How Long Do Cupcakes Last?

Cupcakes are one of the most popular bakery items not just in America but all over the world. They are easy to make as they only require a few ingredients and basic cooking skills meaning anyone can make it by themselves. But sometimes you might bake more cupcakes than your friends can eat and you will need to store them for later.

In this article, we will discuss the duration of which cupcakes last after you bake them or buy them from the store. We will discuss how long it will last on the countertop without any refrigeration, in the refrigerator, and in the deep fridge as well as the methods of storing the cupcakes and how to tell if the cupcakes have gone bad.

So follow along to get updated all about the storing process of cupcakes to ensure that your cupcakes stay fresh minimizing the risk of spoiling them or getting sick after eating cupcakes that have gone bad.

How Long Do Cupcakes Last?

How long cupcakes will last will depend on some variables such as what are the ingredients in the cupcake, what is the room temperature and humidity where the cupcake will remain, what sort of toppings were used, how are you storing the cupcakes, and where the cupcakes will be stored.

How Long Do Cupcakes Last in the Fridge?

Cupcakes usually last for more than a month in the fridge if you store them in airtight containers and the containers do not get affected by any molds or fungus. Note that this is only applicable for cupcakes that do not contain fresh fruits or dairy toppings on them like berries, whipped cream, buttercream frosting, etc.

Cupcakes containing fresh fruits or dairy product toppings will not last as long in the fridge as plain cupcakes as they tend to spoil faster. The molds will spread from the fruit or the whipped cream to the other parts of the cupcakes and will spoil them as well if you keep them in the fridge for too long.

This is why it is wise to get rid of the toppings from the cupcakes when you are storing them in the fridge. Cupcakes will last about a week or so in the fridge if you store them with the fruit or dairy toppings on the cupcakes.

You can store the cupcakes in the deep fridge as well after wrapping them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This method, however, is not applicable for storing with the toppings on the cupcakes as they will spoil if kept for such a long time.

In the deep fridge, cupcakes can last up to 6 months. However, it is better to eat them before a month or so because cupcakes lose the taste the longer they sit in the fridge.

How Long Do Cupcakes Last Without Refrigeration?

How long the cupcakes will last without any refrigeration will depend on the temperature, humidity, and presence of mold and fungus in the air of the room where the cupcakes will be kept.

Cupcakes will go bad faster if the temperature is higher than 30 C and the humidity is high. Especially if the cupcakes are not covered by anything and remain in direct contact with the air, the chances of it catching a mold increases significantly which in turn increases the chance of the cupcakes going bad.

Without any type of refrigeration, cupcakes normally last about 2-3 days at room temperature. Keep the cupcakes covered to make sure insects like ants, cockroaches, flies, etc. cannot get to them and the mold and fungus from the air do not contaminate the cupcakes.

How Long Do Cupcakes Last in Airtight Containers?

Cupcakes tend to last longer in airtight containers because the airtight container makes sure that insects like flies, ants, cockroaches, etc. cannot get to the cupcakes and dust particles, mold, or fungus spores do not come into contact with the cupcakes. Airtight containers also prevent the moisture from inside the cupcakes from evaporating easily.

This is why you can store cupcakes in airtight containers for 5-6 days on the countertop and about a month to three months in the refrigerator. 

How Long Do Cupcakes Last After the Expiration Date?

The expiration dates on the store-bought cupcakes are usually within 3-5 days from baking the cupcakes. Even though the store-bought cupcakes contain extra preservatives, they do not recommend eating the cupcakes after the expiration date is over.

It is generally not recommended to eat the cupcakes for safety reasons but you can eat the cupcakes a day or two after expiration if you do not see any molds growing on them or they do not give a bad smell.

How Can I Tell if Cupcakes Have Gone Bad?

There are a few ways to tell if the cupcakes have gone bad. Molds are one of the biggest signs that the cupcakes have gone bad. Molds usually look green or blue and look like veins on the food that they spoil.

The cupcakes have definitely gone bad if you spot any blue or green dots or veins on the cupcakes. Fungus spoils cupcakes as well. Fungus looks almost the same as mold but sometimes looks like white dust accumulating on top of the cupcakes.

The second biggest indication of the cupcakes going bad is the smell. Cupcakes usually smell like vanilla or other flavors that were used to make the cupcakes. The cupcakes should give a nice smell if it is stored properly but if they give off a bad smell such as a tangy smell or acidic smell, then the cupcakes have gone bad and you should discard them.

The third sign of the cupcakes going bad is the texture of the cupcake. Regular cupcakes will have a soft and spongy texture to it. The cupcakes have gone bad if you get a grainy texture in your mouth instead of a soft and spongy texture and you should immediately throw out the cupcakes along with any bit that you put in your mouth.

What’s the Best Way to Store Cupcakes?

The best way to store cupcakes is to take out the frostings and the toppings from the cupcakes, put them in an airtight container, and store them in the refrigerator. To store them in the deep fridge, make sure to wrap each cupcake in plastic wrap and store them in a box because cupcakes are soft and will get squished with the other food items.