You made a fresh batch of pound cake for some guests. Plans changed, and the guests canceled. You don’t have to toss that cake.
Pound cakes can last between five to seven days when sufficiently stored in the refrigerator. You can leave it for a longer three to six months in the freezer as well.
Either way, you can save your pound cake for later guest invites or late-night snacking. Stick around to learn more about pound cake storage.
Can Pound Cake Batter Refrigerate?
After whipping a fresh batch of pound cake batter, you realize you can’t use it yet. Luckily, you can refrigerate it for up to 48 hours.
Even though it will remain fresh, air will escape, and the leavening agent will lose its rising ability. In turn, your pound cake may come out flat from the oven.
For this reason, we suggest refrigerating your pound cake batter overnight or for a few hours to retain its final fluffy shape.
How to Store Pound Cake Batter in the Fridge
Proper storage is critical, whether keeping your pound cake batter refrigerated for an hour or ten. You can’t chuck the batter bowl and call it a day.
Otherwise, air will escape, and a top crust layer will form. Avoid this by pouring the batter into an airtight container.
Alternatively, you can keep it in the bowl but cover it with tin foil, parchment paper, or wax paper. When the time comes to use it, you can either let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
That way, it’ll be at room temperature, and you can easily mix it and pour it into a cake pan.
The other option involves pouring it straight from the fridge into the pan but giving it more time in the oven.
How Long Will Pound Cake Batter Last in the Freezer?
If you want to leave your batter for a longer period, then store it in the freezer. It can last around three months.
You can store the batter in the freezer in an airtight container. We also suggest using sealable freezer bags.
Place it in the fridge to thaw overnight when you want to use it. Then, leave it at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes or bake it directly afterward.
How Long Will Pound Cake Last in the Fridge?
Pound cake can last around five to seven days in the fridge. Meanwhile, a store-bought version of the cake can last one to two weeks.
When correctly stored in the refrigerator, you can maximize its fridge timeframe.
Subsequently, we recommend wrapping the cake in tin foil or plastic wrap. Otherwise, it can dry out and lose its textural appeal.
On the other hand, you can store the pound cake in an airtight container. Either way, you want to minimize the amount of air exposure.
Before wrapping or transferring the pound cake, ensure it’s cooled down. That can take at least an hour after baking it.
Can You Store Pound Cake in the Freezer?
In some cases, you may want to keep your pound cake longer than a week. Fortunately, you can store the cake in your freezer for about four to six months.
Now, it won’t be as fresh as it once was six months ago, especially flavor-wise. Besides that, different kinds of pound cakes have varied storage times.
For instance, a chocolate pound cake won’t have trouble lasting all six months in the freezer. Nevertheless, a cream cheese variety may only last three months due to the dairy elements.
Can You Store Pound Cake at Room Temperature?
You can keep your pound cake at room temperature for about three to four days. Since the recipe calls for little perishable ingredients, the cake is safe when left out.
That said, this storage method is ideal for pound cakes since it’ll maintain their texture and flavor.
Wrap the pound cake in plastic wrap or tin foil before leaving it out in your pantry. Better yet, transfer it to a container.
Is Pound Cake Better the Next Day?
Pound cakes usually taste better the next day. The dessert’s ingredients are relatively dense.
When left to sit longer, you’ll give them a better chance of fusing, giving you a more flavorful and moist result.
Overall, the butter and sugar have more time to mature and develop a richer flavor and texture.
Can You Make a Pound Cake Ahead of Time?
Making pound cake ahead of time is preferred since it tastes better the next day. Plus, you have multiple storage options, whether leaving it at room temperature, the fridge, or the freezer.
You can make the pound cake multiple days in advance. It primarily depends on the duration you’re waiting to serve it.
The best time to make it is usually a day or two in advance. That way, your pound cake will be more delectable and moist.
What Is the Best Method for Storing Pound Cake?
The best method of storing a pound cake is in an airtight container at room temperature. Other methods tend to deteriorate the dessert’s quality and texture.
Contrastingly, if your pound cake has lots of perishable ingredients, such as fruits, cream cheese, or frosting, the fridge is your best bet.
The refrigerator will retain the cake’s overall quality and taste.
How to Tell When Pound Cake Has Gone Bad
You might have left your pound cake in the fridge and forgotten about it. One night after cruising through your fridge, the tinfoil catches your eye at the back.
After unfolding the cake, the first thing you want to do is inspect it. Check for any signs of mold. If there’s mold, even in a small spot, toss the cake out.
Don’t cut the mold piece off and eat the rest. You could still risk getting sick. Now, if there are no traces of mold, the next step is to get a whiff of the cake.
If it smells odd, then you should reconsider a slice. Besides that, if five to seven days have passed from refrigeration, the best course of action is to discard the cake.
Final Thoughts
Does pound cake need to be refrigerated? In short, pound cakes don’t have to be refrigerated if you’re going to eat them within three to four days of their creation.
Meanwhile, if you’re planning to leave the cake for a longer five to seven days, it’ll need to be stored in the fridge. For more extended periods, freezer storage is the way to go.
When it comes to storage technique, you need to wrap the cake in tin foil or parchment paper or keep it in an airtight container.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.