Let a cake cool down

Video: How to Properly Cool a Cake | Baking Recipes | Robin Hood®

Content

To step
Method 1 of 2: Let a cake cool in the refrigerator
Method 2 of 2: Chilling a cake on a cooling rack
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

Depending on what kind of cake (or pastry or pie) you are making and how long you need to refrigerate it, there are several things to consider. If you don't cool the cake properly, you may end up with a cracked or soggy cake. Chilling in the refrigerator is a faster method, but you can also let your cake cool on the counter or in the oven. You can place your cake on a wire rack, leave it in the tin or even cool it upside down. Follow the tips and instructions in this guide to cool your cake quickly and efficiently, depending on the type of cake, pastry or pie.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Let a cake cool in the refrigerator

Determine how much time you have. Depending on the type of cake, cooling it with this method can be done in as little as an hour. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Angel food cake, regular cake, sponge cake and other fluffy cakes are cooled in the refrigerator in about 1-2 hours.
- This method may not be the best choice for cheesecake, as rapid temperature changes can disrupt the texture of the cake and cause cracks. For rich, creamy cakes served chilled, this method can take up to four hours.
- If you want to cool traditional pastries, this method will take you about 2-3 hours.
Remove the cake from the oven. Once your cake is fully cooked, use oven mitts to gently remove the cake from the oven and place it on the counter. Let the cake stand for 5-10 minutes. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you have baked a cheesecake or other creamy cake, it is recommended that you turn off the oven and let your cake cool in the oven for about an hour before placing it in the refrigerator. If you don't have time, you can put the cake in the fridge, although it may crack slightly.
- If you made a cheesecake, run a butter knife around the edge of the cake and the pan while the cake is still warm - this will prevent the cake from sticking to the pan.
- You can also place the cake pan on a wooden surface, such as a cutting board, to protect your countertop from heat damage.
Put your cake in the fridge. After you let the cake cool briefly on the counter, put the cake tin in the fridge for another 5-10 minutes. This allows the cake to cool further without drying out. After five or 10 minutes, the cake should feel pretty cool. Here are a few things to consider:
- If you want to cool sponge cake or angel food cake, it is recommended to let the cake cool upside down in the bundt pan. This can be done by turning the baking pan upside down and placing the tube part over the neck of a stable bottle. Turning the baking pan upside down and cooling it prevents the baking pan from collapsing during cooling.
- If you want to cool a regular cake, it is recommended that you remove it from the pan first. Chilling a cake in the pan for too long can cause it to become too moist and stick to the pan. Then place the cake on a wire rack and then in the refrigerator.
Wrap your cake in plastic wrap. Remove the cake tin from the refrigerator and cover the top at least twice with plastic wrap. Covering the cake tightly will help keep the cake moist while it cools.
- If you took the cake out of the pan or placed it upside down, you don't need to wrap it.
Let your cake chill in the fridge for an additional 1-2 hours. If you cool an angel food cake or regular cake, you may only need to cool it for an extra hour. If you are refrigerating a cheesecake, let it cool for the entire two hours.
Detach the cake from the baking pan. Use a sharp knife or butter knife and run it along the edges of the pan, between the edge of the pan and the cake.
- Make sure you hold the knife vertically so you don't accidentally cut the side of your cake.
Remove the cake from the baking pan. Place a large plate over the cake tin. Hold the plate and the baking pan tightly together and turn them upside down. Gently shake the pan to transfer the cake from the pan to the platter.
- If your cake is particularly delicate, gently tap the bottom of the pan a few times until you feel the cake release.
- Now that the cake has cooled down, you can garnish and decorate it as you wish!

Method 2 of 2: Chilling a cake on a cooling rack

Choose the right cooling rack. Make sure to choose a cooling rack based on the size of the cake you are baking. 25cm appears to be the largest standard pan (for elongated and round cake), so a rack that is at least 25cm wide should be sufficient. Cooling racks are an essential tool for any baker as they allow you to cool the cake evenly and quickly. Here are a few things to consider:
- Choose a rack that fits easily in your dishwasher and in the space where you want to store it.
- Cooling racks allow air to circulate underneath your cake, which prevents condensation and thus prevents the bottom of your cake from getting too moist.
Remove the cake from the oven. Once your cake is fully cooked, use oven gloves to gently remove the cake from the oven and place the pan directly on your cooling rack.
- If you are chilling a cheesecake, you can simply turn off the oven and let the cake cool in the oven for about an hour. This will allow the delicate cake to cool slowly, which will help prevent the cake from cracking.
Let the cake rest. At this point, it is a good idea to refer to the recipe for refrigeration time guidelines. Cooling time can vary considerably depending on the type of cake you are baking. As a rule of thumb, you should let the cake cool on the rack for at least 10-15 minutes.
- The cake tin should rest on the rack to ensure that there is airflow around the bottom of the cake tin.
Release the cake from the baking tin. Remove your cake pan from the cooling rack and place it on the counter. Use a sharp knife or butter knife and run it along the edges of the pan, between the edge of the pan and the cake.
- Keep the knife vertical so you don't accidentally cut the sides of your cake. Run the knife around the edges a few times to release the cake from the pan.
Grease your cooling rack. Before placing the cake on the cooling rack, lightly grease the rack (with oil or cooking spray).
- Since the cake will still be slightly warm, lightly greasing the wire rack may prevent the cake from sticking to it.
Place the cake from the tin on the rack (optional). Hold the cooling rack over the top of the baking pan and slowly turn the baking pan upside down. Gently tap the bottom of the baking pan until the cake comes loose. Slowly lift the pan to transfer the cake to the cooling rack. Before taking the cake out of the pan, keep the following in mind:
- When cooling a cheesecake, do not attempt to transfer the cake to the wire rack. Cheesecakes are very delicate and this can ruin your cake.
- If you want to cool a regular cake, it is wise to remove it from the baking tin earlier to prevent it from becoming too moist.
- If you want to cool an angel food cake, you can skip the grid and place the mold upside down on the counter. You do this by holding the baking pan upside down and placing the tube part over the neck of a stable bottle. Turning the baking pan upside down to cool will prevent the cake from collapsing while it cools.
- Don't forget to use oven mitts when handling the baking pan. Because the baking pan has been very hot, it will remain hot enough to burn your fingers for quite some time after it has been removed from the oven.
Remove the cake from the cooling rack. After allowing the cake to cool completely for 1-2 hours, you can place it on a plate or saucer and garnish and decorate as desired.

Tips

You can cool Angel food cakes upside down for three hours to make them as fluffy as possible.
To prevent cheesecake from cracking, run a thin knife around the edge of the cake as soon as you remove it from the oven.
Do not let a cake cool completely in the baking pan. However, a hot cake is too delicate to remove directly from the pan. To keep the cake from getting soaked while it cools, remove it from the pan after about 20 minutes to cool further.

Warnings

Always wear oven mitts or protective gloves when removing the cake from the oven to avoid burns.
Trying to remove a hot cake from the pan can cause it to crack and fall apart.
Oven temperatures vary, so keep a close eye on your cake to make sure it doesn't burn.
If you cool a cake upside down, don't run a knife along the edge of the pan first, otherwise it could cause your cake to fall out!