Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake is a perishable food item and should be stored according to its specific needs for the best freshness. If bought from a store, it usually has a 'best before' date printed on the packaging. Generally, this will be about 5-7 days from the day of purchase. Always refer to these guidelines first. Once opened, the carrot cake should be consumed within 2-3 days. If the cake is homemade, I would recommend consuming it within 5 days of baking, or 2-3 days once it has been sliced. You can also freeze carrot cake, which extends its life to about 3 months. When you are ready to consume, thaw it at room temperature for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

The first thing you should consider is if the carrot cake is past the aforementioned timeframes. If it is, chances are it could be going bad. The easiest way to tell if any baked good is turning, is a change in color, usually a green or black mold will start to form - that's a definite sign of spoilage. Also, if the carrot cake has an off smell, like sour or yeasty - that's another sign that it's no longer good. Lastly, if the cake is excessively dry or has a harder texture than normal, it might be past its prime.

• Keep the carrot cake in an airtight container. This will help to keep it fresh by preventing drying out. • Avoid keeping the carrot cake near any strong-smelling foods in your refrigerator. The cake could potentially absorb these odors. • If you plan to freeze it, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. This double layer of wrapping will help to avoid any freezer burn. • When defrosting, remove all the wrapping to prevent the cake from becoming soggy in the thawing process.