Safety

• Orange juice, fruit purees and other fruit juices add both flavor and moisture to cakes, but they also make a cake spoil more quickly, especially when exposed to humidity and heat. If you plan to eat the cake within one day, it doesn't need to be refrigerated. For longer storage, put cakes made with orange juice in the refrigerator and eat them within one week. If you want to keep a cake longer, store it without frosting in the freezer. Cakes can be safely stored in the freezer for up to three months. After that, their quality goes down. Thaw a frozen cake at room temperature before frosting it.

Method

• To store a cake in the refrigerator, allow it to cool completely on a cooling rack. Frost it if you like, and set the cake on a plate or cake platter. Place the frosted cake in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to harden the frosting. Then, cover it with plastic wrap, sealing the wrap well under the edges of the plate. If you have a plastic, lidded cake container, you can use that instead of the plastic wrap. Just be sure the lid is on securely.

Serving

• When it's time to serve the cake, set it on the counter top for at least 30 minutes to one hour before serving. Allowing it to come to room temperature improves its taste and texture. Use a sharp knife to slice the cake, carefully wiping the knife on a paper towel between cuts. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers promptly.

Alternatives

• Refrigerating cakes reduces the risk of mold and bacteria forming, but it can also dry out a cake. If you'd prefer to make an orange cake without fresh orange juice, try adding orange extract instead. Orange extract imparts an orange flavor, but doesn't add moisture to the cake. Orange extract can be used in frosting, as well as the cake.