How to store and save buttercream
Fellow bakers will understand that making buttercream from scratch isn’t exactly cheap – good quality butter can really add up, not to mention real vanilla. You don’t want to be throwing costly ingredients in the bin.
So, whether you like to make your buttercream ahead of time, or you have some leftover from your latest cake or batch of cupcakes, it’s super easy to store your buttercream.
Here’s how…
Storing buttercream at room temperature
Yes, you can store buttercream at room temperature, but only for up to two days. So it’s fine to leave out overnight, if you’ve made it ahead of time for a cake the next day.
The high amount of fat in the butter, combined with a hefty amount of sugar, will keep the buttercream from spoiling quickly.
You will need to make sure your buttercream is covered to avoid crusting – pop it in an airtight container or cover your bowl with cling film.
Storing buttercream in the fridge
If you’re storing buttercream in the fridge, it’s important to make sure it’s well covered, and to keep it away from smellier foods, such as meat, cheese or fish. The fat in the buttercream can absorb the smells and flavours of those foods, which will obviously make it pretty yucky. And you don’t want it to go to waste.
Scrape your bowl down to get all that buttercream out, and pop it into a food safe, airtight tub. It will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Storing buttercream in the freezer
Much like storing buttercream at room temperature or in the fridge, it should be well covered. Buttercream freezes extremely well, and will last in the fridge for up to three months.
Takeaway style style plastic tubs make excellent buttercream containers, as do clean ice cream tubs. It’s important to remember to write the date you made your buttercream on the outside of your container, and make a note of when you need to use it.
When you need to use your buttercream, make sure you leave plenty of time to let it defrost. Simply leave it on the side in your kitchen and let it thaw to room temperature. Give it a good mix before using it.
Check out my buttercream recipes:
I’ve even written a blog with five top tips for making buttercream – The Sweet Taste Bakery has you covered!
What’s your favourite flavour of buttercream? Pop your answer in the comments below!
