Does Cake Mix Go Bad?: Got a party and need to bake a cake? But wait, your cake mix is already past the “best-before” date? Not sure whether to use expired cake mix or not? Don’t worry—we are here to save your party.
Dive right in to find out whether cake mix goes bad, its storage tips, and many more interesting things about cake mixes. A cake mix is a dry powder that you mix with eggs and water or milk to make a cake. It’s made up of all pantry staples like flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and leavening (i.e. baking powder and baking soda).
- Does Cake Mix Expire?
- How Long Does Cake Mix Last?
- How To Store Cake Mix?
- How To Tell If Cake Mix Is Bad?
- What happens if you eat an expired cake mix?
- Can you use cake mix after the expiration date?
- How long is a cake mix good after its expiration date?
- How long can you keep cake batter in the fridge?
Does Cake Mix Expire?
No, the cake mix won’t go off, but the taste and texture of the cake you bake with an old cake mix might not be the best. Turn around that cake mix box and look for an expiry date. Didn’t find any? Yeah, because cake mixes don’t have an expiration date. Instead, cake mixes come with a “best by” date. But why is that so? What’s the catch in this wording? Let’s find out.
Technically speaking, if stored properly, the packaged cake mixes won’t ever “go bad”. The added preservatives allow cake mixes to last one, two, or three years and beyond.
The best-by date on the label is just an estimate of how long the cake base will retain its peak quality. However, this doesn’t mean you can use a cake mix forever. The baking soda present in the cake mix will eventually expire and won’t work properly. The issue with using an “old” cake mix is that it won’t bake properly and will leave you with a bad taste.
How Long Does Cake Mix Last?
So when is the best time to use cake mix before it’s rendered useless? Let’s find out how long a premade cake mix lasts.
The shelf life of a packaged cake mix is about 6 months to a year, but you can safely use dry cake mix for months or even years past the best-by date, which is mentioned on the label. After the “best by date,” sealed store-bought cake mix can last up to 5 months in the pantry and 7 months in the fridge.
An opened box of store-bought cake mix can last around 3 months in the pantry and 5 months in the fridge beyond the best-by date. Because homemade cake mix contains no preservatives, it has a much shorter shelf life of only about 7 days in the pantry and 3 months in the fridge.
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How To Store Cake Mix?
Cake mix is an easy-to-handle product. It doesn’t require much work in terms of storage. All that a cake mix needs is a cool and dry place. Here are a few key things to remember about cake mix storage:
- Use the original sealed packaging: The best “house” for your cake mix is in its original packet or box.
- Use an airtight container: If the original packaging is damaged or you’ve opened the cake mix yourself, it’s advised to store the leftovers well sealed. If you plan on storing the leftover cake mix for a prolonged period, put the remaining product in an airtight box. This will prevent the entry of any moisture and thus will increase the shelf life of your cake mix.
- Store the cake mix in a cool and dry place: Heat and humidity can create a breeding ground for bacteria which can ruin your cake mix. For storing cake mix, room temperature is good enough, as long as it doesn’t sit near any sources of heat. In short, a cabinet in the pantry or kitchen is perfectly fine for storing your dry cake mix.
- Keep it away from pungent odors: The last thing you want to do is have your cake mix absorb the flavors around it.
How To Tell If Cake Mix Is Bad?
Your cake mix might not change much even after sitting in the pantry for months or even years. Cake mix does not spoil in the same way that dairy does. However, here are a few tips to find out if your cake mix has gone bad.
Mold or other visual signs of deterioration: The appearance of spoiled cake mix gets changed. Take a good look at the mix. Is the cake clumpy? Does it look like the texture or color of the cake mix has changed? Are there any signs of mold? Mold gets developed on cake mix that’s exposed to moisture. If that’s the case, say goodbye to your not-so-sweet cake mix.
Pantry Pests: If you find any holes in the package or dead insects in the cake mix, throw it out. In such a case you should also inspect nearby foods and get rid of these pests before they infest the whole cupboard.
Foul Smell: If the cake mix smells bad or sour, it’s a good indicator to discard the mix. If the thing you baked smells bad or tastes off, get rid of it.
Bad Taste: Take a pinch of dry mix and taste it. If it tastes sour, it’s time to toss it out. Alternatively, if you still wish to bake it, you might end up with a flat cake with a sour taste.
You might be interested in knowing about our article on pancake mix and learn Can Pancake Mix Go Bad, etc.
FAQs On Does Cake Mix Expire
1. What happens if you eat an expired cake mix?
Nothing much. One doesn’t get ill from eating an expired cake mix. But what happens when you use an expired cake mix is a lot of disappointment. If you use an old cake mix, the texture and flavor of the final cake may be altered, rendering your baked treat useless.
2. Can you use cake mix after the expiration date?
Yes, you can use cake mix after the “best-by” date. Just check the way your cake mix looks and smells before using it to ensure a good result. Pro Tip- add some extra baking soda to raise the cake if your cake mix is old.
3. How long is a cake mix good after its expiration date?
With proper storage, store-bought cake mixes can easily last up to five months beyond the best-by date. However, homemade cake mixes expire much quicker – within a week in the pantry and within three months in the fridge.
4. How long can you keep cake batter in the fridge?
You can refrigerate the cake batter for up to two days and freeze it for three months. The longer the cake batter is chilled or frozen, the less likely it will rise properly.
Summary
The cake mix is great, it’s easy to use and never truly goes bad. You just have to store the cake mix properly, and you can use it well past the best-by date. So go ahead, brew some coffee, and bake up that sweet cake mix! Leave us a comment to know about the shelf life of any other product and we will get back to you with an exclusive article. Stay tuned to get interesting updates on How to Store Muffins and many other baked goods.