Healthy Eating Healthy Cooking How-Tos Is It Safe to Leave Baked Goods Out? Whether it’s a loaf of bread or a batch of cookies, find out if it’s OK to leave baked goods out at room temperature. By Alex Loh Alex Loh Alex Loh is EatingWell's associate food editor. As part of the food team, she creates healthy, delicious recipes for the EatingWell audience. Alex also writes informative food and cooking articles that range from how to store ground beef to the best picks from Trader Joe's. Alex conducts product and taste tests to find the best options, from salad spinners to salsas. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 26, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Diana Chistruga We’ve all been in this situation: You’ve just finished baking some chocolate chip cookies and after you’ve eaten one (OK, three), you need to store them. But do they go in a cookie jar on the counter or do they have to be refrigerated? And what about other baked goods like an apple pie or lemon bars or that loaf of bread? No matter the baked good, keep reading to find out if it’s safe to leave them out at room temperature or if they need to be stored elsewhere. Related: Does Flour Go Bad? Is It Safe to Leave Baked Goods on the Counter? While it’s safe to keep many baked goods at room temperature, it depends on the item and should be taken on a case-by-case basis. For instance, breads and rolls can last up to four days at room temperature, but any bread with meat or hard-boiled eggs should be refrigerated within two hours, according to the USDA. How to Store Baked Goods To ensure your cupcakes, bars and loaves stay fresh, follow this chart for proper storage. For items left out at room temperature, store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. This advice only applies to baked items. For unbaked dough or batter, refer to the recipe’s make-ahead instructions. Baked Good Room Temperature Refrigerator Freezer Bars (such as cheesecake bars or lemon bars) n/a 7 days 2-3 months Breads and Rolls (with meat or hard-boiled eggs) n/a 7-14 days 3 months Breads and Rolls (without meat or hard-boiled eggs) 2-4 days 7-14 days 3 months Brownies (Note: Brownies with a cream cheese frosting or cream cheese swirl should be refrigerated.) 3-4 days 7 days 3 months Cakes and Cupcakes (Note: Cakes with fresh fruit, whipped cream or cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated.) 3-7 days 7-10 days 6 months Cheesecake n/a 5-7 days 3-6 months Cinnamon rolls (Note: Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated.) 1-3 days n/a 3 months Cookies 2-3 weeks 2 months 8-12 months Cream Pies n/a 3-4 days n/a Fruit Pies 1-2 days 5-7 days 8 months Muffins 3-7 days n/a 3 months Pies (not including fruit or cream-based pies) 2 hours 3-4 days 1-2 months Related: Learn the Right Way to Measure Ingredients for Baking Bottom Line While most baked goods can be left out at room temperature, there are some exceptions. Always store cakes with fresh fruit, whipped cream or cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator along with breads featuring meat or hard-boiled eggs. For baked goods that are stored at room temperature, place them in an airtight container. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Related Articles Is It Safe to Eat Moldy Bread? Is It Safe to Leave Butter on the Counter? Can You Freeze Yogurt? How Long Is Yogurt Good for After the Expiration Date? Can You Freeze Cream Cheese? How to Freeze Every Type of Baked Good Is It Safe to Eat Pizza That's Been Left Out Overnight? How to Ripen Bananas How to Tell If Yogurt Is Bad How to Tell If Ground Turkey Has Gone Bad How Long Does Hummus Last in the Fridge? Can You Freeze Cheese? The Best Frozen Food to Keep Stocked in Your Freezer 5 Foods You Should Never Store in the Refrigerator Door How to Tell If Oat Milk Is Bad Is It Safe to Eat Sprouted Onions? Newsletter Sign Up