Okay, so I’ve been getting this question a lot lately: “Do you put king cake in the fridge?” Well, I finally decided to figure this out once and for all. I mean, I love king cake, who doesn’t? But I always mess up storing it. Sometimes it gets all dry and crumbly, other times it’s just…off. So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
First, I bought a fresh king cake from my favorite local bakery. You know, the one with the perfect amount of cinnamon and that delicious sugary glaze? Yeah, that one. It was still warm when I got it home. I resisted the urge to tear into it right away and started my little experiment.
I cut the cake into three equal parts. I know, it felt like a crime, but it was for science! One part, I wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and popped it into the fridge. The second part, I wrapped just as tightly but left it on the counter at room temperature. And the third? Well, I didn’t wrap that one, I just left it on the counter, exposed to the air. A control, if you will.
I set a timer and checked on the cakes every few hours. The unwrapped one started to dry out pretty quickly, no surprises there. After about 24 hours, it was definitely stale. Not inedible, but not great.
The one on the counter, wrapped up, fared a lot better. It stayed pretty moist and yummy for a good two days. But by the third day, it was starting to lose its charm.
The Results!
- Refrigerated (Wrapped): This one was the clear winner in terms of shelf life. It stayed fresh and delicious for a whole week! The texture was still soft, the glaze was still shiny. It did firm up a bit in the cold, but a few seconds in the microwave fixed that right up.
- Room Temperature (Wrapped): Good for a couple of days, maybe three if you’re pushing it. Definitely the way to go if you’re planning on eating it quickly.
- Room Temperature (Unwrapped): Don’t even bother. Unless you like your king cake dry and sad.
So, there you have it. My not-so-scientific but very tasty experiment. If you want your king cake to last, the fridge is your best bet. Just make sure it’s wrapped up tight to keep it from drying out. And honestly, a little time in the fridge didn’t hurt the flavor at all, it might have even made it better! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go enjoy a nice, cold slice of king cake.
