There’s nothing like something fresh from the oven, but homemade treats don’t always get eaten in one sitting. The good news is that a few simple storage habits can keep them tasting great for days, or even months. Here’s how to store the most common baked goods.
Cookies
- Let them cool completely before storing. Warm cookies release steam that turns them soggy.
- Use an airtight container at room temperature. Most cookies keep well for about a week.
- Keep soft and crisp cookies apart. Stored together, the moisture from soft cookies will make crisp ones go soft.
- Keep soft cookies soft by tucking a slice of bread into the container. The cookies absorb its moisture; swap the bread out when it goes hard.
Decorated Cookies
- Make sure icing is completely dry before stacking or packing.
- Store in a single layer, or separate layers with parchment paper so designs don’t smudge.
- Keep them at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. The fridge can cause condensation, which makes icing sticky and colours bleed.
Bread
- Keep bread at room temperature in a bread box, paper bag or cloth bag for a day or two. Plastic keeps it soft but softens the crust.
- Skip the fridge. Bread actually goes stale faster in the refrigerator than on the counter.
- For longer storage, slice it and freeze it. You can toast slices straight from the freezer.
Cakes & Cupcakes
- Cakes with buttercream or simple frosting are usually fine at cool room temperature for a day or two, loosely covered.
- Anything with cream cheese frosting, whipped cream, custard or fresh fruit belongs in the fridge.
- Chilled cake tastes best if you let it sit out for 30 minutes or so before serving.
- Unfrosted cake layers freeze beautifully when wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
Cream-Filled Pastries
Pastries filled with cream, custard or ricotta should be refrigerated and are best eaten within a day or two. If you’re filling pastry shells yourself, do it close to serving time so the shells stay crisp.
Freezing 101
- Cool everything completely first.
- Wrap tightly or use freezer bags with as much air pressed out as possible to prevent freezer burn.
- Label and date everything. Most baked goods keep well for about two to three months.
- Thaw at room temperature in the wrapping. Any condensation forms on the wrap instead of on your treats.
A Little Care Goes a Long Way
With the right container and a spot away from heat and sunlight, your baked goods will stay fresh a lot longer. Happy baking, and happy snacking!