');--success-svg-icon:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--info-svg-icon:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--chevron-svg-icon:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--checkbox-svg-icon:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--radiobutton-svg-icon:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--show-password-svg-icon:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--hide-password-svg-icon:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--error-svg-icon-color:var(--red-500);--success-svg-icon-color:var(--emerald-700);--info-svg-icon-color:var(--sky-500);--chevron-svg-icon-color:var(--grey-900);--checkbox-svg-icon-color:var(--grey-900);--radiobutton-svg-icon-color:var(--grey-900);--show-password-svg-icon-color:var(--grey-900);--hide-password-svg-icon-color:var(--grey-900);--bde-woo-notices__icon-size:16px;--bde-woo-notices__padding:24px;--bde-woo-notices__border-radius:4px;--bde-woo-notices__error-background:var(--red-50);--bde-woo-notices__error-text:var(--red-500);--bde-woo-notices__error-link-text:var(--red-500);--bde-woo-notices__error-link-text-hover:var(--red-500);--bde-woo-notices__info-background:var(--sky-100);--bde-woo-notices__info-text:var(--sky-500);--bde-woo-notices__info-link-text:var(--sky-500);--bde-woo-notices__info-link-text-hover:var(--sky-500);--bde-woo-notices__success-background:var(--emerald-100);--bde-woo-notices__success-text:var(--emerald-700);--bde-woo-notices__success-link-text:var(--emerald-700);--bde-woo-notices__success-link-text-hover:var(--emerald-700);--bde-woo-sale-badge__border-radius:2px;--bde-woo-sale-badge__padding:4px 8px;--bde-woo-ratings__star-color:var(--yellow-500);--bde-woo-ratings__star-size:18px;--bde-woo-ratings__filled-star-svg:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--bde-woo-ratings__empty-star-svg:url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,');--bde-woo-product-images__border-radius:4px;--bde-woo-product-images__border-width:0px;--bde-woo-product-images__border-color:var(--grey-300);--bde-woo-wrappers__background-color:var(--white);--bde-woo-wrappers__border-radius:4px;--bde-woo-wrappers__border-color:var(--grey-300);--bde-woo-wrappers__border-width:1px;--bde-woo-wrappers__shadow:rgba(0,0,0,.05) 0 1px 3px,rgba(0,0,0,.05) 0 1px 2px;--bde-woo-tables__header-color:var(--grey-100);--bde-woo-tables__background-color:var(--white);--bde-woo-tables__border-radius:4px;--bde-woo-tables__border-width:1px;--bde-woo-widgets__chip-background-color:transparent;--bde-woo-widgets__chip-background-color-hover:var(--indigo-50);--bde-woo-widgets__chip-text-color:inherit;--bde-woo-widgets__handle-border-color:var(--grey-300);--bde-woo-widgets__handle-background-color:var(--white);--bde-woo-widgets__handle-background-color-hover:var(--white);--bde-woo-widgets__handle-shadow:rgba(0,0,0,.05) 0 1px 3px,rgba(0,0,0,.05) 0 1px 2px;--bde-woo-widgets__handle-shadow-hover:var(--grey-300) 0 0 4px;--bde-woo-widgets__remove-item-from-cart-color:var(--grey-450);--bde-woo-select2__active-item-background-color:var(--indigo-50);--bde-woo-gallery__zoom-icon-shadow:rgba(0,0,0,.05) 0 1px 3px,rgba(0,0,0,.05) 0 1px 2px;--bde-woo-payment-box-background-color:var(--grey-100);--bde-woo-payment-box-border-color:var(--grey-200);--bde-woo-payment-box-border-width:1px;--bde-woo-quicklook-button-icon:url(/wp-content/uploads/breakdance/css/icons/eye.svg);--bde-woo-quicklook-button-background-color:none;--bde-woo-quicklook-button-icon-size:20px;--bde-woo-quicklook-button-backdrop-color:rgba(0,0,0,.15);--bde-woo-quicklook-button-backdrop-opacity:.7;--bde-woo-quicklook-modal-background-color:var(--white);--bde-woo-quicklook-overlay-color:rgba(0,0,0,.7);--bde-woo-quicklook-close-button-size:2em;--bde-woo-quicklook-arrow-size:1em;--bde-woo-quicklook-arrow-color:var(--white);--bde-woo-swatch-space-between-options:10px;--bde-woo-swatch-padding:7px;--bde-woo-swatch-color-width:30px;--bde-woo-swatch-color-height:30px;--bde-woo-swatch-border:1px solid var(--grey-200);--bde-woo-swatch-border-color-hover:var(--grey-400);--bde-woo-swatch-shadow:none;--bde-woo-swatch-shadow-hover:none;--bde-woo-swatch-background:var(--white);--bde-woo-swatch-background-hover:var(--grey-50);--bde-woo-swatch-color-padding:2px;--bde-woo-swatch-tooltip-color:var(--white);--bde-woo-swatch-tooltip-background:var(--grey-900);--bde-woo-swatch-tooltip-padding:7px;--bde-woo-swatch-space-after-label:8px;--bde-woo-responsive__stack:row}:root{--bde-links-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-links-color-hover:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-button-primary-background-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-button-primary-background-color-hover:var(--bde-brand-primary-color-hover);--bde-button-secondary-border-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-button-secondary-border-color-hover:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-button-secondary-text-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-button-secondary-background-color-hover:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-button-text-text-color:var(--bde-links-color);--bde-button-text-text-color-hover:var(--bde-links-color-hover);--bde-button-font-size:var(--bde-body-font-size);--bde-form-font-size:var(--bde-body-font-size);--bde-form-input-border-top-left-radius:var(--bde-form-input-border-radius);--bde-form-input-border-top-right-radius:var(--bde-form-input-border-radius);--bde-form-input-border-bottom-left-radius:var(--bde-form-input-border-radius);--bde-form-input-border-bottom-right-radius:var(--bde-form-input-border-radius);--bde-form-input-border-top:var(--bde-form-input-border-width) solid var(--bde-form-input-border-color);--bde-form-input-border-right:var(--bde-form-input-border-width) solid var(--bde-form-input-border-color);--bde-form-input-border-bottom:var(--bde-form-input-border-width) solid var(--bde-form-input-border-color);--bde-form-input-border-left:var(--bde-form-input-border-width) solid var(--bde-form-input-border-color);--bde-form-label-color:var(--bde-headings-color);--bde-form-input-focused-border-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-form-input-focused-shadow:var(--bde-brand-primary-color) 0 0 2px;--bde-form-checkbox-selected-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-z-index-lightbox:1100;--bde-z-index-popup:1050;--bde-z-index-modal:1000;--bde-z-index-modal-backdrop:calc(var(--bde-z-index-modal) - 1);--bde-z-index-high:300;--bde-z-index-medium:200;--bde-z-index-low:100;--bde-z-index-sticky:10;--bde-z-index-minicart:var(--bde-z-index-modal);--bde-z-index-minicart-backdrop:var(--bde-z-index-modal-backdrop);--bde-z-index-menu-dropdown:var(--bde-z-index-modal);--bde-z-index-menu-mobile:var(--bde-z-index-modal);--bde-z-index-menu-backdrop:var(--bde-z-index-modal-backdrop);--bde-z-index-search-fullscreen:var(--bde-z-index-modal);--bde-z-index-back-to-top:var(--bde-z-index-high);--bde-z-index-scroll-progress:var(--bde-z-index-high);--bde-z-index-header-sticky:var(--bde-z-index-medium);--bde-z-index-header-overlay:calc(var(--bde-z-index-header-sticky) - 1);--bde-z-index-social-share-buttons:var(--bde-z-index-low);--bde-woo-base-text-color:var(--bde-body-text-color);--bde-woo-base-headings-color:var(--bde-headings-color);--bde-woo-base-primary-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-woo-base-primary-color-hover:var(--bde-brand-primary-color-hover);--bde-woo-base-extra-small-gaps:calc(var(--bde-woo-base-small-gaps)/var(--bde-woo-base-ratio));--bde-woo-base-small-gaps:calc(var(--bde-woo-base-space)/var(--bde-woo-base-ratio));--bde-woo-base-standard-gaps:var(--bde-woo-base-space);--bde-woo-base-medium-gaps:calc(var(--bde-woo-base-space)*var(--bde-woo-base-ratio));--bde-woo-base-big-gaps:calc(var(--bde-woo-base-medium-gaps)*var(--bde-woo-base-ratio));--bde-woo-base-large-gaps:calc(var(--bde-woo-base-big-gaps)*var(--bde-woo-base-ratio));--bde-woo-base-extra-large-gaps:calc(var(--bde-woo-base-large-gaps)*var(--bde-woo-base-ratio));--bde-woo-typography-ratio:var(--bde-font-size-ratio);--bde-woo-typography__size-small:calc(var(--bde-woo-typography__size-standard)/var(--bde-woo-typography-ratio));--bde-woo-typography__size-small-font-family:var(--bde-body-font-family);--bde-woo-typography__size-standard:var(--bde-body-font-size);--bde-woo-typography__size-standard-font-family:var(--bde-body-font-family);--bde-woo-typography__size-medium:calc(var(--bde-woo-typography__size-standard)*var(--bde-woo-typography-ratio));--bde-woo-typography__size-medium-font-family:var(--bde-heading-font-family);--bde-woo-typography__size-large:calc(var(--bde-woo-typography__size-medium)*var(--bde-woo-typography-ratio));--bde-woo-typography__size-large-font-family:var(--bde-heading-font-family);--bde-woo-typography__size-extra-large:calc(var(--bde-woo-typography__size-large)*var(--bde-woo-typography-ratio));--bde-woo-typography__size-extra-large-font-family:var(--bde-heading-font-family);--bde-woo-buttons-and-links__text-link-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-woo-buttons-and-links__text-link-color-hover:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-woo-buttons-and-links__nav-link-color:var(--bde-woo-base-text-color);--bde-woo-buttons-and-links__nav-link-color-hover:var(--bde-woo-base-text-on-primary-color);--bde-woo-buttons-and-links__nav-link-color-active:var(--bde-woo-base-primary-color);--bde-woo-forms__spacing-after-label:var(--bde-form-after-label);--bde-woo-forms__spacing-between-fields:var(--bde-form-gap);--bde-woo-forms__spacing-between-columns:var(--bde-woo-base-extra-large-gaps);--bde-woo-forms__labels-color:var(--bde-form-label-color);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-background-color:var(--bde-form-input-background-color);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-text-color:var(--bde-form-text-color);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-placeholder-color:var(--bde-form-input-placeholder-color);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-border-color:var(--bde-form-input-border-color);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-border-width:var(--bde-form-input-border-width);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-border-radius:var(--bde-form-input-border-top-left-radius) var(--bde-form-input-border-top-right-radius) var(--bde-form-input-border-bottom-right-radius) var(--bde-form-input-border-bottom-left-radius);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-background-color-focused:var(--bde-form-input-focused-background-color);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-border-color-focused:var(--bde-form-input-focused-border-color);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-shadow-focused:var(--bde-form-input-focused-shadow);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-shadow:var(--bde-form-input-input-shadow);--bde-woo-forms__inputs-select2-hover-item:var(--bde-woo-base-primary-color);--bde-woo-forms__labels-required-color:var(--bde-form-label-required-color);--bde-woo-forms__labels-required-size:var(--bde-form-label-required-size);--bde-woo-forms__labels-required-nudge-x:var(--bde-form-label-required-nudge-x);--bde-woo-forms__labels-required-nudge-y:var(--bde-form-label-required-nudge-y);--bde-woo-tables__border-color:var(--bde-woo-base-border-color);--bde-woo-sale-badge__background-color:var(--bde-woo-base-primary-color);--bde-woo-sale-badge__text-color:var(--bde-woo-base-text-on-primary-color);--bde-woo-sale-badge__font-weight:var(--bde-woo-typography-font-weight-heavy);--bde-woo-sale-badge__font-size:var(--bde-woo-typography__size-standard);--bde-woo-widgets__chip-text-color-hover:var(--bde-woo-buttons-and-links__text-link-color);--bde-woo-widgets__handle-border-color-hover:var(--bde-woo-base-primary-color);--bde-woo-notices__padding-left:calc(var(--bde-woo-notices__padding) + var(--bde-woo-notices__icon-size) + (var(--bde-woo-notices__icon-size)/2));--bde-woo-quicklook-button-text-color:var(--bde-button-primary-text-color);--bde-woo-quicklook-button-background-color-hover:var(--bde-woo-quicklook-button-background-color);--bde-woo-quicklook-button-icon-spacing:var(--bde-woo-base-standard-gaps);--bde-woo-quicklook-close-button-color:var(--bde-woo-base-headings-color);--bde-woo-quicklook-arrow-color-hover:var(--bde-woo-quicklook-arrow-color);--bde-woo-quicklook-arrow-background-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);--bde-woo-quicklook-arrow-background-color-hover:var(--bde-woo-quicklook-arrow-background-color);--bde-woo-swatch-space-between-items:var(--bde-woo-base-medium-gaps);--bde-woo-swatch-background-selected:var(--bde-woo-swatch-background-hover);--bde-woo-swatch-border-color-selected:var(--bde-woo-swatch-border-color-hover);--bde-woo-swatch-shadow-selected:var(--bde-woo-swatch-shadow-hover);--bde-woo-swatch-color-background:var(--bde-woo-swatch-background)}:root{--bde-base-font-size:18px}.breakdance *,.breakdance *:before,.breakdance *:after{box-sizing:border-box}.breakdance img{max-width:100%;height:auto}.breakdance figure{width:100%;margin-left:0;margin-right:0}.breakdance-rich-text-styles>*:first-child{margin-top:0}.screen-reader-text{border:0;clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);-webkit-clip-path:inset(50%);clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:normal!important;word-wrap:normal!important;padding:0;position:absolute!important;width:1px}.breakdance{background-color:var(--bde-background-color);color:var(--bde-body-text-color)}.breakdance h1{color:var(--bde-headings-color)}.breakdance a{color:var(--bde-links-color)}.breakdance{font-family:var(--bde-body-font-family);font-size:var(--bde-body-font-size)}.breakdance h1{font-family:var(--bde-heading-font-family)}.breakdance h1{font-size:var(--bde-h1-font-size)}.breakdance{color:#333;line-height:1.5}.breakdance .bde-section-158-115{background-color:#5b71c9}.breakdance .bde-columns-158-116{--columnCount:2}@media (max-width:1119px){.breakdance .bde-columns-158-116{--columnCount:2}.breakdance .bde-columns-158-116.bde-columns{flex-direction:column;flex-wrap:nowrap}.breakdance .bde-columns-158-116.bde-columns>.bde-column{width:100%}}@media (max-width:1023px){.breakdance .bde-columns-158-116{--columnCount:2}}@media (max-width:767px){.breakdance .bde-columns-158-116{--columnCount:2}}@media (max-width:479px){.breakdance .bde-columns-158-116{--columnCount:2}}.breakdance .bde-column-158-117{--column-width:37.96%}.breakdance .bde-image-158-119 .breakdance-image-container{border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px}.breakdance .bde-image-158-119 .breakdance-image-clip{border-top:4px solid #fff;border-bottom:4px solid #fff;border-left:4px solid #fff;border-right:4px solid #fff;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px}.breakdance .bde-column-158-118{--column-width:62.04%;align-items:center;text-align:center;justify-content:center}.breakdance .bde-heading-158-101{color:#fff}.breakdance .bde-section-158-106 .section-container{padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0}.breakdance .bde-rich-text-158-107{margin-top:59px}.breakdance .bde-section-124-100{background-color:#fff}.breakdance .bde-section-124-100 .section-container{padding-bottom:10px;padding-top:10px}.breakdance .bde-columns-124-101{--columnCount:3}@media (max-width:1119px){.breakdance .bde-columns-124-101{--columnCount:3}.breakdance .bde-columns-124-101.bde-columns{flex-direction:column;flex-wrap:nowrap}.breakdance .bde-columns-124-101.bde-columns>.bde-column{width:100%}}@media (max-width:1023px){.breakdance .bde-columns-124-101{--columnCount:3}}@media (max-width:767px){.breakdance .bde-columns-124-101{--columnCount:3}}@media (max-width:479px){.breakdance .bde-columns-124-101{--columnCount:3}}.breakdance .bde-column-124-102{--column-width:10.18%}@media (max-width:1119px){.breakdance .bde-column-124-102{align-items:center;text-align:center}}@media (max-width:1023px){.breakdance .bde-column-124-102{align-items:center;text-align:center}}@media (max-width:767px){.breakdance .bde-column-124-102{align-items:center;text-align:center}}@media (max-width:479px){.breakdance .bde-column-124-102{align-items:center;text-align:center}}.breakdance .bde-image-124-105{width:100px}.breakdance .bde-image-124-105 .breakdance-image-object{width:100%;height:auto}.breakdance .bde-column-124-103{--column-width:80.33%;align-items:center;text-align:center;justify-content:center}@media (min-width:768px){.breakdance .bde-wp-menu-124-106 .breakdance-menu{--link-effect-color:#5b71c9;--link-effect-color-hover:#5b71c9}.breakdance .bde-wp-menu-124-106 .breakdance-menu-link{font-family:"Poppins",sans-serif;font-size:18px}}@media (max-width:767px){.breakdance .bde-wp-menu-124-106 .breakdance-menu{--links-gap:0;--dropdown-link-icon-display:none;--dropdown-link-description-display:none;--dropdown-links-gap:var(--gap-none)}.breakdance .bde-wp-menu-124-106 .breakdance-menu-list{align-items:stretch;background-color:var(--menu-background);display:none;flex-direction:column;left:var(--mobile-offset-x);max-height:var(--menu-max-height);overflow-y:auto;position:absolute;top:var(--mobile-offset-y,100%);width:100vw;z-index:var(--bde-z-index-menu-mobile)}.breakdance .bde-wp-menu-124-106 .breakdance-menu-list>:last-child{border-bottom:var(--link-border)}.breakdance .bde-wp-menu-124-106 .breakdance-menu .breakdance-menu-link{border-top:var(--link-border);outline-offset:-1px;padding:var(--mobile-link-padding-top) var(--mobile-link-padding-right) var(--mobile-link-padding-bottom) var(--mobile-link-padding-left)}.breakdance .bde-wp-menu-124-106 .breakdance-menu-toggle{display:flex}}.breakdance .bde-column-124-104{--column-width:9.49%;align-items:center;text-align:center;justify-content:center}.breakdance .bde-search-form-124-107 .search-form__button--full-screen{font-size:20px;background-color:#5b71c9;color:#fff;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px}
Ah, the humble sheet cake: the centerpiece of birthdays, graduations, and all manner of festive gatherings. And when it comes to feeding a crowd without breaking the bank, Costco sheet cakes have earned their stripes as a go-to indulgence. But once you’ve navigated the bustling aisles of your local Costco and emerged victorious with your confectionery trophy in hand, an important question arises: do these sizable sweets need to be refrigerated?
Alright, I won’t leave you hanging. Generally, Costco sheet cakes do not need to be refrigerated if they are going to be eaten within a day or two. These cakes are designed to hold up well at room temperature, making them convenient for party planning. However, there are some caveats and best practices you’ll want to follow to ensure your cake remains safe to eat and delightful to the last crumb.
The key factor in deciding whether to refrigerate your sheet cake is the type of filling and frosting it has. Costco’s standard sheet cakes, which typically feature buttercream or non-dairy whipped icing, can safely sit out at room temperature—ideally, in a cool, dry place. This is because the sugar content in these types of frostings acts as a preservative, which helps keep the cake fresh.
However, if your cake contains cream cheese frosting, custard, whipped cream, or any fresh fruit fillings, then it falls under different food safety guidelines. The FDA advises that perishable goods, which include dairy-based and egg-based products, should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours, as this can increase the risk of foodborne illness (FDA Food Code 2017 Section 3-501.17). You can read more about these guidelines on the FDA’s website.
Another factor is the environment where the cake will be stored. Room temperature can vary widely depending on the season and location. The USDA notes that the “danger zone” for perishable foods is between 40°F and 140°F, a range in which bacteria can multiply rapidly. You can find more information about the temperature danger zone on the USDA’s Food Safety page.
If you’re hosting an outdoor event in the summer or in a warm climate, your sheet cake may need to be kept chilled until it’s ready to be served. In such conditions, a cake with any type of frosting could start to melt or spoil if left out for too long.
If you decide to play it safe and refrigerate your sheet cake, there are some best practices you should follow to maintain its quality:
If you’re still unsure whether your particular Costco sheet cake needs to be refrigerated, consider these points: