. Christmas cake is often decorated with frosting, icing, or sugar decorations in the shape of Christmas-themed objects such as holly leaves and berries, snowflakes, or Santas.
Christmas cake is a popular dessert enjoyed during the Christmas season. But what makes it so unique?
One of the main reasons Christmas cake is so famous is that it is typically made with dried fruits and nuts, giving it a delicious and robust flavor. In addition, Christmas cake is often topped with frosting or icing, which makes it even more mouthwatering.
Another reason why Christmas cake is a favorite among many people is that it can be enjoyed as part of a festive holiday meal or as a dessert later on. And, since Christmas cake can be stored for several days, you don’t have to worry about eating it all in one sitting!
Final Thought
The most important thing with refrigerated Christmas cakes is that they must be at room temperature before you eat them. Because of its high sugar content, Christmas cake will crystallize when taken out of your refrigerator, so it’s best to let the sweet treat come back to room temperature for 24 hours before you dig into it.
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