How Long Food Lasts

Baked Goods / Bakery

Does fruit cake go bad?

Form

Fridge

-

Freezer

Can be frozen: yes

12months

Pantry

6months

Refreeze after thawing in the fridge?

United States
Yes
United Kingdom
Only after cooking

How long does fruit cake last in the freezer?

  • Fruit cake12 months

Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Your freezer should be around -18°C

A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.

Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.

Can you freeze fruit cake?

Yes.

How to defrost fruit cake safely

  1. In the fridge
  2. In cold water, cook it straight after defrosting
  3. In the microwave, cook it straight after defrosting
  4. Cook it from frozen

You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm

It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.

It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.

Can you refreeze fruit cake?

  • In the United KingdomOnly after cooking
  • In the United StatesYes

You can freeze food again once cooked, but you’ll only be able to reheat it once after that

Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, although there may be some loss of quality.

Foods thawed by the cold water method should be cooked before refreezing.

After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.

Can fruit cake be kept out of the fridge?

  • Fruit cake6 months

All forms at a glance

FormFridgeFreezerPantry
Fruit cake-12 months6 months
Opened---

Frequently asked questions

How long does fruit cake last in the freezer?

Fruit cake: 12 months. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Can you freeze fruit cake?

Yes.

Can you refreeze fruit cake?

In the United Kingdom: Only after cooking; In the United States: Yes.

Good to know

Other figures given by the sources for close variants:

  • Fruit cake Fridge 12 months

Sources

We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last checked: 1 October 2026.

Values we do not display (1)

Values below were set aside: unconfirmed by a second independent source, or contradicted by a shorter time.

  • Opened, fridge: 12 months (fsis.usda.gov, not confirmed by a second source)