Does Carrot Cake Need to be Refrigerated: Easy Tips

Last Updated on February 20, 2023

At room temperature, most unfrosted cakes do not need refrigeration. Yet, does carrot cake need to be refrigerated? Essentially, if you leave it at room temperature, the cream cheese frosting will melt. In addition to that, it will fall off the cake.

Should Carrot Cake Be Refrigerated?

Because the ingredients consist of fresh carrots, the cake can produce molds. However, it depends if you indeed kept your carrot cake in a humid or warm climate. That is why, after cooling the cake, make sure to wrap the cake layers in cling wrap. Afterward, store them in the fridge until you are ready to use them.

How Long is Carrot Cake Good For at Home?

For starters, freshly baked carrot cake will last for around one to two days at room temperature. Keep in mind, when properly stored.

Moreover, an uncut, iced, and decorated carrot cake can last for about a week in the fridge. Although, once you cut it, you should only store it in the refrigerator for approximately two to three days.

In that regard, you should always refrigerate the cake that has fillings or frostings made with eggs or dairy products. These include whipped cream, custard fillings or frostings, and buttercream.

Furthermore, you can keep unfrosted cake layers in the fridge for approximately one week. On the other hand, frozen cake layers will last in the freezer for around two to three months.

Nevertheless, the accurate answer on how long does carrot cake lasts relies on storage conditions. With that, it would be best to keep your freshly baked carrot cake in a dry location.

The most effective approach to telling if a carrot cake has spoiled is to smell it. Likewise, you can also observe any changes in appearance. Because of that, you should throw away the carrot cake if mold starts to show.

Refrigerate carrot cake

Again, does carrot cake need to be refrigerated? The answer is definitely yes. With that, you should ensure to store the carrot cake in the fridge. Remember, you must refrigerate the carrot cake, especially if decorated with cream cheese frosting.

Furthermore, the frosting serves as a protectant. In addition to that, it will help maintain the carrot cake moist and fresh. Moreover, if you have cut the carrot cake, you may utilize plastic wrap. Doing this also helps to protect the cake. Not only that, but also you may cover the exposed areas with extra cream cheese frosting. Doing so will indeed help seal in the moisture.

Freezing carrot cake

Is it okay to freeze carrot cake? The answer is yes. But, before anything else, make sure to wrap the carrot cake with plastic freezer wrap or aluminum foil. Likewise, you can put it in a heavy-duty freezer bag.

Bear in mind that the carrot cake can last for around four to six months in the freezer. Although, please take note that it will only remain safe before that time. Besides that, check the freezer temperature. With that, you should freeze it at zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips and Tricks: Does Carrot Cake Need to Be Refrigerated?

Whenever the frosting is runny, the main reason is that the cream cheese has melted a little. Because of that, try placing it back in the fridge for around thirty minutes to reset.

In addition to that, you can put more confectioner’s sugar. Doing this helps it return to the correct consistency. Always remember that adding more sugar will make the icing sweeter. Because of this, make sure to taste from time to time.

Additionally, ensure that the cream cheese and the butter are at room temperature for smooth frosting. So with that, be sure to beat the butter and cream cheese till fluffy and creamy. Also, ensure to do this before you add the remainder of the ingredients.

Besides that, it would help to cover the carrot cake with cling wrap or foil. Doing this stops it from drying out. Because of this, it maximizes the shelf life of your carrot cake.

Lastly, you should know that carrot cakes belong to spice cakes. That is why it would help to use baking spices such as ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

What Not to Do When Making Carrot Cakes

1. Do not use a lot of baking powder

Oil-based varieties include carrots. The main reason is that it maintains its moisture. In addition to that, it helps it last for days. However, you will lose the leavening power that creaming sugar and butter would provide. That is why most home cooks tend to overdo their recipes by putting in a lot of baking powder. Doing this prevents a dense oil-based cake.

It is best to understand that it will solve the leavening issue. Yet, it adds a chemical taste to the carrot cake. As a result, you will have made an off-tasting finished product by beating the eggs with the sugar. After that, you stream in the oil gradually.

2. Never grate your carrots too large

To begin with, make sure to utilize the smallest setting of the box grater. Likewise, ensure the same thing with the food processor’s grating attachment. Doing so will make the carrots into fluffy pieces. Not only that but also you should strive to aspire for airy and light. With that, avoid chunky and oversized pieces.

Also, consider the cake’s baking time. For instance, it is not enough to bake the carrots for thirty-five to forty-five minutes. Also, keep in mind that it is at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The main reason is that oil, eggs, and flour tend to cover the carrots.

3. Avoid frosting the cake while warm

Bear in mind that a still-warm cake will make the frosting into a runny liquid. Because of that, it differs from the lush and thick topping necessary for your carrot cake. That is why it is best to let the carrot cake cool entirely on racks. Besides that, make sure you do this before you frost and assemble.

Ultimately, a perfect cream cheese frosting is from cream cheese and butter spiked with powdered sugar. Apart from the fact that it is sweet and tangy, it is unavoidable to make a mess when heated.

Read more about Cream Cheese Frosting Without Butter

Why Do Carrots Turn Green in Carrot Cake?

You may notice that when you make carrot cake, your carrots change color and may turn a shade of green. If you notice this, you may find it alarming and feel your carrot cake is no longer safe to eat; however, that is not the case. While it may look unappetizing, it’s completely edible.

The color change appears because of a change in pH levels; such as a change to the acid or alkaline ingredients. When it comes to carrot cake, this is usually due to the baking powder, as baking powder contains bicarbonate of soda, which will cause the color change.

This will likely happen when the dry ingredients have not been mixed well enough into the batter. When you attempt to make the cake again, try sifting the baking powder first and ensuring it’s completely combined before baking.

As well as carrots changing color, this can happen to other ingredients too such as blueberries and sunflower seeds.

How Long Does Cake Last on the Counter?

Most cakes do best when left out on the counter. However, you need to ensure that any cakes decorated with perishable ingredients need to be refrigerated. Cakes decorated with buttercream do best when kept on the counter. However, they’ll usually only last around 3-5 days. To last this time, they’ll need to be kept in an airtight container and left in a cool, dry place.

Can You Freeze Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting?

Of course! Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is one of the cakes that freezes the best. To freeze a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting effectively, all you need to do is:

Place your cake, as it is, into the freezer for around an hour; or until the frosting has firmed up completely.

At this point, you can remove the cake from the freezer and wrap it in plastic wrap. It’s best to use two layers to ensure it’s completely sealed. And then finally, wrap with a layer of foil for extra protection.

Now you can keep your cake in the freezer for around 3 months. When ready to defrost, simply remove your cake and place it in the fridge to thaw. Remove the layers of foil and plastic wrap first and then leave for a few hours to defrost. Enjoy once your cake comes to room temperature!

How Do You Store Carrot Cake?

There are a few ways you can store carrot cake, but the best way is either covered it in the fridge or freezer. However, if your carrot cake is undecorated, you can also leave it at room temperature too.

How Should Carrot Cake Be Served?

You may be wondering how best to serve carrot cake, and the truth is, it can be served any way; hot or cold. However, most people prefer to enjoy carrot cake at room temperature.

Conclusion

I hope this post has helped to answer the question: does carrot cake need to be refrigerated? And give you an idea of the best way to store carrot cakes to ensure the best shelf life. Carrot cakes should always be refrigerated when decorated with cream cheese frosting, as cream cheese frosting is a perishable ingredient. Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to storing carrot cake? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!