When you try a flavorsome, very creamy, and remarkably delicate slice of a tres leches cake, you can’t help but wonder how long you can keep the cake.
Is it a type of cake with a short shelf life? Can you freeze it? Should you refrigerate it? These are some of the questions that will run through your mind when you’re thinking of making or buying some.
Read this article to find answers to these questions.
What is a tres leches cake?
Tres leches cake is also known as a pan tres leches, pastel de tres leches, torta de tres leches, or bizcocho de tres leches in Spanish.
It is a sponge cake butter-drenched in three different types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream.
It has a lot of air bubbles which makes it very light. Even after being submerged in a mishmash of three different types of milk, it does not have a mushy uniformity because of this distinctive texture.
Latin American culture gave popularity to this cake. The first soaked-cake recipes were discovered in Mexico as a result of the comprehensive cultural exchange between Europe and North America in the 19th century.
Tres leches cake is popular throughout North America, Central, and South America, many Caribbean islands, the Canary Islands, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and other regions of Europe.
How long does tres leches cake last?
Tres leches cake cannot last beyond 48 hours immediately after preparation. If you refrigerate your cake, you must consume it within 4 to 5 days.
How long does Porto’s tres leches cake last?
The best way to enjoy Porto’s tres leches cake is to eat it within 24 hours. Although you can refrigerate the leftovers, they should not exceed one day in the refrigerator. Also, make sure you store them in an airtight container.
How long does homemade tres leches cake last in the fridge?
A freshly made three-milk cake will only keep for a maximum of 5 days in the fridge if properly stored.
Does tres leches cake need to be refrigerated?
Yes, it does. To keep your cake beyond 48 hours, it must be refrigerated because it contains dairy products.
Can you freeze tres leches cake?
Yes, you can. But you must freeze the cake without the frosting. Frozen frosting gets ruined upon thawing and may also impart the taste and flavor of the cake.
Under the right conditions, the cake can be frozen for 2 to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge before adding whipped cream.
Does tres leches cake go bad?
Yes, it does. Your cake will spoil if you do not refrigerate it or eat it within two days.
What is the shelf life of a tres leches cake?
The shelf life of a tres leches cake in the refrigerator is 5 days and 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
Can you eat expired tres leches cake?
There is no risk in eating expired cake if it is stored properly. Also, if it is just a few days past the printed date, you may eat it if there are no signs of spoilage.
How to tell when tres leches cake is bad
When your cake is slimy or mushy to the touch, it has gone off. Due to the large amount of milk in it, the sign would be obvious.
Cut into the cake and carefully inspect it for signs of spoilage. Examine the texture too. If it is dry and hard, it has lost moisture, and you should throw it away.
How to preserve tres leches cakes
The three-milk cake is unique, so you may need to store it differently than you would a typical cake to increase its shelf life.
After baking, cakes with frostings and fillings with a lot of dairy products should be chilled. Other ways to preserve the cake are:
Keep it under a cake cover
Keep the cake under a cake cover and refrigerate it. However, you must ensure that it is not airtight. The frosting will absorb into the cake if you keep it in an airtight container.
If you don’t have a cake cover, enclose it in aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or parchment paper.
To help the covering and prevent frosting from sticking to it, insert a few toothpicks halfway into the cake around the edges and in the center.
Freeze the cake unfrosted
You can freeze your cake instead of refrigerating it if you haven’t frosted it yet. Wrap the cake in a sturdy foil before you freeze it. This cake can stay frozen for 6 months without the frosting.
FAQs
What does three-milk cake taste like?
Three-milk cake is an indulgent dessert that tastes like sweet alchemy when paired with heavy cream and berries.
Should tres leches cakes be wet?
No, it should not be wet. Your cake should not be waterlogged; otherwise, it will break down. It should feel light like a spongy cake and should have a custard-like texture.
How long do tres leches cakes need to soak?
Tres leches need to soak up the milk for at least 8 hours before you serve.
Conclusion
Tres leches cakes are best enjoyed immediately after they are made. However, you can keep it for a few more days if you refrigerate or freeze them.
Whichever way you choose to store your cake, make sure it is in an airtight container. Also, keep it far from odorous foods that contaminate it. Employ the best storage methods to get the best out of your cake.
Thanks for reading.