The Best Way to Store a Frozen Cake to Keep It Fresh
Store a naked ice cream cake right on your freezer shelves and you’ll find a dessert covered in freezer burn when it comes time to cut another slice. According to Tyler Malek, co-founder and head of ice cream manufacturing at Salt & Straw, the best way to store an ice cream cake is to cover it with plastic wrap or a Ziploc bag to keep it from developing freezer burn and absorbing surrounding odors. He should know, because Salt & Straw sells its own ice cream cakes.
Malek explains, “Once your ice cream cake is exposed to the elements, it’s prone to condensation (which is why you see those little ice crystals) and can start to absorb the flavors of any other dishes or ingredients that are nearby. So keeping it covered is essential.”
While freezer burn is safe to eat, the texture of a cake is altered, with the creamy consistency becoming almost crunchy and grainy. Gently applied plastic wrap eliminates this problem by creating a comfortable barrier on the surface of the cake, reducing the air space around it. This prevents ice crystals from forming, resulting in a cake that remains smooth and velvety. Plastic wrap also protects the cake from absorbing odors from opened food packages or containers in your freezer. If you’re concerned that covering your cake with plastic wrap will disrupt the topping, simply wait to decorate it until just before serving.
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Keep your freezer door closed to prevent crystals
Properly wrapping your ice cream cake is essential if you accidentally introduce warm air into your freezer throughout the day by regularly opening and closing your freezer doors. Storing your cake in the coldest area of your freezer will prevent it from melting and refreezing repeatedly.
If you’ve never made a frozen dessert before, this 3-ingredient ice cream cake is a great place to start. Simply layer ice cream between two cake halves, garnish with whipped cream, and freeze until set (about 4 hours) before slicing. One thing to keep in mind when making the perfect ice cream cake is to keep the bottom layer of the cake as thin as possible to prevent it from drying out in the freezer. You can also swap out your cake mix for a brownie, which has a higher fat content and will remain moist even after freezing and thawing.
Finally, always try to take your ice cream cake out of the freezer a few minutes before serving, to let it soften in the fridge. This makes it easier to cut clean slices. However, if you don’t have time to let it defrost, simply run your knife under hot water to cut the cake without any problems.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
