How long does tiramisu last?

Tiramisu is a traditional Italian layered dish made with sugar, espresso, and rusks dipped in an egg-based coffee mix or liqueur.

It is a special occasion dessert that is smooth, creamy and sweet with a hint of coffee flavor. But if you want to enjoy this dessert at its best for a while, it also requires a lot of care when storing it.

So how long does tiramisu last?

Tiramisu can last at least 4 days if properly refrigerated and stored. It is also possible to freeze it up to 3 months.

Now, there are many factors that determine how long your tiramisu will last. For example, the ingredients, the container and the method used, and many more. So keep reading!

What is tiramisu?

Tiramisu is a traditional Italian dessert. The literal meaning of tiramisu is “cheer me up,” which makes sense not only because of its uplifting flavor, but also because of the presence of espresso.

It is a typical combination of a velvety zabaglione flan with mascarpone cheese and the firmness of ladyfinger cookies. You can also include spirits such as rum, brandy, or fortified wine.

It is also sometimes dusted with grated dark chocolate as a delicious garnish.

As amazing as tiramisu is, when kept at room temperature, it is highly perishable. You can prevent tiramisu from getting messy and spoiled by refrigerating it.

How long does tiramisu last?

Tiramisu, being an airy and humid dish, can easily go bad if not cared for properly.

Storing in the fridge can keep tiramisu fresh for up to 3 days. However, the complexity of tiramisu requires perfect preservation.

In the fridge

The tiramisu can be made 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. However, although egg custards can be consumed on the fourth day, tiramisu tends to go bad after 3 days maximum.

This is due to the participation of the ladyfingers in the flan, which makes its texture softer. May become unappetizing after 3 days, even with proper refrigeration.

On the counter

Tiramisu is a temperature sensitive dessert and should not be kept at room temperature for a long time. Egg custard or zabaglione can go bad and increase the chances of you getting food poisoning.

Even the texture of the dish is altered, making it unappetizing. Therefore, before serving the tiramisu, the refrigerated tiramisu should be allowed to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

How to preserve tiramisu

Cooling is an important step. Prevents spoilage or bacteria growth and helps maintain creamy texture.

Proper storage is also an important aspect to pay attention to when it comes to tiramisu. The storage process is quite simple.

Find an airtight storage container that will keep your tiramisu out of the air and bad bacteria. Once you’ve moved your tiramisu, be sure to close the container tightly and label it with the storage date.

If you’ve made the tiramisu in mugs, you have a few options. You can use saran paper to cover the tops of the mugs and store them this way, or even put them in an airtight container after making for extra protection.

You can also wrap each cup in healing paper, line them up on a tray, and use the healing paper to cover the entire tray. You just have to make sure that you have sealed the tray as tightly as possible.

For leftover tiramisu, it should not be refrigerated for more than 4 days. Although after coming out of the refrigeration, its quality tends to deteriorate.

Thus, the biscuits become soft. It becomes unappetizing after 2 days as it starts to break down and get mushy.

Tips to keep tiramisu for a long time

You can keep the tiramisu for up to 3 months. It sounds unappetizing to eat 3 month old tiramisu, but it is possible by freezing.

The frozen tiramisu concept is only for homemade tiramisu or already packaged tiramisu that has not been opened. So if you want to freeze it, here are some tips.

Wrap the individual pieces

To store frozen tiramisu, you must cut it into individual pieces. This helps preserve the original flavor and texture.

Once separated into pieces, wrap it well in a transparent film. Wrap the plastic or foil several times so that air does not reach your product. For added protection, it is always advisable to put it in an airtight container as well.

Also, you should never wrap a sloppy tiramisu without a cup or some sort of base to structure it, as you’ll ruin it.

Put it in a bag

If you don’t have a container, you can wrap the tiramisu in some sort of paper plate or other base to give it structure and put it in a reusable freezer bag. As an added precaution, label it with the freeze date.

Save the dressings

Leave the toppings for later, as the more ingredients added, the less likely the tiramisu will return to its original quality, flavor, and texture. Fresh dressings are always the best option.

Remember to defrost

Tiramisu should be served cold, not frozen. You should always take out the frozen tiramisu an hour before serving it. Let it thaw in the fridge for the best and safest results.

There is no other way to defrost than to take it from frozen to cold. Also, remember that you can’t refreeze tiramisu, so it’s important to cut the right number of slices so it doesn’t go to waste.

How to know if tiramisu is bad

Tiramisu is a dessert that is very sensitive to temperature and environment. Therefore, the chances of it being damaged are very high.

Although tiramisu includes plenty of non-dairy items, such as biscuits, coffee, and a low concentration of alcohol, it’s not enough to keep it from spoiling.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that pasteurization is enough to keep desserts fresh, but it is not.

Now, tiramisu contains mascarpone cheese, which is like fresh cream and can be compared to cream cheese.

Its mixture with the zabaglione is the reason for the firmness of the tiramisu. Like any other cheese in America, it goes through pasteurization.

This prevents the development of bacteria that could cause foodborne illnesses. But it is proven that pasteurization does not prevent cheese from going bad at room temperature, especially on hot and humid days!

Here are some things to look for to tell if your tiramisu has gone bad:

Texture

If the texture of your tiramisu is too soft, doughy and wet, it has gone bad. That is why refrigeration is a fundamental step in the tiramisu preparation process.

It helps the mascarpone cheese maintain its structure and prevents it from getting mushy.

Smell

Tiramisu is a dessert made primarily from dairy products. Therefore, it can go bad in a couple of minutes at room temperature.

If your tiramisu goes bad, it will smell awful, and this is a sure and obvious sign that it has gone bad.

Test

In the case of tiramisu, a sour taste is a sign of spoilage. It should taste sweet and creamy, with hints of coffee and liquor. It should not be sour or rancid in any way.

If the flavor is not right, it means that bacteria have spoiled your dessert.

Mold

When storing in the freezer, it is essential to store the tiramisu in an airtight container. This will keep your food out of the air, which could contain mold spores.

If you ever see mold on your food, it’s always wise to dispose of the dish entirely as soon as possible. Don’t try to cut through the mold; everything will be contaminated even if you don’t see it.

Final thoughts

Tiramisu is a dessert that everyone loves and appreciates, but not everyone knows its expiration date. The only way to know is to maintain the temperature and refrigerate it.

If kept refrigerated and properly packaged, tiramisu can last up to 2-4 days. But it can go bad in an hour or two if it’s not given proper care. Therefore, it is best to store it in the refrigerator before serving it.