The Grocery Store Bakery Hack That Will Make Storing Leftovers A Breeze
If you've ever purchased a sheet cake for a special event, odds are you were left with extra slices. Whether one slice or 10, putting them back into the bakery box might be the easiest option, but it's not the ideal solution. When not completely filled, the box can lose its shape and be difficult to carry. It can also allow the pieces of cake to slide around and become an unappetizing mess. In addition, cardboard boxes aren't the best option for keeping the cake fresh.
Time is of the essence when it comes to packing up a leftover cake in order to prevent it from going stale because as soon as it's cut, it starts to lose its moisture. One option for trapping the moisture in the cake is to put frosting on the sliced edges, but of course, if you bought the cake, you won't have a container of extra frosting lying around. Another option is to cover the exposed sides with plastic wrap, but that takes plenty of time and plastic wrap to accomplish. Instead, the best solution to the leftover cake conundrum can be handled when you order the cake.
Ask for a plastic keeper
It can't get much easier than this — next time you order a cake, request that it's placed in a plastic cake container instead of the traditional cardboard box option. Any leftover pieces can easily be transferred into the container, and because it should seal tightly, the cake will stay fresh longer. The hard plastic case will also be easier to transport the slices.
To help protect the frosting during transport, allow the frosting to harden by placing the cake slices in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. After that short time, there is typically no need to store the leftover cake in the refrigerator as long as it's stored properly in an airtight container. There are a few exceptions, such as if the kitchen is especially hot and humid and the cake has a fresh fruit filling or topping — then it should go in the fridge.
While not all bakeries will have a plastic cake container available, it's worth inquiring about, and you might just save yourself some time and a squished leftover cake.