There are few things that a baker likes to do than bake cakes – there’s so many different types you can make!
With that being said, what if you want to store the cake batter before you actually bake the cake?
It’s important to know both how to store the cake batter right and how long its shelf life is going to be.
The short answer is that you’ll need to have the cake batter sitting in a mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap, and then that mixing bowl is stored in the refrigerator.
However, there is plenty to learn about how to store cake batter, because it can change depending on where you’ve properly stored it: left out at room temperature, keeping batter in the fridge, or even putting it in the freezer.
We’ve got all the answers below! In our guide, you’ll find out all about storing cake batter the right way, and how long it lasts.
How Long Does Cake Batter Last?
When asking “how long can cake batter last”, the answer depends on both how you’re storing it and where.
Letting Cake Batter Sit At Room Temperature
If you’re leaving cake batter sit on your counter at room temperature, then it’s only going to last up to 2 hours at most.
This is because cake batter includes wet ingredients such as milk and raw eggs, and these will go off quickly if left at room temperature.
These aren’t to be confused with dry ingredients, like baking soda and baking powder, which are known as “leavening ingredients” because they help the cake to expand and rise properly.
When You Refrigerate Cake Batter
On the other hand, cake batter can be refrigerated.
When you’ve secured the cake batter with plastic wrap so that it’s technically in an airtight container, and then put in the batter in the refrigerator, it should be able to last for up to 2 days.
If you want to bake the cake batter just a few days later, then storing the batter in the fridge is the way to go.
When You Store Cake Batter In The Freezer
On the other hand, you will get the longest results when you freeze cake batter.
In order to do this, though, you need to store it in a freezer ziplock bag, which we’ll cover later.
When you store cake batter in the freezer, it can last up to three months, keeping for anywhere between 10 and 12 weeks.
Storing Cake Batter VS Baked Immediately
You might be wondering whether it’s actually a good idea to store cake batter in the first place, or simply to get on with your baking and have the cake baked immediately.
The answer is that, if you can, you should bake the cake immediately.
The reason for this is all to do with the dry ingredients that we mentioned earlier.
The leavening ingredients need heat or moisture in order to activate them, and so the wet ingredients begin activating them straight away.
However, if you are then refrigerating cake batter or putting it in a freezer bag in the freezer, then the dry ingredients can become deactivated.
As a result, you’re going to get the freshest and most successful cake when you bake your cake mix immediately.
What Happens When You Let Cake Batter Sit At Room Temperature?
If you’ve just made your cake mix batter, then you will only be able to let it sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours – at most.
Food safety experts recommend that you don’t even leave it out for more than 1 hour.
The reason that you shouldn’t leave cake batter at room temperature is that it contains ingredients that spoil easily.
How Do You Refrigerate Cake Batter?
If you want to keep your cake batter overnight, or for a few days, then you can let the cake batter be refrigerated.
In order to do this, then you will need to store it properly. This means covering your mixing bowl in plastic wrap, but making sure that as much air has been let out beforehand as possible.
To ensure this, push your hand down on the plastic wrap until you touch the batter. By the end, your bowl covered in food wrap will be an airtight container, free of excess air.
Alternatively, you can just put the batter into a pre-existing airtight container, if you have any.
After that, simply put it in the fridge, where it will last up to 2 days.
How Do You Store Cake Batter In The Freezer?
If you want the cake batter to last even longer, you can store it in the freezer.
The batter will need to be put into a freezer bag to do this, which will then need as much air as possible released from it before you shut it. Using a ziplock bag will allow you to seal it.
In the freezer, the cake batter should typically last up to three months – or between 10 and 12 weeks.
However, your batter might contain ingredients that don’t freeze for that long, such as fruit.
In those cases, only freeze it for as long as those ingredients can be frozen for.
In terms of the thawing process, take the freezer bag of batter out and leave it in the fridge for a few hours – or even have it refrigerated overnight.
After that, leave the chilled batter at room temperature for 20 minutes before baking.
If your cake batter has freezer burn or mold on it, throw it away without baking or eating it.
Final Thoughts
You must store cake batter in the correct way and understand how long it’ll last. At room temperature, it shouldn’t be left for more than an hour.
In an airtight container in the fridge, it’ll last up to 2 days. In a freezer bag, it might last up to three months.
These tips can be especially useful if you’ve got any leftover cake batter!
