How Long to Defrost Ice Cream Cake?

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Ice cream cake is a well-loved dessert – you have ice cream and cake in one yummy and enjoyable dessert! It would be difficult to slice and eat, though, if it is frozen solid. How long to defrost ice cream cake?

An ice cream cake is a combination of layers of different flavors of ice cream layered or mixed with baked cake. You need to keep your ice cream cake in the freezer to keep it from melting.

An ice cream cake is a frozen dessert, so it needs to be thawed before serving. Thawing an ice cream cake before slicing and serving requires perfect timing.

How to Store Ice Cream Cake?

How to Store Ice Cream Cake

You should store your ice cream cake in an airtight container and freeze it. Freezing your ice cream cake in a non-airtight container will cause it to absorb too much moisture and will, therefore, develop freezer burn and mold. It will also be hard and soggy.

Your ice cream cake will be a bit hard as it comes out of the freezer. You will, therefore, need to defrost your ice cream cake so it softens and becomes easy to slice without damaging it. Ice cream cakes straight out of the freezer is not delectable, too.

The right timing is needed when thawing your ice cream cake. You do not want to serve it too hard or too soft. How long to defrost ice cream cake before you serve it? There are two ways to defrost your ice cream cake to achieve the right results.

Remember that your ice cream cake has a 7-day shelf life in the freezer.

Defrost your Ice Cream Cake in the Refrigerator

Defrost your Ice Cream Cake in the Refrigerator

Defrosting your ice cream cake in the refrigerator is a slow method, but many say it is the way to go. This method of defrosting your ice cream cake is based on the standard 400F temperature of your refrigerator.

  1. Clear off the space in your refrigerator where you intend to place your ice cream cake.
  2. Transfer your ice cream cake from the freezer to the refrigerator.
  3. Leave your ice cream cake on the refrigerator and allow it to defrost for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the size of your ice cream cake.
  4. Check your ice cream cake every 10 minutes to see if it is soft enough to slice. You can use a toothpick and if it penetrates through the ice cream cake, then your cake has been defrosted and ready for serving.

When defrosting your ice cream cake in the refrigerator, you are allowing the cake to be soft enough to slice while keeping it in a cold environment so it will not melt.

The entire defrosting process should take about 20 – 40 minutes. Do not let your ice cream cake stay in the refrigerator overnight or for long hours because it will melt beyond repair.

Defrosting your Ice Cream Cake on the Countertop

Defrosting your Ice Cream Cake on the Countertop

Allowing your ice cream cake to sit on the countertop or at room temperature is a quicker way to defrost it. There are, however, some things to keep in mind:

  • Keep your ice cream cake away from direct sunlight because it will be a melted mess.
  • If you are defrosting your cake outside (e.g. garden or patio), place it in a cooler.

Here is how to defrost your ice cream cake on the countertop:

  1. Transfer your ice cream cake from the freezer to the kitchen countertop.
  2. Allow your cake to sit on the countertop for about 10-20 minutes.
  3. Constantly check on your cake to make sure it is not too quick to defrost. Too much humidity in the area can allow your cake to be soft enough in a few minutes.

The entire defrosting process should take about 10 to 20 minutes. The ingredients of your cake, ice cream flavor, and freezer temperature can affective actual defrosting time.

The only danger of countertop defrosting or at room temperature is the outside of the cake may be melting but the inside may still be hard.

Tips on Defrosting Ice Cream Cake

Tips on Defrosting Ice Cream Cake

Defrosting your ice cream cake is not as simple as transferring it to the refrigerator or countertop from the freezer.

  • Homemade ice cream cakes defrost more quickly than store-bought ice cream cakes. 
  • Some ice cream flavors defrost longer than, others, too. It will, for example, take longer for chocolate to defrost than vanilla.
  • Refrain from topping your ice cream cake with fruit garnishes before freezing. It takes fruits longer to defrost than your ice cream. You can also add other toppings such as melted fudge or caramel before serving to get a softer texture.
  • Store your ice cream cake inside a cooler filled with ice if you will not immediately serve your cake after defrosting. It can sit in the cooler without melting, but is still soft enough to slice, for about an hour.

Slice your ice cream cake with a long, serrated knife. Warm the knife in a glass of hot water before slicing the cake and wipe off excess water with a paper towel. Warm the knife again after several slices or when it becomes cold before slicing again.

It is also best to slice a rectangular ice cream cake into squares and a round ice cream cake into triangles.

Conclusion

To better enjoy your ice cream cake, keep it in the freezer until you are ready to slice and serve the cake. How long to defrost ice cream cake depends on whether you defrost it in the refrigerator or countertop. It also depends on the ice cream flavor and other ingredients of the cake.

Do you have any other method of defrosting ice cream cake? How long does it take? Share with us some of your thoughts in the comments section.

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