How Long Does Ice Cream Cake Last? Full Guide

We’ll talk about ice cream cake’s shelf life in this blog post and offer you some advice on how to keep it fresh.

A wonderful dessert that is best enjoyed in the summer is ice cream cake. This type of cake raises a number of important questions, including how long it lasts and how it should be stored.

In essence, ice cream cake is the most amazing thing to ever exist in baking. Ice cream and fluffy cake combine to make one of my absolute favorite things. But regrettably, it’s not permanent. Ice cream cake typically keeps in the freezer for a week to two months.

You can take a few steps to preserve the freshness of your ice cream cake. Read on to find out.

How Long Does Ice Cream Cake Last?

A lot of people think that ice cream cake will last for months on end. The combination of ice cream and cake, one of which is always kept frozen (the ice cream), is all that it really is. Having said that, shouldn’t it be okay to eat even after the major celebration?

Not exactly. Ice cream cake can be stored for up to a week; the sooner, the better.

This isn’t necessarily because the cake goes bad. It’s not like eating an ice cream cake that has been sitting out for a month will make you sick. Ice crystals starting to form in the ice cream is the bigger problem. This not only looks unappetizing but tastes disgusting, too.

Now, for ice cream cakes that do not have any kind of buttercream, whipped cream, egg, or cream cheese on the interior or exterior, the shelf life extends to two months. Of course, it’s still preferable to consume it as quickly as possible.

Unopened

An unopened ice cream cake can last for up to two weeks in the freezer. This is so that they don’t spoil as quickly as other desserts do, as ice cream cakes are frequently made with high-fat content.

The cake’s expiration date should still be verified before purchase, though.

Opened

An opened ice cream cake will only last for a few days before it starts to harden and dry out. It loses moisture as a result of being exposed to air, which is why this is the case.

An opened ice cream cake can be covered in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep it fresh longer. You Might Also Like: How Long Does Ice Cream Last Once Opened?

Factors That Affect Its Lifespan

There are many factors that can affect the lifespan of ice cream:

How It’s Stored

If you want your ice cream cake to last for more than a few days, it needs to be properly stored.

Ice cream cake should be kept in the freezer in an airtight container. Consequently, the cake won’t dry out and turn hard.

Temperature

Ice cream cake should be kept in the freezer’s coldest section to maintain the lowest possible temperature. This will stop the ice cream from melting and becoming runny.

Expiration Date

Prior to purchasing, make sure to look at the ice cream cake’s expiration date. The average shelf life of ice cream cakes is two weeks, though the brand can affect this.

Room Temperature

An ice cream cake will only remain solid at room temperature for a short period of time before melting. This is due to the fact that ice cream is heat-sensitive and will begin to melt at temperatures above freezing.

Humidity

Additionally, humidity can have an impact on ice cream cakes. The ice cream cake might get soggy if the air in your freezer is overly moist. To avoid this, you can store the cake in a container with a tight seal.

Ingredients Used

An ice cream cake’s shelf life can also be impacted by the ingredients used. Fresh fruit in the cake will only keep for a few days before it begins to rot.

The cake will, however, only keep for up to two weeks in the freezer if it contains artificial flavors and preservatives. You Might Also Like: How Long Does Ice Cream Last in the Freezer?

How to Tell If Ice Cream Cake is Bad?

It can be challenging to determine whether an ice cream cake is still edible or not. Some individuals might make judgments based on the color of the icing, but it’s crucial to understand that there may be additional factors at play that could impact how dark a cake appears on the outside.

In order to see cues like texture and taste when possible, you’ll also need to use your senses. Follow these steps below for more information about telling if an ice cream cake has gone bad after having been stored at home:

• Take a close look at the icing to start; any discoloration from brownish or even green spots may be a sign of spoilage.
• Check out anything that smells like sour milk, sour odors, or strong flavors if this doesn’t work.
• Finally, take a small bite and assess the flavor.

There is a problem with your cake’s storage conditions if it smells strange but tastes like vanilla. If this doesn’t work, you might want to cut into more ice cream to test it out further.

How to Store Leftover Ice Cream Cake Properly?

You need to store the leftover ice cream cake after everyone has finished their piece; if you do this correctly, you can eat it for up to a week without getting sick. The leftover cake should be placed in an airtight plastic container as soon as possible.

Use plastic or ceramic instead of glass because the glass will allow odors to permeate the container and ruin the flavor of the cake. Glass freezes ice cream cakes much more slowly than plastic does. It implies that freezer burn will have more time to ruin the cake.

To preserve as much of the container’s cold air as possible, wrap it in cling film. The cooler area of your freezer is where you should place the container: in the back, where it is the darkest.

If your ice cream cake has an unusual shape, you can double-wrap the leftovers in cling film and store them in a zip-top bag to prevent odors from leaking into the cake.

How to Store Ice Cream Cake Without a Freezer?

If you are in a situation where you won’t have access to a freezer to keep the ice cream cake in until you are ready to cut and serve it, what would you do? 4 to 7 days is the maximum storage time for dry ice. The dry ice technique is applied as follows.

Storing Ice Cream Cake Using the Dry Ice Method

Before you try the dry ice method, there are a few things you need to remember:

• When working with dry ice, keep in mind to wear gloves because dry ice can burn your skin.
• If you can’t find an icebox with a vent, crack the lid and place the cooler in a cool, shaded area because dry ice does produce some vapor.
• Please don’t order the dry ice too far in advance because it might melt before you can use it. Order it the day before the event or on your day off. Dry ice might last for a few days, but you never know what might go wrong, so be safe rather than sorry.

Now that you know the safety precautions to keep in mind, here is how to use the dry ice method:

Get a large enough cooler that can hold dry ice, along with your cake (in an airtight container). Along with some in a bag for the sides, place some dry ice in the bottom. Take care because the ice could harm the decorations.

The ice cream cake could be placed in an airtight plastic container with dry ice on the bottom and top of the container. A mushy mess will result if ice accidentally enters the container.

Your ice cream cake will remain chilled long enough to cut and enjoy. Put the leftover cake back into the container and the icebox when you’re finished. You should have enough time to safely re-freeze your cake.

Wrap the dry ice in towels and put it in the icebox to extend its shelf life. To keep the dry ice colder for longer, you can also wrap the cooler in newspaper or brown paper.

Using Regular Ice to Store Your Ice Cream Cake

Investing in a high-quality cooler rather than one made of Styrofoam will help the ice last longer. We are all aware that using regular ice properly will help keep things cold.

In either shape, regular ice can prevent an ice cream cake from melting in the heat. Regular ice is available in cubes and occasionally in round shapes. Below are some hacks to help ensure your ice cream cake lasts as long as possible:

• Prior to adding the ice cream cake and add ice to the cooler, add ice because doing so will cause the cake to melt more quickly.
• Ice can be solidified into larger blocks by freezing. Water can be frozen in casserole dishes to form substantial slabs of ice that can be used to cover the cake container. It will make it possible for a consistent temperature.
• To make the ice melt more slowly, sprinkle some rock salt over it. For years, people have used this technique to prevent ice from melting too quickly.
• Keep ice or towels in all the open spaces. Filling those spaces will prolong the life of the ice because open-air pockets allow the ice to melt more quickly.
• Avoid opening the cooler frequently because each time you do, warm air is let in, hastening the melting of the ice and, consequently, the ice cream cake.

General Guidelines for Storing Ice Cream Cake in the Freezer

You can achieve the best results when storing your ice cream cakes in the freezer by adhering to a few simple rules. For your reference, the recommended policies are listed below.

1. Store Your Cake Quickly. So that it doesn’t melt, quickly place your cake in the freezer.
2. Seal Your Cake. We strongly advise putting your cake in a freezer bag or airtight container. This is an effective way to stop the freezer burn on your cake.
3. Use Plastic Containers. It is advised against using a glass storage container for your ice cream cakes, if at all possible. Since they cool down more quickly, airtight plastic containers work best if you have access to them.

Conclusion: Store Ice Cream Cake Properly

In summary, ice cream cake is typically made with vanilla ice cream, whipped topping, and a cake layer. This dessert can be frozen for 7 to 10 days or kept at room temperature for 12 hours.

A variety of elements, including humidity, temperature, and storage, can shorten the shelf life of an ice cream cake. If an ice cream cake has a hard, dry texture or is developing ice crystals on the top, it is bad.

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