Should I Remove Cake From Oven Immediately?

It is important to know how to handle a cake properly if you want the best possible result. If you are wondering whether or not you should remove the cake from an oven immediately after baking it, you have come to the right place. We have researched all about this and have the answers for you.

Yes, you should remove a cake from the oven as soon as it is done baking. If you let your cake sit in a hot oven longer than necessary, your cake will become dried out or burned.

Keep reading this post if you would like to learn more about how long to leave your cake in the oven, what to do when your cake is done baking, why you should let it cool before removing it from the pan, and more.

How long do you leave cake in the oven?

The answer to this question varies depending on the type of cake and the size of the cake pan that you use. If you check the back of the box of cake mix, it will say how long to bake your cake based on what size pan you are using. Another thing that varies when it comes to baking cakes is the temperature of the oven.

A guide to keep in mind is that the temperature required is lower when the cake pan is bigger, and vice versa. What this means is a cake that is baking in a 9-inch pan takes approximately 30 minutes while that same cake takes about 50 minutes in a 14-inch pan.

As for how long you can leave a cake in the oven after it is done baking, you shouldn't. While a cake does need time to set, it will be overdone if you leave it in any longer than necessary.

Most recipes and all box mixes have an indicator on the back that gives you a range for how long to leave the cake in the oven (while it is hot) based on the size pan you are putting it in.

Set a timer for the allotted time. Check the cake by inserting a toothpick or knife into the center. If the toothpick or knife comes out clean, then you know your cake is done. Don't let your cake get dried out by leaving it in the oven after it has baked all the way through.

What to do after cake comes out of oven?

The first step when you take a cake out of the oven is to check and make sure it is fully cooked all the way through. An undercooked cake will result in a huge mess or a stomachache if it is consumed.

After a cake comes out of the oven, it is necessary to allow it to have time to set. What this means is that you need to let it cool before removing it from the pan that it is in. This usually takes somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes.

Click here to see this set of cake pans on Amazon.

Why should you cool a cake before removing it from the pan?

The main reason you should allow a cake to have time to cool before removing it from the pan is because it will fall apart otherwise. If you want your cake to come out without crumbling, you need to let it cool first.

Another reason you need to let your cake cool after it is done baking is because icing will melt. If you try to ice your cake when it is still hot, the icing will melt right off it. This can end up being a mess and will not look the way you wanted it to.

For a smooth cake that is iced without getting damaged, you need to let it cool after baking it. You should give a cake two to three hours to be able to fully cool before you ice it.

When removing a cake from a pan, you need to let it cool first. Use a rubber spatula to loosen the edges around the cake, then turn your cake pan upside down. You can put the cake in your refrigerator for 30 minutes to help solidify it.

Click here to see these rubber spatulas on Amazon.

Placing your cake in the refrigerator will cool it down faster. Doing so also helps ensure your cake will not get torn up during the icing phase.

Do you cover the cake while cooling?

You do not need to cover the cake while it is cooling. Allowing air to circulate around it is the best and fastest way to cool it. Set your cake pan on a cooling rack for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Click here to see this cooling rack on Amazon.

A key point to remember is that you can cover your cake pan with foil to seal in the moisture if you need to wait until later or the next day to ice it. Do not cover a warm cake because it will end up being soggy. Let the cake completely cool before putting it away.

If you are concerned about keeping your cake moist, all you have to do is add icing. When you add the icing, it will seal in the moisture. In case you are not ready to eat it or serve it yet, you can keep it in an air-tight container.

Let the cake have plenty of time to cool before putting it in any container. The same goes for covering it.

How long do you let a cake cool before covering?

You should let a cake cool for at least two hours before covering. Some people even give it three hours to cool. We don't recommend waiting any longer than that though.

Do not cover a cake while it is still warm. If you wrap a warm cake in saran wrap, the cake will be stuck to the saran wrap when you peel it off. This will mess up the way the cake looks when it is iced and isn't ideal.

There are a couple of options for if you need to cool your cake faster. As we mentioned, putting it in the refrigerator is one option.

Cutting your cake is an alternative to cooling it down faster. When you cut a cake, air can get to the pieces. Do not make the mistake of cutting it before letting it sit for at least 15 minutes first though.

Can you take a cake out of the oven and put it back in?

Yes, you absolutely can put a cake back in the oven after taking it out to test if it is cooked all the way through or not. If it is underbaked, you can put it back in and set your timer accordingly. If you started out on the lower end of the time that your recipe suggests, give it four or five minutes before you check it again.

Avoid checking your cake too often. Whenever you check it and if you see it is undercooked, you can guess how much longer it will take by looking at the center of it.

If the center of your cake is still jiggly, it needs quite a bit more time—likely more than five minutes. On the other hand, if you see only a little bit of cake on the toothpick or knife when you check the center of it, then you know it needs less time.

Why do cakes fall apart when taken out of the oven?

There are a few reasons why a cake may fall apart. When you take a cake out of the oven before it is done baking, you are disturbing its structure. In order for a cake to bake evenly, the batter needs to be spread evenly, and it needs to be left alone for the full amount of time the recipe calls for.

Another reason cakes fall apart is if too much baking powder or baking soda was used in the cake mix. When this happens, the cake rises too quickly; therefore, the middle caves when it is moved around. Measure your ingredients carefully.

To Wrap Things Up

With all things considered, you should remove a cake immediately after it is done baking. If you check the cake and the center is done baking, you need to keep it out of the oven and allow it to have time to cool before removing it from the pan or icing it. Leaving a cake in the oven longer than necessary will dry the cake out.

Before you go check out the following links all about cake:

How Long Can You Keep A Cake In The Fridge? [By Type Of Cake]

Can You Bake Two Cakes At The Same Time? [Inc. Pies And Cheesecake]

How To Stop Sprinkles From Bleeding Into Cake Icing