Does Cream Cheese Frosting Need To Be Refrigerated?

Cream cheese frosting can be the perfect addition to any cake, and very few argue anything does it better. This tangy and creamy-tasting topping is ideal for sweet or spiced cakes and adds a layer of finesse to any dessert. One question surrounding cream cheese frosting is, does it need to be refrigerated?

If you have leftover cream cheese frosting or a cake covered in this tasty frosting, it should be stored in the refrigerator and will last for up to two weeks. If not, it will become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and ultimately go bad very quickly within in a few hours.

This article will discuss whether or not cream cheese frosting needs to be stored in the refrigerator. So keep reading! We have everything you need to know about storing your cream cheese frosting and ensuring it reaches its maximum longevity.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream cheese frosting is a delicious addition to any cake or dessert and can be made using very few ingredients. A basic cream cheese frosting can be made from cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and confectioners sugar.

This tangy and tasty frosting is rich and often used to finish various desserts such as carrot cake or spiced cake, cinnamon rolls cupcakes, and other delicious bakes. However, there’s nothing wrong with eating the remaining mixture with a spoon.

As it contains various forms of dairy, one common question when it comes to the various products you’ve covered in cream cheese frosting or simply the mixture itself is, does it have to be stored in the refrigerator?

Should I refrigerate Cream Cheese Frosting?

So, if you have produced a selection of cupcakes or a delicious spiced cake and covered it in a nice layer of cream cheese frosting, you should store the leftovers in the refrigerator.

Any kind of cream cheese frosting, whether a leftover mixture or dessert, should never sit on the counter-top for more than two hours as this will lead to the growth of harmful bacteria, which may result in a bad case of food poisoning if ingested.

When placing your desserts or leftover cream cheese frosting mixture in the fridge, ensure it’s stored in an airtight container. This will ensure it stays fresh and delicious for up to three days.

The Best Way To Store Your Cream Cheese Frosting Desserts

If you’ve recently baked a spiced cake or anything similar and covered it in a good amount of cream cheese frosting, chances are you’re not going to eat the entire cake in one go, and you’ll want to ensure it’s stored correctly to increase its longevity.

To store any kind of cake that you’ve covered in cream cheese frosting, first chill the cake in the fridge for 20 minutes with a covering to ensure the frosting hardens slightly. Then, remove the cake and place it in a sizeable container; if you don’t have one, plastic wrapping will do.

If you seal it correctly, your cake should last up to three days and sometimes longer, depending on what kind of cake you’ve baked and the ingredients contained within.

Can You Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting?

An alternative method for storing your cream cheese frosting is to place it in the freezer. This is generally used by people who enjoy making large batches of anything at once.

Storing your cream cheese frosting in the freezer is a fairly simple task. Simply wrap it up in plastic film, place it in an airtight container, and store it. It can last up to six months in special conditions; however, most people would say three to four months is more likely.

When storing the cream cheese frosting in the freezer, you may lose some texture when defrosting. However, it typically retains its flavor very well.

How To Defrost Cream Cheese Frosting?

When the time comes to defrost your cream cheese frosting, remove your storage method from the freezer, place it on your countertop, and allow it to thaw. It can take up to a few hours for the frosting to completely thaw.

Ensure that the frosting comes back to room temperature before you begin to eat or use it, as it could ruin your cake if you decide to apply it when it’s still a little frozen.

So, How Long Does Cream Cheese Frosting Last?

So, depending on what method you use to store your cream cheese frosting will ultimately determine its longevity. We will list below the three major storage methods and how long they will last each one.

Stored At Room Temperature

If you plan to store your cake covered in cream cheese frosting or simply the mixture on the countertop, you’ll want to ensure that it’s at least covered or placed in an airtight container, which will give you up to a few hours.

If you have guests coming over, it’s best to store it in the refrigerator until about an hour before serving. This will ensure it doesn’t begin to go off but will also come up to room temperature, ensuring no one has to eat cold cake.

Stored In The Fridge

The fridge is the best storage option for your cream cheese frosting and desserts covered with this delicious mixture. Grab an airtight container that’s large enough to fit your dessert or mixture in and place it onto a shelf on the bottom of the fridge.

Keeping the mixture in the fridge greatly reduces the risk of various bacterial growths and will certainly increase longevity when compared to storage on the counter top. If stored correctly in the fridge, the mixture or dessert may last up to two weeks.

Stored In The Freezer

If you have a passion for baking, you may mix a large batch of cream cheese frosting at once for future projects. If stored correctly in a freezer, your mixture will last up to six months.

Can we discuss any other topics? Take a look at these links for some interesting information How Long Do Bagels Last In The Fridge?, Can you freeze sweet potatoes? and Does babybel cheese need to be refrigerated?

Conclusion

So, if you decide to make a batch of cream cheese frosting but need to store it until you’re ready to apply it to a cake or dessert, you now know that it’s best to store it in the refrigerator, and this will ensure freshness for up to two weeks.