Many people like keeping store-bought cake mixes in their pantries so that they can easily make desserts when they feel like it. It’s convenient to have these store-bought mixes because you don’t have to take the time to do everything from scratch.
You might wind up buying several cake mixes so that you’ll have a variety of different options. This does mean that you might wind up keeping one or two cake mixes in the pantry for longer than you thought you would.
If you’ve had one in the pantry for several months or longer, then you might be wondering whether it’s still good or not. Can cake mix go bad or is it going to stay good indefinitely?
Read on to learn more about this topic so that you can stay safe. You’ll be able to make tasty cakes and plan ahead once you have all of the answers.
The Shelf Life of Cakes Mixes Will Vary
The first thing to know is that cake mixes can indeed go bad. Every box of cake mix that you buy is going to have a shelf life.
This shelf life is determined by various factors, and it will differ depending on the brand that you purchase and the type of mix that you decide to buy.
Generally, you can expect cake mix to have a shelf life of six months to one year. You should see some type of writing on the box that says “best used by” and then this will be followed by a date.
If you want to enjoy the best cake possible, then it’s going to be best to use the mix before the “best used by” date has passed. Otherwise, the cake mix might be a bit stale or it can degrade in quality in other ways.
Can You Eat Expired Cake Mix?
For the most part, you’re going to be fine when you try to bake a cake using an expired store-bought mix. Many people have had perfectly good results when baking cakes with mixes that have been expired for months.
In some cases, people have baked cakes using mixes that have been expired for years. The only thing to consider is that the cakes probably won’t turn out amazingly.
When you bake a cake using an old boxed mix, it’s going to be more likely that the cake will have texture issues. The texture might be off and the flavor might not taste exactly how it’s supposed to either.
Since cake mixes are so affordable, it might not make sense to use old mixes that have already expired. You can do so if you want to because it shouldn’t present a danger to your health.
However, you usually want to get the best results when you’re baking a cake. Even using a store-bought mix is going to require you to spend some time preparing things, and why would you want to go to the effort to bake a cake if it’s going to be less than stellar once it’s done?
Try Not to Use Cake Mixes That Have Been Expired for Too Long
To be as safe as possible, it’ll be best not to eat cake mixes that have been expired for longer than six months. Some people have done so and been just fine, but taking unnecessary risks will not be recommended.
Always look at the date that’s on the mix box to see how you’re doing. You can do the math in your head to see how long it has been since the mix has expired and then make a decision from there.
If you think that the cake mix is still within an acceptable range, then you can go through with using it to bake a cake. To get better results, it’s going to be best to add some baking soda so that you can ensure that it will rise properly.
One of the reasons why old mixes might not work properly has to do with the leavening agent becoming inactive. You can counter this with a bit of baking soda and you should be able to bake normally.
Go to the Store and Buy Another Cake Mix
If you’re baking a cake for a special occasion such as a birthday, it’s going to be better to have the freshest cake possible. You want the texture to be just right and it’s best for everyone to be able to enjoy the flavor as it was intended to be enjoyed.
Cake mixes cost very little money and they can be purchased at just about any grocery store. You can also easily find boxed mixes to make cakes at department stores if you have one of those nearby.
It’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to waste food items that you spent good money on. You just have to understand that you can’t expect amazing results when using a cake mix that has expired.
Taking the time to go to the store and buy a new mix will be very simple. You’ll be able to get what you need along with any other ingredients that are necessary such as eggs and milk.
When you care about how the cake turns out, it’s better to use a mix that’s fresh. You could also prepare your own cake mix from scratch so long as you have all of the ingredients to get the job done.
Don’t feel as if you have to force yourself to bake a cake using an expired mix. Throwing the mix out is an acceptable thing to do, and you can just try to pay closer attention to when the boxed mixes are supposed to expire moving forward.
Final Thoughts
Cake mix can go bad, but it’s possible to eat it even after the “best used by” date has passed. You just won’t be able to get the best results when baking a cake using old cake mix.
In many cases, the cake will have a bad texture and the flavoring will be off. You’ll likely need to add some baking soda to the mix as well to act as a raising agent.
It’s likely going to be better to just go buy a different cake mix. These boxed mixes are so affordable that it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to force yourself to eat a cake that’s made with an expired mix.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.