Pumpkin Cake

Unopened: If your pumpkin cake is store-bought and still sealed in its package, it can generally last 1-2 days past the 'sell by' date. Opened: Once you've cut into your pumpkin cake, it should be eaten within 1-3 days if kept at room temperature, or up to a week if refrigerated. Frozen: Not a common method for storing pumpkin cake, but if you do decide to freeze it, it can extend its shelf life by 2-3 months.

If the pumpkin cake has a strange smell, or if it tastes sour or off, it might have gone bad. You could also look for signs of mold - which tends to appear as fuzzy blue or green spots. Not all molds are immediately visible, though, so always trust your other senses and when in doubt, throw it out.

• Always place your pumpkin cake in a tightly sealed container or wrap it well in plastic wrap or foil to keep it fresh. • Refrigerating the cake can extend its shelf life. Just remember to bring it up to room temperature before serving for the best taste and texture. • If you need to store the cake longer, freeze it in slices. Wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap and place them in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Defrost a slice at a time as you want to eat them. • Don't store your cake—or any other food—with strong odors in the refrigerator uncovered. The cake will absorb the odors and the taste will be affected.