Storing fondant properly is key to keeping it soft. From quick pour to ready-to-use, we’ll show you how to use and store your fondant for extended use. 

Fondant is great for adding a smooth finish to your cakes; however, it doesn’t store quite as well as other icings, such as buttercream or royal icing. If your fondant is exposed to moisture or cold temperatures, it can become unusable, which is frustrating to say the least!

The good news is, if properly stored, most fondant can last at room temperature for a couple weeks. In this post, we’ll show you how to store fondant, as well as offer some helpful tips about how to keep your fondant nice and soft!

How Long Does Fondant Last?

There is no timeline for how long fondant will last, as it greatly depends on the storage environment. If stored properly, fondant should keep for about 2 weeks at room temperature.

It’s imperative that your fondant doesn’t develop a crust. A coating of shortening on your fondant might help prevent this, but it’s not a fail-safe. Once fondant develops a crust, it is no longer usable.

Does Fondant Need to be Refrigerated?

No, fondant does not need to be refrigerated. In fact, it should avoid any contact with your refrigerator. Leftover fondant should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

If you plan on covering a cake with fondant, make sure you don’t use any fillings that need to be refrigerated. Fondant-covered cakes will need to be stored at room temperature as well, so avoid using mousse, cream cheese icing, fresh fruit or any other filling that may melt at room temperature.

Other Tips for Using and Storing Fondant

  • If you’re working with a lot of fondant, cover or wrap any fondant not being rolled or worked to prevent it from drying out. You can wrap it in plastic wrap or store it in a plastic bag until ready to use.
  • Knead your fondant until it’s soft and pliable before rolling.
  • If fondant becomes too soft or sticky to roll, knead in a little confectioners’ sugar.
  • To prevent your fondant from sticking as you roll it, prepare your work surface with solid vegetable shortening or a dusting of equal parts confectioners’ sugar and cornstarch.
  • If the fondant is sticking to your hands, lightly dust your hands with confectioners’ sugar or apply a thin coat of vegetable shortening.
  • Fondant picks up dirt and lint easily. Be sure your hands and work surface are clean when handing and avoid wearing fuzzy sweaters during fondant decorating.
  • Sunlight and florescent lighting will alter fondant colors. Keep your fondant-covered cake in a covered box and out of direct light, if possible.

How to Store Fondant

Fondant Type Flavor/ Description Consistency Best Used For... Coloring Storage/ Freshness Special Information
Rolled Fondant Covers cakes with a perfectly smooth, satiny iced surface. Easy and fast to use. Knead in flavor of your choice. Dough-like consistency that is rolled out before applied to cake. Stays semi-soft on cakes. Any firm textured cake, pound cake or fruit cake. Cutting, molding and modeling decorations. White yields pastels to deep colors. Wilton pre-colored fondant is also available in primary, pastel or natural colors multi-packs for fondant decorations in a variety of colors. Excess can be stored 2 months in an airtight container. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Iced cake can be stored at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. Cake fillings requiring refrigeration should not be used in fondant-covered cakes. Prior to applying fondant, cake should be lightly covered with a glaze or buttercream icing to provide a smooth surface.
Quick-Pour Fondant Very sweet flavor. Covers cakes with perfectly smooth, satiny iced surface. Coats baked goods and seals in freshness with a shiny, smooth surface. Pours and dries to a semi-hard, smooth surface. All cakes, petit fours and cookies. Yields vibrant pastels. Use immediately. Excess fondant may be refrigerated for several weeks, reheated and poured again. Prior to applying fondant, cake must be covered in apricot glaze and/or buttercream icing to seal in freshness and moisture.
Decorator Preferred Fondant Vanilla flavored (unless otherwise noted). Covers cakes with a smooth surface. Easy and fast to use. Dough-like consistency that is rolled out before applied to cake. Stays semi-soft on cakes. Covering any firm textured cake, pound cake or layer cake. Can also be used for cutting, molding and modeling decorations. Decorator Preferred fondant is available in a variety of bright, pastel, dark and skin-tone colors. White fondant can also be tinted using any gel-based food coloring. To store fondant, cover it with a thin layer of shortening, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container. Store at room temperature. Prior to applying fondant, cake should be lightly covered with a glaze or buttercream icing to provide a smooth surface.
Flavored Fondant Decadent flavored fondant is available in milk chocolate, white chocolate and caramel flavors; all fondants in this line contain natural ingredients and contain no artificial colors. Soft, dough-like consistency that is rolled out before applied to cake. Stays semi-soft on cakes. Fondant is much softer than Decorator Preferred fondant, so take extra care when rolling. Covering any firm textured cake, pound cake or layer cake. Due to its soft consistency, it’s not recommended for modeling decorations. Flavored fondants contain no artificial colors. Milk chocolate: dark brown; white chocolate: white; caramel: light brown To store fondant, cover it with a thin layer of shortening, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container. Store at room temperature. Since this fondant is made using real ingredients, it may behave differently than traditional fondant; take care when rolling and covering cakes, as fondant may tear if pulled or handled too much.

Do you have any tips or tricks for working with fondant? Let us know in the comments below!