How Long Is Fondant Good For? 3 Helpful Tips

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Last Updated on February 18, 2023

Fondant can be a wonderful tool to use for decorating cakes. However, you may have wondered, how long is fondant good for?

The great thing about fondant is that it lets your creative side run wild. You can create beautiful designs that you wouldn’t be able to make with just frosting.

Once you get the hang of it, fondant can be great to work with when making your next cake masterpiece. However, it is not uncommon to have leftover fondant when you are done decorating your cake. Instead of just throwing it away, you can save it for future cakes.

What is Fondant?

Fondant is a type of icing that is generally made from sugar, water, gelatin, vegetable fat or shortening, and glycerol. In addition, it can also be made with marshmallows.

Fondant has a stretchy, elastic-like consistency that is ideal for rolling out and covering cakes. It can also be used to make decorations as well.

Bakers often use it to create elaborate designs. It can be rolled into a flat surface or shaped into different things. It is often added to a cake after it has been covered in frosting.

Fondant can be tricky to work with, as it can crack or dry out. However, once you get the hang of it, it can be a great tool to use when decorating. Though it is completely edible, some people do not like its taste and consistency of it.

How Long is Fondant Good for? Plus 3 Tips

When properly stored, fondant can be kept for 1-2 months at room temperature. It keeps much longer than other frostings and icings, which typically only keep for 4-7 days.

Making fondant in advance can be a great way to save you time. You can easily make several different colors and have them ready whenever you are decorating a cake. In addition, you can also use it on cookies and cupcakes.

1. How to Store Fondant

To keep it pliable and easy to use, you should always store fondant at room temperature. You want to avoid storing it in the fridge or freezer, as this will cause it to become hard and difficult to work with.

When storing fondant, roll it in a ball or log. You can also store cut-out shapes and rolled-out sheets. To store it, you will want to keep it in plastic wrap and keep it in a Ziploc bag or airtight container.

To keep your fondant fresh while it’s being stored, cover it with vegetable shortening before wrapping it in plastic wrap. After adding a thin layer of shortening, carefully wrap it in the prepared plastic wrap. Once it is fully covered, place it in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.

Store your fondant at room temperature, in a cool, dry area of your kitchen. Avoid keeping it in an area where it may be in sunlight. Direct sunlight may cause it to fade in color and melt.

2. Decorating

Once you are ready to use your fondant, roll it and cover your cake, trimming any pieces off as you go. If any cracks occur when working with fondant, fill them in with vegetable shortening.

Typically before adding fondant, a cake will be decorated with a layer of frosting. Not only does this add more flavor, but it also works as a great foundation for the fondant.

To help keep it pliable and flexible while decorating, spread a small amount of powdered sugar on your work surface. In addition, you can spread vegetable shortening on your hands to keep it from drying out while handling it.

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3. Storing

Once your cake is decorated, it can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. It can also be frozen for up to three months, after being wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Allow the cake to thaw overnight in the fridge and then reach room temperature before serving.

For individual cake slices, wrap them individually in plastic wrap then aluminum foil. This will help the cake fresh whether you are keeping it in the fridge or freezer.

How Long Does Fondant Last on a Cake?

You can generally store a fondant cake for three days at room temperature in an airtight container and three months in the freezer. It is important to store your cake in a cool, dry location away from sunlight.

Typically, the cake will go bad before the fondant on the cake as the cake has a shorter shelf life than the fondant. You generally don’t have to worry about the fondant going bad when it is on a cake.

Typically, you don’t want to use any perishable fillings in a cake covered with fondant. This is because fondant does not store well in the fridge. However, if need be you can store a fondant cake in the fridge for a couple of days if the fillings are perishable.

How Long Does Homemade Fondant Last?

Homemade fondant will typically have a shorter shelf life than store-bought fondant. This is because store-bought fondant typically includes preservatives to keep it fresh for longer.

Homemade fondant will typically last between two to four weeks. In a plastic wrap, store it in the pantry or an excellent, dry location.

How to Store Leftover Fondant

If you have leftover fondant, form all the scraps into a ball. Then, shape the ball into a log or roll the ball out into sheets.

As stated above, add a thin layer of vegetable shortening to your fondant. Then wrap it in a layer of plastic wrap and place it in a Ziploc bag or airtight container.

How to Preserve Fondant

The best way to keep your fondant fresh is to add a layer of vegetable shortening to your fondant as this locks in the freshness. Then wrapping it in plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container is key to keeping air out, which will dry out your fondant.

If you have fondant decorations you would like to preserve and showcase, you can spray them with a clear lacquer spray. Once you spray the decorations, it is no longer edible and can not be used on cakes.

How Long Does Fondant Take to Dry?

Depending on the amount of fondant and the size, fondant can take anywhere from two to 36 hours to dry. You should plan when making a fondant cake to give it plenty of time to dry.

To help speed up the drying process, place your fondant in front of a fan. You can also use a blow dryer or use a table light to help dry the fondant faster.

By rolling the fondant thin, it will dry faster. In addition, having a thin layer of fondant on your cake is more desirable than having a thick layer. If you own a food dehydrator, you can also put your fondant in there to dry too.

Avoid putting your fondant in the fridge, as this will not help the drying process. You can also add a drying agent such as cornstarch or Tylose to your fondant to make it dry faster.

How Long Is Fondant Good For? Everything to Know

Fondant is a common tool many bakers use when it comes to decorating cakes. It makes a beautiful, smooth surface for creating fun and unique designs. Many bakers keep it on hand in their kitchens.

Fortunately, fondant can keep up to 1-2 months at room temperature when stored properly. This allows bakers to plan when life starts to get busy. When it comes time to decorate your next cake, you will already be prepared.

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