How to Store Baked Goods So They Stay Fresh Longer (2024)

Whether you've spent hours creating an intricate cake or 30 minutes making a batch of cookies, all homemade baked goods are a labor of love. For that reason, you want them to stay fresh, moist, and flavorful for as long as possible. To do so, you must know how to properly store all of your favorite breads and sweet treats. While the refrigerator can make some baked goods taste dry and flavorless, others need the cool temperatures in order to remain safe to consume. To help you retain the full flavor of your baking creations, we're sharing where and how to store common homemade treats for optimal freshness.

Cookies and Brownies

Cookies should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container, where they will last for up to five days. "To maintain their texture, store crisp with crisp and chewy with chewy," says baker and food stylistJason Schreiber.Also avoid storing dominant flavors, like peanut butter cookies, with more delicate flavors. If you don't have a container, you can also wrap the cookies in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and place in a large sealable bag. The same storage rules apply to brownies.

Cake

Unfrosted cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for one to two days before assembling. Already assembled cake with frosting or icing should be stored in the refrigerator. "Frosted cake should be placed in the refrigerator to allow the frosting to set before wrapping it," says Tracey Brigman, EdD, MS, RDN, LD, a clinical associate professor and associate director forNational Center for Home Food Preservationat theUniversity of Georgia. "Then wrap in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to seven days."

Cupcakes

Similar to cake, unfrosted cupcakes can be stored on the counter in an airtight container for two to three days before being consumed. Frosted cupcakes should be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator.

Bread

Quick breads should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for two to three days. "Yeast breads are best consumed within a day of baking and can be stored in a paper bag at room temperature," says Schreiber. If the bread contains a lot of fruit, it should be store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Pie

How you store pie depends on its ingredients. If it contains raw dairy or eggs, like pumpkin pie, it should be wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in the refrigerator for up to four days, says Brigman. "Fruit pies can be stored at room temperature for about a day, but should be refrigerated or frozen beyond that," says Schreiber. "Low-moisture pies (like pecan pie) can be stored at room temperature for up to three days." No matter the type, all pies should be stored in plastic wrap or an airtight container.

When to Store Baked Goods in the Freezer

If you don't plan to consume your baked goods within a few days, the freezer is your best bet.

• Cake and cupcakes: Cakes and cupcakes can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. If they're iced, place them in the freezer for one to two hours until the icing is hard."Remove from the freezer and cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil then return to freezer," says Brigman.
• Pie: Fruit pies are the best option for freezing, while custard pies should always be consumed fresh. Freeze the pie before baking to better preserve the flavor. "It is recommended that you freeze the pie filling and crust separately," says Brigman. "This will prevent the fruit juice from penetrating and softening the crust." To do so, place the pie filling in a freezer bag, squeeze out the air and seal. Place the bag into a pie pan to shape it properly and freeze until solid.
• Other baked goods: Cookies, brownies, muffins, and most breads will all do well in the freezer if placed in an airtight freezer bag with the extra air pressed out of it. You can also stash pre-rolled balls of unbaked cookie dough in the freezer.