I had lots of leftover royal icing from my last Valentine’s cupcakes, so I decided to make some more royal icing decorations using these Martha Stewart Valentine stickers
As I was making these I recieved an email from Bianca, asking me how long I keep the royal icing in the piping bag and how long I keep it in storage.
Royal icing is made using either raw egg-whites (traditional), or using dried egg whites or meringue powder.
Although I have not heard of any documented cases of food-borne illness occurring due to eating traditional royal icing (made with egg whites), there is still a possibility that bacteria such as salmonella can be present in anything made with raw eggs. Although many would not be affected by the bacteria, the very young, elderly, pregnant women and those with weaker immune systems might be.
You could use pasteurized egg whites found in cartons at the grocery store, but I’ve found that the icing doesn’t whip up as nicely using them.
Safest and most effective for cookie decorating in my experience has been royal icing made with meringue powder. I’ll be referring to royal icing made with meringue powder from here on in. All of the following information also applies to both tinted and white icing.
If you’ve used fresh or dried egg whites, you’ll want to store your royal icing in the refrigerator. Royal icing made from meringue powder can be stored at room temperature. You can freeze royal icing in clean, resealable freezer bags with the air pressed out. Thaw at room temperature when ready to use.
How long can one keep royal icing?
Freshest is always best of course, but you can keep your icing for a week or even up to two.
The longer it sits though, the more time it has to separate.
The water and icing sugar separate; after about a week you’ll have to really mix it up again to use it, and it may be difficult to make sure it’s perfectly smooth. -The liquid pools a bit on the surface, leaving the bottom of the container with dry icing.
If you do end up keeping your icing for a few days or more, I’d recommend putting it back in your mixer quickly before you use it, to try and ensure all ‘lumps’ are out. You may also have to add icing sugar to help thicken it, or a little bit of water to thin it out. Whether or not you’ll have to add icing sugar or water depends on a few factors:
Adding icing sugar – Especially if you’re in a humid environment the icing may have absorbed humidity in the air. (Even if it’s in an air-tight container).
Adding water – Mixing the icing really well (especially with a mixer), tends to add volume/air, and thickens it up a bit. It is necessary to mix it really well to get the lumps out though.
How long do royal icing decorations last?
Once the royal icing has dried, the decorations last indefinitley! (forever lol). They don’t spoil but must be stored in a cool, dry place, in an air-tight container. Besides humidity, the only thing to watch out for is breakage. They are fragile and should be stored between parchment paper and bubble wrap inside the air-tight container.
Grease from buttercream, for example, can also affect royal icing over time, but it will take quite a while for the icing to absorb the grease. After I posted these royal icing {LOVE} decorations (below), there were a few questions about grease affecting the royal icing in the comment section.
Since I’m going to be keeping these cupcakes in a display case at school to show students an example of what they will be learning how to make when the new semester begins in a few weeks, I’ll be able to keep tabs on the progress.
So far I’ve had the royal icing toppers in a cupcake for 2 days and there’s no dissolving, but the grease has seeped into the icing. See pic below with today’s date on the phone.
In this case you could only see the discoloration on the back as the front was covered in disco dust.
It’s definitely best not to place your royal icing decorations on your cake, cupcakes etc. too far in advance before you’re serving them. The grease seeped into these royal icing between 24 – 48 hours of being put on the cupcakes. Smaller royal icing decorations would probably be affected sooner, especially if the entire surface area is resting on the buttercream.
Does Royal Icing Need To Be Refrigerated
FAQ
How long can you keep royal icing at room temperature?
Do you refrigerate cookies with royal icing?
Can you store royal icing in piping bags overnight?
Does decorating icing need to be refrigerated?
How long can you keep royal icing in the fridge?
Depending on your needs, you can store royal icing in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Transfer your unused royal icing to a large, clean mixing bowl. Use a clean spoon or spatula to put your royal icing into a glass or stainless steel bowl.
Does icing need to be refrigerated?
Allow icing that has been refrigerated to come to room temperature. The same rule applies in the fridge as it does on the counter: the more water in the icing, the more likely it is to separate over time.
What is royal icing made of?
It is most known for its smooth, glossy finish that dries hard to the touch. This makes it ideal for intricate designs including text, flowers, lace, etc. Though classic royal icing recipes may vary a bit, they consist of powdered sugar, meringue powder or egg whites, and water. What is Royal Icing?
Can royal icing be frozen?
Royal icing with meringue powder stored in the fridge is good for easily over a month, and I have frozen icing for 3 months with no issues. Remember to always use an airtight container, or even freezer bags. I almost never throw away my extra icing when done with a project, and freeze them straight away in the piping bags.