Settle a dispute-frosting on cupcakes

[Random]

Do Sam's Club cupcakes with whipped topping (not buttercream) need to be refrigerated?  The bakery said no, because the whipped topping is nondairy.  But everywhere else I look, people say yes to refrigeration.  Anyone know the truth?

 

[itsheresomewhere]

Our Sams often has those not refrigerated.  And when we have bought them, we don’t refrigerate them. But they don’t last more than a few days here.....

[Lady Marmalade]

Take this with a grain of salt, but I have never in my life refrigerated any cake (other than cheesecake) regardless of the frosting that was on the cake.  It can take us 4-5 days to completely demolish a sheet cake or decadent layer cake and I've never had the frosting spoil, whether it be a buttercream, meringue, etc.  

[J-rap]

I only refrigerate cake with a buttercream frosting... otherwise, never.

[Annie G]

Unless they have changed it, Sam’s uses Rich’s Bettercream. It comes frozen and is thawed and put on products. If not refrigerated it has a five day shelf life. If it’s constantly refrigerated it has a seven day shelf life.   If not refrigerated it ‘sets’ and has a different texture, but it’s still good for five days. 

[Katy]

Nothing with that much sugar is likely to cause food poisoning, whether it's made with dairy or not.  The sugar takes the moisture out of the bacteria so it can't grow.  But it will attract bugs if it's made with dairy, and when the sugar is eaten bacteria will grow.

The real question is...  how long is it likely to last in your house, and do you have a potential for an ant or other bug problem?  IME in the South it's best to keep it in the fridge, in other places it hasn't mattered so much.

[ScoutTN]

31 minutes ago, Annie G said:

Unless they have changed it, Sam’s uses Rich’s Bettercream. It comes frozen and is thawed and put on products. If not refrigerated it has a five day shelf life. If it’s constantly refrigerated it has a seven day shelf life.   If not refrigerated it ‘sets’ and has a different texture, but it’s still good for five days. 

Shelf life of Cupcakes?!?!

 0 days in my house!! 

Whose household will not eat all the cupcakes by the next day? 😉

[mumto2]

I thought this was going to be the start of the Coronavirus version of the epic cupcake thread......sort of disappointed.😂

My husband prefers cake cold so if space allowed I would have it in a frig but it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

[Annie G]

19 minutes ago, mumto2 said:

I thought this was going to be the start of the Coronavirus version of the epic cupcake thread......sort of disappointed.😂

My husband prefers cake cold so if space allowed I would have it in a frig but it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

 I LOVE cold cake!!! 

[EKS]

If they're not refrigerated in the store, I would not refrigerate them at home.

Also, I don't refrigerate any cake I make myself.

[happi duck]

*raises hand* Another fan of cold cake!!

[Tap]

Refrigerate. Just because it doesn't have dairy, doesn't mean it is shelf stable. Whipped toppings are often heat/humidity sensitive and will weep if let out for any length o f time. They may not make you sick, but they won't taste good/have a good texture either. 

[Random]

Thanks, everyone. 

The cupcakes will be eaten very quickly by my family today, but I bought them yesterday.  I needed fridge space for other things, and hoped they could be left out.  They are stored refrigerated in the bakery.  The bakery lady said they could be left out.  My sister was adamant that the topping would spoil if it wasn't refrigerated.   I ended up finding fridge space, but we are having a small outdoor graduation celebration today, and I think they'll be fine left out for that.