How to Thaw a Frozen Cake?

Asked by Shuz. Answered on 17th September 2012

Full question

Hello! I know how to freeze a cake - wrap it tightly in foil or plastic and seal it in a freezer bag for good measure. But I'm not sure on how to thaw it. Do I leave the entire freezer bag in room temperature until the cake thaws or put it in the fridge overnight for a slow thaw? Do I remove the layers of wrapping before thawing or leave them on? And once thawed, if I were to warm the cake up slightly in a very low oven, will that dry out the cake? Thanks!

Our answer

When freezing a cake it is often difficult to get a resealable freezer bag that is large enough to hold the cake. So we usually suggest that the cake is wrapped tightly in a double layer of clingfilm (plastic wrap) and a layer of foil to provide enough protection. We normally suggest freezing cakes for up to 3 months.

To thaw a regular cake, put the cake on a wire rack and let the cake thaw at room temperature. If the cake is sealed in a bag then we would suggest removing it from the bag to prevent a build up of condensation, but if it is just wrapped in clingfilm and foil then it is not usually necessary to unwrap the cake before thawing, though there are some exceptions. And it is fine if you prefer to thaw the cake unwrapped, but don't leave it to stand around uncovered for too long after it has thawed as it could start to stale. Thin cake layers will usually thaw in 2-3 hours, larger cakes can take quite a bit longer.

Cheesecakes should always be thawed overnight in the fridge, as should any cake which normally needs storing in the fridge.

We generally don't recommend reheating cakes in the oven.