How Long To Let A Cake Cool Before Frosting

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Depending on what type of cake y'all are making and how long you accept to cool it, at that place are several things to consider. If y'all absurd your cake improperly y'all might terminate up with a cracked or soggy cake. Cooling your cake in the refrigerator is a quicker method, just you can also cool your cake on the countertop or in the oven. You can transfer your cake to a wire rack, permit it cool in the pan, or fifty-fifty cool information technology upside down. Follow the tips and instructions in this tutorial in guild to cool your cake speedily and efficiently based on the type of block you are cooling.

1
Decide how much time you have. Depending on the type of block, cooling using this method tin can be done in only a couple of hours. Here are some things to consider:
- Angel food cakes, pound cakes, sponge cakes and other lite and fluffy cakes can cool in the refrigerator in about 1-ii hours.^[ane]
- This method may not be the best pick for a cheesecake, every bit quick changes of temperature tin upset the structure of the block, causing cracks. For rich, creamy cakes that are served chilled, this method may accept you up to four hours.^[2]
- If y'all are cooling a traditional block, this method volition take you about two-3 hours.
2
Remove your cake from the oven. Once your cake is fully cooked, use oven mitts to carefully take it out of the oven and place information technology on the kitchen counter. Let your cake sit for 5-10 minutes. Here are some guidelines to consider:
- If y'all are working with a cheesecake, or other flossy cake, information technology is recommended that yous turn off the heat and let your cake cool in the oven for almost an hour earlier transferring your cake to the fridge. If you don't have the time, you can put your cake in the fridge although it may crack slightly.^[iii]
- If you are working with cheesecake, run a butter pocketknife along the edge of the cake and the pan while the cake is withal warm, this will prevent the cake from sticking to the pan later.
- You lot may want to place your cake pan on a wooden surface like a cutting board to protect your countertop from heat damage.
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3
Put your block in the refrigerator. After allowing it to cool briefly on the countertop, place your cake pan in the refrigerator for another 5-10 minutes. This will further cool the cake without causing it to dry out. It should be pretty cool to the bear on after five or 10 minutes. Hither are some things to consider:
- If you are cooling a sponge or angel food block, it is recommended that you cool the cake upside down.^[four] This can be done by turning the pan upside down and setting the tube part over the neck of a stable bottle. Turning it upside down for cooling helps prevent information technology from collapsing as information technology cools.
- If yous are cooling a pound cake, information technology is recommended that you take it out of the pan to absurd information technology. Cooling a pound cake for also long in a pan tin can cause it to become overly damp and stick to the pan.^[five] Transfer information technology to a wire rack and place it in the refrigerator.
4
Wrap your cake in plastic wrap. ^[six] Take your cake pan back out of the fridge and seal the elevation of your cake pan by wrapping it at least twice over with plastic wrap. Sealing the cake tight volition help keep it moist as it continues to cool.
- If you have removed your cake from the pan or placed it upside downwards, you don't need to wrap it up.
5

Let your block cool in the refrigerator for an additional 1-2 hours. If you are spooky an angel food block or pound cake, you may just need to cool it for an additional hour. If yous are cooling a cheesecake, permit it cool for the entire 2 hours.
six
Loosen your cake from the pan. Utilise a sharp knife or butter pocketknife and run it along the edges of the pan betwixt the rim of the pan and the cake.
- Be certain to continue your knife vertical and then you lot don't accidentally cut into the sides of your cake.
7
Remove your block from the pan. Identify a large plate over the cake pan. Hold the plate and the pan firmly together and flip them upside down. Shake the pan softly to transfer your cake from pan to platter.
- If your cake is specially delicate, gently tap the lesser of the pan a few times until you feel your block release.
- At present that your cake is cool, you are free to frost and decorate however you lot wish!
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i
Choose the right cooling rack. ^[7] Make sure to choice your cooling rack co-ordinate to the size of the cake you are baking. ten-inches seems to be the largest standard pan size (for bundt cakes and round cakes), so a rack that is at to the lowest degree ten-inches beyond should serve but most all of your needs.^[eight] Cooling racks are an essential tool for any bakery as they help your cake cool evenly and quickly. Here are a few things to consider:
- Pick a wire rack that is easy to fit in your dishwasher and in the area y'all plan to store it.
- Cooling racks piece of work by allowing air to circulate under your cake, which helps preclude condensation which could make the bottom soggy.
ii
Remove your cake from the oven. Once your block is fully cooked, use oven mitts to advisedly take it out of the oven and identify the pan directly on your cooling rack.
- If you are cooling a cheesecake, yous can simply turn off the oven and leave your block inside to cool for nearly an hour. This allows the delicate cake to cool slowly, which will assist prevent information technology from bang-up.
iii
Let your block sit. At this point, information technology is a good idea to check your cooking instructions for cooling time guidelines. Cooling time can vary considerably depending on the type of cake you are blistering.^[9] As a dominion of thumb, wait to cool your block on the rack for x-15 minutes.
- The cake pan should be resting on the rack to ensure that the bottom of the cake pan has airflow.
4
Loosen your block from the pan. Remove your cake pan from the cooling rack and place it on the counter. Use a abrupt knife or butter knife and run it along the edges of the pan between the rim of the pan and the cake.^[10]
- Be sure to keep your knife vertical and so you don't accidentally cutting into the sides of your cake. Run the pocketknife around the edges a couple times to loosen your cake from the pan.
5
Spray your cooling rack. Earlier transferring your block directly to the cooling rack, you will need to lightly spray your rack with cooking spray.^[11]
- Since your cake will yet be slightly warm, placing it on a rack with cooking spray will foreclose it from sticking to the wire rack.
6
Transfer your cake directly to the rack (optional). Hold the cooling rack over the acme of the pan and slowly plough the pan upside downward. Gently tap the bottom of the pan until the cake releases.^[12] Slowly lift the pan away to transfer your cake to the cooling rack. Before removing your cake from the pan, consider this:
- If you are cooling a cheesecake, yous won't want to endeavour to transfer your block to the wire rack. Cheesecakes are very frail and this could ruin your cake.
- If you are cooling a pound block, removing your block from the pan sooner will help keep information technology from getting as well soggy.
- If y'all are cooling an angel food cake, you may desire to skip the wire rack and place information technology upside downwards on the counter instead. To absurd your cake upside down, turn the pan upside downward and ready the tube function over the neck of a stable bottle. Turning it upside downwardly for cooling helps prevent it from collapsing as it cools.
- Think to use oven mitts when handling the pan. Since the pan hasn't been out of the oven for very long, it may even so exist hot enough to burn you lot.
7

Remove your cake from the cooling rack. After letting your cake fully absurd for 1-2 hours, you can transfer information technology to a plate or platter and frost and decorate however you wish.

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Question

How do you properly absurd the angel food cake?

Quynh La is a Professional Baker and the Owner of Sugar Bakery & Cafe in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, she specializes in baking cakes, cookies, croissants, and bread. Quynh holds an AAS in Culinary Arts from South Seattle Higher and a 2d AAS in Specialty Desserts & Bread from Seattle Central College.

Professional Baker

Expert Answer

Cool it upside-down on your cooling rack! These cakes are very spongy and light, and placing them upside-downward prevents them from shrinking as they cool.
Question

Why exercise cakes fall when cooling?

This answer was written past i of our trained squad of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Reply

A cake can fall for a diverseness of reasons––troubleshoot by thinking about what you lot added to the cake or how you handled it. Given the many possibilities for a cake falling or sinking subsequently baking, here are some mutual reasons why it happens: The cake was removed from the oven earlier it was sufficiently cooked; the block contains as well much moisture or also little; the batter contains besides much carbohydrate or fatty; the leavening (often baking pulverisation) was likewise old or as well much/too little was used (besides much creates besides much air, no construction); the cooking temperature was too hot or cold; the concoction was non used apace plenty and the chemic processes occurred before blistering; or the block batter was browbeaten likewise much or over-mixed.
Question

Tin y'all put a cake in the refrigerator to absurd?

This reply was written by i of our trained team of researchers who validated information technology for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yeah, you can put your block in the fridge to absurd, provided you let the cake cool briefly (about five to x minutes) on the countertop showtime. If y'all don't permit a little cooling outside the refrigerator start, there is a take chances of the block sinking in the eye or sticking firmly to the sides of its pan. Be aware that the estrus that escapes from the cake while it's cooling may warm upwards other foods in your fridge. You can go out the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour earlier frosting it.
Question

How long practice you let a cake cool before taking it out of the pan?

This answer was written past 1 of our trained squad of researchers who validated it for accurateness and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Respond

Conventional wisdom ordinarily suggests leaving the baked cake in the pan for a time of somewhere betwixt 5 and 10 minutes. All the same, some bakers prefer to flip the block out straight away (provided it's not a delicate cake), to retain wet, while other bakers wait anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour before removing the cake from the pan. The answer will depend on the type of cake and learning from experience; also, the recipe will frequently propose how long to keep in the pan earlier removal, so be sure to check for this information.
Question

How long does information technology take for a block to cool before frosting?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Reply

A cake should be allowed to cool fully earlier it is frosted. While the corporeality of time this will have varies depending in the size and type of cake, mostly look for at least thirty minutes/ane/2 an hr but preferable await 1 hour to one.5 hours before attempting to frost the block; cupcakes need almost 30 to 45 minutes before they're ready. If the cake yet feels fairly warm after 30 minutes, let it cool longer, every bit frosting melts hands if in that location is residual warmth. If possible, a cake is best left for ane.five to 2 hours before frosting, to ensure it is cold inside as well well as on its surface area. Y'all tin can test for coolness by inserting a toothpick, then quickly feeling information technology after pulling it out; if the cake is cold, the toothpick won't absorb whatever warmth but if the block is all the same warm, the toothpick will besides be warm.
Question

When I'g cooling the block in the oven, should I keep the door open or closed?

I would recommend cooling the cake in the oven with the door open. This volition help the oestrus from the oven reduce more quickly, which will help the block cool faster.
Question

Should I put paper underneath the cake when I bake it?

You can, but some people find that it's easier to simply grease the block pan prior to pouring in the batter. (You lot tin can grease a cake pan with cooking spray or butter.)
Question

What will happen if my cake does non cool enough earlier I decorate it?

Your frosting will melt. Brand certain that it'south completely cooled before attempting to decorate the cake.
Question

Do I have to decorate the block the mean solar day I cook it or tin I exercise information technology the next?

You can do it the next day, but make sure to wrap up your cake to preserve it and keep it from going stale in the meantime.
Question

I need to bake a cake tomorrow and I simply have two hours to brand it and decorate it. Volition this be enough time? I have already made the icing and measured all my ingredients.

MrExpert

Customs Respond

That might not be enough time since the cake needs to exist completely cool earlier you can ice it.

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For angel food cakes, cool the cake upside down for 3 hours to maximize poof.
To prevent cheesecakes from nifty, run a thin pocketknife around the edge of the cake as before long as it comes out of the oven.
You don't desire to cool a pound cake completely in the pan, but a hot cake is too fragile to exist removed from the pan immediately. Go on your pound cake from getting soggy while it cools by removing it from the pan later about xx minutes on the counter.

If you are cooling an angel nutrient block upside downwards, don't run a knife along the edge of the pan, this could cause your block to fall out!
Always wearable oven mitts or protective gloves when retrieving the cake from the oven to avoid burning.
If yous attempt to remove a hot block from the pan, information technology may crack and fall autonomously.
Oven temperatures vary; so keep a shut heart on your cake to brand sure it doesn't overbake.

Things Yous'll Need

Baking pan
Wire cooling racks
Oven mitts for safe handling of hot pan
Plastic wrap
Pocketknife

Nigh This Article

Article Summary X

Afterwards y'all bake a cake, you should permit information technology cool before you decorate and consume information technology. If you want to cool a block in the refrigerator, allow information technology sit on your counter for v-10 minutes, then place the cake pan in the fridge for another 5-10 minutes. Take your block pan back out of the fridge and seal the top of your cake pan past wrapping it at least twice with plastic wrap, then return the cake to the fridge for an additional ane-2 hours. Keep reading to learn how to cool a cake on a wire rack!

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